“Start noticing what you enjoy.”
That was my journal entry for September 10, 2023.
And to be honest, it wasn’t even handwritten in a journal. It was on the Notes app on my phone.
I had been reading an article online by a mixed media/abstract artist, and her words gave me pause.
What do I enjoy?
Today’s conversation is short and sweet, but it’s also a powerful invitation to notice how God is moving in your life. I can’t wait to share this idea with you.
Noticing What You Enjoy
Here’s the rest of the quote from artist Laura Horn:
“As you experiment, you will notice that there’s a difference between the things that you love to see and the things that you actually enjoy making. Sometimes we see things on Instagram that look impressive, but when we try them out, they aren’t a good fit for the way we like to work or our personal circumstances.”
The distinction she makes between seeing work we like and what we actually enjoy making was huge for me.
Because there are a lot of beautiful art pieces I’d love to mimic in my own work.
I see Laura’s own art and I like the colors she uses and how peaceful they are and how she is able to incorporate flowers and botanicals. She’s able to use watercolor in a way that I’ve not been able to master.
Or there’s Marta Lapkowski, who also makes stunning mixed media cards and art journal pages. I’ve been able to learn a lot from her as far as techniques and how to explore and just have fun.
But they’re not me.
As hard as I try, my style doesn’t exactly match theirs.
I captured Laura’s words in my journal as a reminder to explore what I really enjoy. Not just art, but life in general: work, family activities, hobbies, events.
What do I enjoy?
Enjoying Fellowship, Companionship, and the Fruit of Our Labor
In Scripture, we see people enjoying fellowship with one another. When Paul writes to the Christians in Rome, he says, “I am planning to go to Spain, and when I do, I will stop off in Rome. And after I have enjoyed your fellowship for a little while, you can provide for my journey” (Romans 15:24 NLT).
And in his letter to Timothy, Paul writes, “Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts” (2 Timothy 2:22 NLT).
But they also write about enjoying the fruits of their labor (2 Timothy 2:6) and the food that God has given us to eat (1 Corinthians 10:30).
What are some of those things for you? Who do you enjoy being around? What is the fruit of your labor that you can then sit back and enjoy?
There’s journaling… and then there’s journaling together with God.
This free 20-minute video workshop introduces you to 3 ways you can invite God into your journaling practice. Because the truth is, you can encounter God and hear what He has to share with you.
Make a List
We have an invitation, my friend, to consider this question: what do we enjoy?
We could easily pick a page in our journal or on the Notes app on our phone and start making a list as things come to mind.
We can start with those things we just mentioned a minute ago: the people we enjoy being around and the work we enjoy doing and the result of it.
But we can also list other things. For example, watching my son skip outside. Or seeing my daughter try a new art technique of her own. Or reading a book that speaks to my heart in a way that only a story can.
But sometimes, naming what I enjoy or like is hard. My husband asks me to pick what food I’d like for supper and I struggle to identify something, because I don’t really have too many favorite foods. Or my kids want to play a game and I often let them choose, because it doesn’t really matter to me which one; I just want to hang out with them.
But that doesn’t mean there aren’t things I enjoy. I just need to take the time to notice them and name them.
As something comes to mind, I can add it to my list and say, “Yes, I enjoy this.” And I can thank God for that gift, that pleasure, that delight.
And you can, too.
Journal Prompt: What brings a smile to your face?
So here’s the journal prompt for this week: What brings a smile to your face?
Often, the items, the experiences, the people that bring a smile to our faces are things that we enjoy. They bring us delight. Pleasure. Contentment. Peace.
So here are some additional questions that might help you discern those pleasurable activities for you:
- What do you think about doing when you’re busy with chores, work, or household tasks?
- If you had a free hour, how would you spend that time?
- What is one thing you are looking forward to over the next month or two?
Each of those questions offers a hint to those things you enjoy.
Courageous Care Book
My friend, I don’t know about you, but reading is one of those things that brings me a lot of enjoyment, whether fiction or nonfiction or poetry. And if that’s the same for you, I’d love to invite you to grab a copy of my book, Courageous Care: Helping Others Even When You’re Afraid. It’s available both as a paperback and as a Kindle ebook, so you can choose which one you are most comfortable with.
In the book, you will learn some very specific ways to reach out and support loved ones who need you to show up. It’s great to go through on your own, or you can grab some friends and talk about it together using the journal prompts at the end of each chapter.
Courageous Care is available on Amazon. You can go to lovedoesthat.org/care for direct access. And if you can, please leave a rating or review for the book there on Amazon. It helps others know if the book is right for them or not, and it helps the book get into more hands, so we can all do a better job of caring for those around us who are hurting.
A Prayer:
God, thank You for each of the things, experiences, and people that bring us joy. We can’t help but smile as we hold them in mind. You are entirely gracious and merciful to offer these gifts to us. Of course, we hope that one of those things we add to our list is You, God. That we would take delight in being with You, in walking through life with You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
RELATED EPISODES + RESOURCES:
- Episode 137: 3 Easy Ways to Journal When You Don’t Know What to Write About
- Episode 131: Healing in Layers: What Art Taught Me About Grief
Coming close to your grief and entering into it can be scary. Overwhelming, even.
Journal Gently is an 8-week program designed to help you bring your hurt to God on the pages of your journal in a gentle and graceful way, whether your hurt includes grief, trauma, anxiety, depression, chronic illness, loneliness, and more.