Hey paper nerd.

This week’s art journaling update is mostly photos. I’m overworked and not feeling particularly chatty. I am however giving some deliberate thought to today’s subject: Respecting yourself.

At the moment I’m focusing on becoming less of a doormat and actually allowing myself to trust my gut and ask myself: “Is this what YOU want?”.

I’ve never felt like I’m a people pleaser. Cause that’s not what it’s about. I don’t enjoy always giving in to what other people want and expect. I’m not always dreaming up ways to make other people’s lives better. Mainly I’m just scared.

Scared of conflict. Scared of tension. I will avoid it at any cost, pretty much.

This causes me to never stick to my guns. To agree to things I don’t want to. And in return it’s made me very introverted, I think. I don’t like the company of others because it’s very exhausting to have my antennae out all the time. Always smoothing things over and feeling very conscious of people’s reactions to me. Do they approve of me?

I don’t know what’s caused this.

My therapist says I’m extremely normal and extremely vulnerable. I agree.

And sorry, I may be over-sharing again but I figure if you’ve read this far it’s your own fault. ;) Also, sharing is good because it may help someone else who feels the same.

Thanks for reading this. Thanks for being here.

I was just making some changes in my newsletter setup and became so humbled by the amount of people who’ve signed up for it. I have the best readers ever and I’m so grateful for every one of you, I can’t even tell you.

Thank you!

Have a lovely Thursday evening.

xo Nina

This project is part of the Get Messy Art Journal Challenge created by Caylee Grey and Lauren You can join too! #getmessyartjournal