Fill Your Journal: Five Self Portraits This Week

Taking a look in the mirror

The Fill Your Journal series is all about helping you joyfully fill the pages of your sketchbook. It offers prompts, advice, and personalized feedback to encourage you to be kind to yourself while developing a consistent and enjoyable creative practice. Consider becoming one of my treasured paid subscribers to fill the pages of our sketchbooks together!

We can't stand waiting, right?

There's nothing we hate more than long lines, and traffic jams, and shipping delays.

So why are so many of us caught in the trap of waiting for the next chapter of life to begin?

So impatient for that butterfly transformation that will change everything.

I've been on the personal growth train for a while now, which is all about bringing about that change.

Sure, it's been a rewarding trip, but a tiring one too.

And lately, I started recognizing how lost I was feeling waiting for the next, upgraded version of myself to emerge.

*Squinting* Is that her? That tiny, certain, stylish, put-together speck in the distance?

It's so easy to slip away, disappearing into anticipation of the next thing.

So, I decided to step out of that never-ending line and appreciate myself as I am, this very week in March.

To do that, I spent a few minutes sketching myself every day this week.

Self Sketches

It's been years since I last looked in the mirror and drew my face, and it reminded me of one very important thing- there is no final destination.

I'm not a roast chicken.

There's no idyllic, juicy, yet crispy, perfectly cooked version of myself that will finally feel "All Done!"

The person I am now, full of flaws and beautiful things too, is just as worthy as the next version of myself- and the next one after that.

If you’re feeling the same way, maybe it’s time to show some tenderness to what is, right now.

Even if it’s uncomfortable and messy, and even if you’re striving for change, this version of you is important and valid too. Show it some love!

A self-portrait can be a lovely way to do that.

Here are mine from this week:

Monday:

Tuesday:

Wednesday: