I admit it…I’m color-challenged. As in, every house we’ve lived in for the past 30+ years has had nothing but white walls. And white ceilings. And white wood trim. Oh, except for one house that already had wallpaper in the dining room. We left that up because it was easier than removing the wallpaper and…you guessed it, painting the walls white!
It’s not that I don’t like color. I watch the design shows on HGTV. I’ve learned about accent walls, and the difference between “warm” colors and “cool” colors. I’ve identified my “inspiration pieces” and I know which colors I like and which I don’t like. Still, I’m intimidated. I even use accent pieces to add color to a room.
Ask me to teach a class of 200 women. No problem. I do it weekly.
Ask me to write a book. Done and published.
Ask me to choose colors other than white or light beige for my walls and I turn into an indecisive, quivering excuse for a person.
I know…it’s only paint. If I don’t like it, I can paint over it. Color is my “friend.” It will make our home warmer and more inviting. So what’s my problem?
My problem is that color is out of my comfort zone. When I worked as an executive in NYC, my wardrobe consisted of a variety of suits in the black, beige, brown, and gray families. (Hmmm, perhaps variety isn’t the right word!). My “condition” is especially disappointing since I have an uncle and a cousin (from different sides of my family) who are gifted artists. I proudly display their works in my home. Somehow, though, my genes were not influenced by them.
But there came a time when I refused to be held captive in my comfort zone any longer. I put color on my walls. We examined what seemed like hundreds of paint swatches. We selected Caspian Tide (otherwise known as light blue – don’t you just love the names they dream up for these shades?). And we did it. Although I have to confess, I did allay my fears with the reminder that if I didn’t like it, there were two gallons of white paint in the garage.
You might be wondering what all this has to do with writing.
Where are you being challenged to leave your comfort zone?
Have you resisted building your platform with the excuse that you’re not an extrovert?
Have you hesitated to blog because you’re not sure if anyone will read it?
Have you avoided starting the book God has placed on your heart because, well, just because?
What will you do to step out of your comfort zone today? Grab your “brush” and get going!
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Ava Pennington is a writer, Bible teacher, and speaker. Her newest book, Daily Reflections on the Names of God: A Devotional, is endorsed by Precepts founder Kay Arthur. Additionally, Ava is co-author of Faith Basics for Kids. The first two books in the series are Do You Love Me More? and Will I See You Today? She has also written numerous articles for magazines such as Focus on the Family’s Clubhouse, Today’s Christian Woman, Power for Living, and Called.
In addition to her writing, Ava also teaches a weekly, Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) class. She is a passionate speaker and teacher, and delights in challenging audiences with the truth of God’s word in relevant, enjoyable presentations. For more information, visit her at www.AvaWrites.com.