“What if who you are right now is exactly who God meant you to be? What if the weirdest, most annoying things about you are actually—for a purpose?” ~Laurie Wallin (Respond to this thought/question in the comment section by Friday, March 28th at midnight for a chance to win an autographed copy of Laurie’s new book, Why Your Weirdness Is Wonderful: Embrace Your Quirks and Live Your Strengths)

Today, I’d like to introduce you to my beautiful friend, Laurie.

Laurie Wallin is a Christian speaker and certified Life Coach who loves helping people find joy and confidence by letting go of energy drainers and using their God-inspired strengths. Laurie, her husband and their four daughters make their home in San Diego.

And I’d also like to let you know about her book that came out just THIS WEEK! (Congratulations, Laurie!! I am so excited for you!)

(You can read more about it and pick up a copy for yourself right here —> AMAZON)

Let’s sit down with Laurie and ask her a few questions.

When did the idea that our individual quirks–those personal weirdnesses that drive us crazy sometimes–are part of who God created us to be?

The pivotal moment was while reading a colleague’s blog post. She shared how frustrated she was with her tendency to overthink things, and how she prayed God would make her different. I couldn’t put a finger on it at the time, but that got under my skin. I was mad! Not at her, but at the situation. . . that clearly gifted people spent so much time lamenting how they are. And how easy a strategy that would be for Satan to use to keep us distracted from living well. If we’re fighting who we are most of the time, we’re missing out on the reflection of God’s image that is trying to show through us. I went back and commented on this post, asking, simply, what if God made you that way because something about that tendency reflects something about Him, rather than it being a flaw? We went back and forth about the idea for a few comments, and ultimately, she said, “You need to write a post about this.” I did, it went viral, and the rest, as they say, is history!

Why do you think it’s important for women to see their weirdness as wonderful?

Women, in particular, have this fog of expectation clouding our view of ourselves and each other. The more I studied personal strengths, the more I noticed that 1) the things that annoy me in other people are them living their strengths and either me not appreciating them in the situation, or them not living them in a loving way; and 2) the things that annoyed me about myself suffered from the same two issues. So I started asking myself “What strength is she trying to live right now?” when I sensed jealousy or frustration or judgment creeping up with a friend. You know what happened? Where I used to feel insecure, I started noticing a desire to see the good in others and celebrating—affirming—the God-glimpses I saw in them. As a woman, to be able to feel secure in the face of others is a HUGE change to what we often experience. It makes us allies, supporters of each other, champions of what God’s doing in each other’s lives, instead of defenders of what we think is insufficient in ourselves.

In the book you talk about the dark sides and positive sides of our quirks. Could you give a few examples for readers?

As a Star Wars fan, I’ve always related to the whole Dark Side, Light Side (or, as I call it in the book, Life Side) idea. God invests tendencies in us, and we either love Him and others with them (reveal their Life Sides) or we live from fear (Dark Sides). The most common struggle strengths I hear about from people are tendencies to overthink things, be too sensitive, worry too much, argue too much, or be controlling. There are a lot of possible strengths hiding in these Dark Sides, and maybe they come from different strengths in different situations. For example, overthinking can be the Dark Side of being analytical, an achiever, someone who is contextual and sees connections between anything done or said now, and what it will effect. Being overly sensitive can be the Dark Side of empathetic, compassionate, or spiritually discerning individuals. Worrying too much is the fear-driven Dark Side of many prayer warriors I know. It’s not an exact science, but the important thing is to allow the question—to stop fighting who we are long enough to let God show us what is possible in us right then.

How can women embrace their weirdness? Where should they start?

First, we have to decide to suspend judgment about our natural tendencies. This one trips a lot of people up. They’re scared that if they do that, they’re dropping their moral standards. But that’s not what I’m saying. I’m asking people to stop assuming they understand God’s design in the ways they’ve always thought, acted and reacted in life. His thoughts are higher than ours, after all, right? So step one is to notice when we’re making ourselves feel bad about some way we are, like when we use negative words to describe ourselves (overthinker, worry wart, impatient, lazy. . .) and stop right then to chat with God about it. To say, “What natural desire or strength of mine is wanting to come out right now? How would YOU reveal that trait, God?” Then, let God tell you what He thinks. And keep eyes open to see His answers to the questions unfold in life and relationships.

How do you suggest women maximize their quirks to build God’s kingdom?

The more we listen to what God meant when He designed us the way He did—quirks and all—the more we let God reveal His heart for the world around us. The more we’re attuned to the unique ways God designed us to think, communicate, plan, care and relate with others, the more people are drawn to Him, and the kingdom grows.

Anything else you’d like to mention?

I certainly hope you’ll grab a copy of my book and allow me to walk this road with you, but whether you buy my book or not, you owe it to yourself (and your spouse, kids, friends and community!) to learn more about your strengths. Whether it’s Gallup’s StrengthsFinder program, the Myers-Briggs assessment, or Gary Chapman’s Love Languages assessment. . . find out who God designed when He made you. Because if you’re not being all God designed you to be, there’s a hole in the world—a missing piece in our view of God’s nature—that nobody else can or will ever fill.

Thank you for being here with us today, Laurie!

And remember, friends, if you’d like to visit with Laurie and check out more about the book you can do that HERE or stop by her facebook page —-> Living Power Life Coaching

Don’t forget! To be entered in our giveaway for a chance to win an autographed copy of Laurie’s book, leave a comment by Friday, March 28th at midnight in response to the thought/question at the top of this post! Winner will be announced next Sunday

Come back next Sunday for another giveaway and my review of Why Your Weirdness Is Wonderful!