How to Own Your Unique Design

Own it.

That’s right—OWN IT!

What’s it?

YOU.

All of your qualities, quirks, and quiches . . . okay, not quiches, but I wanted to keep the alliteration going and I didn’t have another q word – got one you can share?

See, that’s part of me. My squirrel chasing randomness in the middle of a serious moment. That’s an element of my unique design.

Everything about you makes up your uniqueness as well – yes, even the way you take your coffee—because, let’s be real, that says a lot about a person.

For years, I wore a mask of being unique while trying desperately trying to fit into someone else’s mold. I looked at the people who were “crushing it” and thought, “If I do it like them, I’ll be successful too.”

It didn’t help that the people around me that I respected (and trusted because THEY knew better) were telling me that I had to do it that way to be able to win.

It wasn’t about my BIG DREAMS. It wasn’t about my unique design. It was all about the definitions THEY set.

Not only didn’t I crush it, but it crushed me.

I found myself exhausted, stuck, and questioning if I was enough. I was ready to give it all up and get a real job.

You know, because writing and speaking and encouraging and helping aren’t real jobs.

Sigh.

Even talking about those masks tires me out.

But here’s the truth: I wasn’t failing because I wasn’t enough. I was failing because I wasn’t me.

When I finally stopped trying to be someone else and leaned fully into my unique design, everything changed. The day I stood on my truth – the uniqueness of me – I got my first call to speak at an event. And I hadn’t even asked.

And that’s the challenge I’m throwing down today:

Own It! Own your story. Own your strengths. Own YOUR unique design.

#QuoteoftheDay

The Struggle to Own Unique Design?

I’ve never been normal.

When other girls wanted to be princesses, I wanted to be a cowboy. When other girls wanted to be ballerinas, I played football with the neighborhood boys and climbed everything I could reach.

In middle school, I tried to blend in. It didn’t work.

So I began to excel at “not normal.”

I started petitions to protest administration. I started messaging trends to work around rules against passing notes in class. I started dressing with an emphasis on comfortable instead of trendy.

But here’s the thing:

Even that wasn’t fully me.

Somewhere along the way, I realized I wasn’t embracing my uniqueness. I was just reacting to the pressure to conform.

And that’s what happens when we don’t fully own our story.

We either:
We conform

Or we rebel.

Neither of which are truly us.

You were designed with a purpose.

You were designed ON PURPOSE.

You were designed for such a time as now.

Your gifts. Your personality. Your voice. Your quirks.
They’re all part of YOU. And that YOU matters enough that it can change the world.

The more you OWN your unique design, the more you step into the life you were meant to live.

5 Ways to Own Your Unique Design

Know Your Story

Who are you?

That might sound like an easy question, but if you’ve been fully invested in faking it (and still not making it), it can be hard to answer.

I had to LET IT GO of a lot of things before clarity appeared.

💡 Ask yourself:
✔️ When do I feel most alive?
✔️ What lights me up?
✔️ What do people say I do effortlessly?
✔️ When have I felt most confident?
✔️ What makes me lose track of time?

Keep asking, keep digging, and keep letting go until you are free to see the unique you.

Then, write it down..

Your story matters. And the more you KNOW it, the more you can OWN it.

Tell Your Story

For years, I hesitated to share my real story.

I thought people wanted the polished version—the “everything’s great and I have it all figured out” version. After all, what else would you expect from the hopesmith, right?

But that wasn’t the truth. The truth was that I struggled. The truth was that I had doubts. Yes, you read that right. I had doubts . . . and concerns.

Sharing the truth of my concerns allowed me to LET GO of the need to have it all together. Sharing that truth changed everything.

One day, my husband told me, “You never worry. Why would this be any different?”

I laughed. Because, while I may not “worry,” I do struggle to believe. I just don’t always say it out loud.

But I need to. Because when we share our story – the real, unpolished, first draft story – we give others permission to do the same. And more importantly, we help them see that they aren’t alone.

The world doesn’t need more filters. It needs more authenticity. Your story is the authentic truth of your unique design.

Lean Into Your Unique Design Story

If it’s not you, you’ll struggle. If it’s not something you love, you’re determination will wane. If it’s not your unique design then you’ll likely end up in a ditch or against a brick wall or at the very least locked in a box of someone else’s design.

I fought against my unique design because I wanted to be like THEY.

But they weren’t hanging from the arch when they were four.

And they weren’t going to horse camp in the summer because who doesn’t want to muck a stall in July in Georgia.

And they weren’t playing baseball when no girls had ever played before.

Confession: I’ve always had a little bit of a trouble maker in me. Maybe that’s why one of my callings is to STIR UP the Children of God.

But I wanted to be like THEY. When it didn’t work, I had to admit that the problem was me . . . see, me isn’t THEY and me isn’t supposed to be.

The day I stopped trying to be someone else, I started making an impact.

I release the snarky rainbows.
I leaned into my southern storytelling style instead of trying to be “polished.” Script? We don’t need no stinkin’ script!
I embraced big hair and big expressions.

And you know what happened?

The right people started finding me.

I got invitations to speak. My audience started growing. Opportunities came knocking.

Because when you lean into your unique design, you attract the people who need what only YOU can offer. When you expose your heart – your unique design – you touch a heart.

Build Confidence in Your Story

Imposter syndrome whispers:
“Are you really enough?”
“Who do you think you are?”
“What if people don’t like you?”

Confidence doesn’t come before you own your story. It comes because you own your story.

For years, I wrestled with this. Even when people invited me to speak, I doubted myself.

“Am I good enough?”

But here’s the thing: Your voice is meant for someone.

Someone needs your story.
Someone needs your perspective.
Someone needs the way you explain things.

Someone needs your snarky rainbows laughter. Wait . . . that’s mine. But I’m happy to share.

How do you build confidence in your unique design?  Show up. Keep sharing. Keep owning it.

Every time you do, that imposter syndrome loses its power. You become better. You become stronger. You becomes faster . . . bonus points if you get it.

The more you lean into your story, the stronger you’ll secure your foundation of unique design. And the more you are prepared for intentional action in and for your story. It will take action and intentional action at that.

Take Purposeful Action in Your Story

Owning your unique design doesn’t stop with the knowing. It’s the beginning. With knowing comes opportunities to take intentional and purposeful steps into your story.

You begin to live out loud who you were designed to be.

When I finally embraced my true story – snarky rainbows and faith-forward encouragement – I took action:

I showed up more.
I shared more.
I spoke more.
I leaned all in.

And doors opened.

The more I owned my unique design, the more I positioned myself for purpose.

The same is true for you. When you are you, your way opens up.

Your Story Creates the Way

If you’re still trying to fit into someone else’s mold, let it go.

🌟 You are not a copy.
🌟 You are not a version of someone else.
🌟 You are not a perfect little clone – can we say Stepford?

You ARE unique in all the world.

And the moment you OWN that truth, everything changes.

The world needs YOUR voice.

It’s time to own it!

What Makes YOU Uniquely You?

Drop it in the comments or DM me—I’d love to hear!

👇 Would a jolt of encouragement feed your unique design discovery? Join me for the Hope & Courage Reset! Let’s step boldly into our unique design—together.

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