Tell us a little bit about yourself.

My name is Janelle Brown and I’m the Life Coach and Founder of Fearfully Fashioned. I’m passionate about empowering, motivating, and equipping women to be their best selves and live purpose-driven lives. I do a lot of one-on-one work with clients to help them find clarity and work through the self-sabotaging mindsets that prevent them from pursuing their God-given goals and purpose. When I’m not coaching, you can basically find me drinking coffee (or wine), eating cupcakes, and exploring my new city of Atlanta!

What is Fearfully Fashioned?

Fearfully Fashioned is a faith-based life coaching practice that focuses on coaching and empowering goal-oriented and purpose-driven women to fashion their life according to God's purpose and plan. The platform provides coaching curriculum in the format of education, tools, and free resources to help women fashion their best lives.

How and why did you start Fearfully Fashioned?

Fearfully Fashioned was originally birthed from the fruit of my own self-confidence and personal development journey. When I was in high school, I struggled with low self-esteem and body image issues. It was then that God imprinted Psalm 139:14 on my heart, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” It was in that moment that I fully understood God’s love for me. I revered that truth and made it my own. That Scripture served as the catalyst for my personal development journey and in result, I lost 65lbs. Psalm 139:14 empowered me to love myself, and I knew I wanted to instill that same confidence and empowerment into other women. So when I began my blog sophomore year in college, that was the heartbeat. It was after graduation when Fearfully Fashioned was refined into what you see today. I had struggled through a season of overwhelm, comparison, and inadequacy, where I felt that I didn’t have the time, money, or resources to make my God-given vision happen. I had to renew my mindset and decide that since God called me, I was already created and equipped to do His work. I knew it was up to me to fashion the life that I wanted to live, which led to the reconceptualization of Fearfully Fashioned. Ultimately, I wanted to give women the same gift that I experienced in result of that revelation.

What is your purpose in life?

Along with winning souls for the Kingdom of Christ, my purpose is to inspire, motivate, and encourage women to fashion their best lives according to God’s will. Regardless if it’s through Fearfully Fashioned or another assignment, this is what I’m called and graced to.

How does your purpose play a role in Fearfully Fashioned?

Fearfully Fashioned is the assignment for how I’m carrying my purpose out. Whether I’m sending out a newsletter, creating a free resource, posting on Instagram, or coaching a one-on-one client, my purpose is my why behind everything I do. I’m just so grateful that the Lord has used my gifts and purpose to birth this platform. I plan on stewarding this assignment well until He calls me elsewhere.

Why is it important for women to know and live out their purpose?

Purpose is such a deep and layered topic, and I believe that the word “purpose” is taken very lightly these days. Our ultimate purpose is to win souls for the Kingdom of Christ, but within that, God has given us each a specific purpose to complete that is uniquely tailored to who we are individually. Both of these purposes are to satisfy spiritual needs within ourselves and within others. I have a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and every time I think of purpose, I’m reminded of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, which basically says that we have 3 categories of needs:

◦ 1) basic needs -- physiological needs (food,water) and safety needs

◦ 2) psychological needs -- belonging and love needs, and esteem needs (achievement and accomplishment)

◦ 3) self-fulfillment needs --self-actualization (achieving your fullest potential)

The model emphasizes that the basic and psychological needs must be met before the self-fulfillment ones. But sadly, only 1 in 100 people become fulfilled because society (or the enemy, in my opinion) distracts them from reaching their fullest potential.

I truly believe that this is why purpose is so important. Both the Kingdom and people component of purpose are crucial and integral to our self and spiritual fulfillment, and until we are living them out fully, we will always be craving and needing more.

What advice do you have for Christian women who feel like they don't know what their purpose is?

The best thing you can do to uncover your purpose is go to your Maker. He created the blueprint for your life. Where most people fail is when they get their purpose confused with their passions or assignment and they go to seek their purpose out in the world or their career. You don’t have to go out and find your purpose. God has already placed it inside of you. It’s that burden that He’s placed inside your heart to see a group reconciled or bettered because of the vision that He has given you. Spend time in prayer and fasting and He will reveal it to you. The worse thing that you can do is think you can figure it out on your own. The Lord said in Isaiah 30:1-2, “‘What sorrow awaits my rebellious children,’ says the Lord. ‘You make plans that are contrary to mine. You make alliances not directed my Spirit, thus piling up your sins. For without consulting me, you have gone down to Egypt for help’ [...]” Don’t be like the Israelites who tried to make their own plans without God. Take your concerns and vision and lay them at His feet. He will direct your path. Also, it’s good to seek accountability on the matter, which is why it’s great to have a coach. They provide excellent encouragement, support, strategy, and clarity.

What does being fearfully fashioned mean to you?

o me, Fearfully Fashioned means to know that you are fearfully and wonderfully made and also know that because of that you have a fearfully and wonderfully made plan for your life. It’s about knowing that because He has fearfully and wonderfully fashioned you in His image, you can fashion the life that He has created you to live.

If you had the entirety of Christian women in front of you, what would you say to them?

I would tell them to rise up and take responsibility for where you are right now. Stop making excuses. Maximize your purpose by taking advantage of every opportunity that God has given you. If you don’t like your current situation, that’s fine. Change it. Be content with your season and do everything you can to intentionally fashion the life God has created you to live. Your results are solely determined on your mindset and effort. Don’t allow the enemy to steal your vision or abort your purpose. Partner with the Holy Spirit and He will help you fashion your life according to His purpose and plan.

Website: http://fearfullyfashioned.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FearfullyFashioned

Instagram: http://instagram.com/fearfullyfashioned

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FearfullyFashnd

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fearfullyfashnd/

SHE Interview: Janelle Brown