Project Finishing- not as scary as it seems!
art, Blog, Monster Monday, Self-Improvement

The Finisher: How Finishing Projects Makes You Unstoppable

Some of you may have already seen the below acrylic-pouring paintings, because I created them on Christmas vacation when I was away visiting my family. I then shipped them back across the country— only to keep them packed in a box, until today, because they were awaiting a final gloss varnish and hook attachments. Well today I finally finished them.

Finishing Projects

Now there’s something especially satisfying about finishing a project that’s been ominously seeking your attention like a monster under the bed (the paintings were, in fact, being stored in a box under my bed). Here are the benefits of finishing projects that I’ve come up with:

  1. It frees up space. No, I’m not talking about the space under the bed, though that is an added benefit, but more-so the crucial space in your mind that is needed for working on other awesome projects and goals. If you’re constantly thinking about, or even guilting yourself for, unfinished projects, what better way to clear your conscience than to just FINISH THEM
  2. It puts hair on your chest— or at least makes you feel like pounding your chest while hollering maniacally. Confidence and pride is boosted when you believe in yourself and feel like you’re accomplishing things that you are passionate about. Furthermore, finishing projects will help you grow and develop your talents and skills, further snowballing you towards more of the aforementioned desirable traits as well as improving your overall work. Win-win!
  3. It stimulates the appetite. Seeing your work finished and out there in the world can help inspire and motivate you in ways you never expected. You may find yourself hungry for more or indulging on new creative ideas. Plus, you very well could end up with ogling clients or supporters drooling over your stuff. Every artist’s dream! 
  4. It’s fun. The joy of finishing a project speaks for itself, does it not?
  5. It builds muscle— though unless your chosen medium involves lifting and building very large, very heavy structures, probably just metaphorical ones. Muscle memory is a real thing, routines are real as well, therefore it’s logical to deduce that a consistency in completing projects can become second-nature. The more projects you finish, the more of a habit project-finishing becomes. 
“The Finisher” … not as scary as it seems!

Once you’ve become a brave, strong, hungry monster with lots of space to play in, you’re ready to take on the world— or at least the next project that starts bobbling into your head. So go grab one of those projects you have stashed away like a squirrel, and get crackin’! Sorry, I’m metaphor rich today. See? The project-finishing really does inspire the mind.

Seriously, what are you doing still reading this? GO GET TO IT.

Thanks for reading and be sure to subscribe to stay up-to-date on future posts! Also find @artofnonsense on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest

Pssst- what I write in this blog is a reflection of my own ideas and experiences and/or interpretations of any referenced material. The content of this blog is for entertainment and/or informational purposes only. I am not an expert or therapist and cannot be held liable for any content provided or how it is used. Please enjoy at your own discretion. I reserve the right to change the content or management of this blog at any time. That said, I hope you enjoy it!  © 2020 Kristina Durst All Rights Reserved.

Blog, Monster Monday, Self-Help, Self-Improvement, Self-Love

The Gobbling Goblin: On Self-Improvement

Do you ever find yourself thinking things like, “I’ll be good enough when I’m that way; loveable when I have this skill or knowledge; worthy when I land myself in such-and-such position”? If so, don’t fret, you’re one in a sea of monsters having the same malevolent thoughts.

Here’s the thing— development and growth are great, building skills can be useful, new knowledge can be insightful, and different experiences can be life-changing, but a problem arises when you start believing about such things that: 

a) they will fix all of your challenges completely and immediately.

b) without them you are somehow broken or deficient and won’t be “good enough” until you’ve achieved them.

c) they are all very serious business, so you’d better crack down hard!

In these cases, you might end up like The Gobbling Goblin: gorging yourself on self-improvement until you have a belly ache and your eyes are rolling maniacally around in your head to such a point that you’re left sitting there in a daze, unable to remember what the darned feast even tasted like, thinking, “I did the work. Why’m I not good nuf yet?”

(The Gobbling Goblin)

But self-improvement doesn’t work that way. We simply can’t digest growth and change in one sitting, and apply it consistently for dessert. These things take time, patience, and practice. Think of it like taste testing: try a little bit here, take another bite there, perhaps one worked for you, and another one didn’t. Maybe you dropped a few pieces on the floor or spit one inconspicuously into your napkin. It’s all okay. The point is, keep tasting. Just try not to devour the entire platter at once, and refrain from expecting the next bite to turn you into some grandiose version of yourself Alice in Wonderland style.

At the end of the day, know that you already are, and you always have been, good enough, and loveable, and worthy. So by all means, invest in learning and growing in ways that feel beneficial to you— just remember to do so gently and to enjoy your life and love yourself while you’re at it! And exploring how to do just that is exactly what this strange, monsterly, self-helpish blog is all about, so be sure to subscribe to join in on the journey… 

Thanks for reading! Also find @artofnonsense on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest

Pssst- what I write in this blog is a reflection of my own ideas and experiences and/or interpretations of any referenced material. The content of this blog is for entertainment and/or informational purposes only. I am not an expert or therapist and cannot be held liable for any content provided or how it is used. Please enjoy at your own discretion. I reserve the right to change the content or management of this blog at any time. That said, I hope you enjoy it! © 2020 Kristina Durst All Rights Reserved.

Blog, Self-Help, Self-Improvement

New Blog Launches February 12th!

Art of Nonsense is excited to announce the launch of its new biweekly blog “Monster Musings” on Wednesday, February 12th! Come and play with Kristy Biscuit and the Monsters as they explore ancient wisdom, spirituality, psychology, science, self-help methodologies and more – in totally laughable and wacky ways! Life shouldn’t be taken so seriously- why should self-improvement be? We’re on a journey to greater self-love, awareness, connection, personal power and expression…will you come along?

Also watch for Monster Mondays starting in February, where new adorable monster friends will be sneaking about with their weekly wisdom… find them on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest