Long-term projects encourage patience and spaciousness, which can reduce stress and promote a more balanced lifestyle. They allow for gradual progress and learning, fostering a sense of achievement without the pressure of immediate results.
Louise needed a tractor to maintain the fields and wood on her property in Cumbria. She wanted to avoid renting the land to others, which would limit her flexibility. The tractor will also help with tasks like cutting paths in the wood.
Alice focuses on enjoying the process rather than rushing to complete the work. She created a countdown to stay on track without anxiety, allowing her to work steadily and maintain momentum while also exploring other creative projects like redesigning her membership hub.
Louise realized that the value of life lies in happiness, connection, and making a difference, rather than achieving numerous goals. Her friend’s kindness and engagement with others left a lasting impact, emphasizing the importance of living a fulfilling and engaged life.
Dopamine is released when effort is put into achieving a goal, such as completing a painting or preparing for a show. This type of dopamine release, unlike quick hits from social media or sugar, contributes to long-term satisfaction and happiness, especially during the process of working towards something meaningful.
The peak of dopamine release occurs just before achieving a goal, such as finishing a painting or a show. Once the project is complete, there’s often a drop in dopamine, leading to a sense of loss or emptiness. This is why the process of creating is often more rewarding than the finished product.
This week we are having a post-summer catch up on ongoing projects from tractors to tab guns. But beyond the required kit for any creative project, we're talking about striving vs spaciousness, and why having longer term projects which require long term effort are actually beneficial for your health!
Find Alice Sheridan at:
www.alicesheridan.com )
@alicesheridanstudio)
Find more about Louise Fletcher:
@louisefletcher_art)
Credits: "Monkeys Spinning Monkeys" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License