Exorcizing Demons - A Craft Project?
So I have had it in my mind now to start this creative little craft endeavor that will also serve the purpose of some odd sort of therapy. Everyone has demons. Some people like theirs enough to keep them around, even after they become aware of them. They hand about, directing your life, telling you what to do, and generally making a bother of themselves. Social anxiety and claustrophobia are less demons for me and more "issues." I am not sure I can creatively work on them, or even that I need to do it, but I am choosing my demons to represent certain aspects of myself that I want to in a way overcome. Demons are not always big things -sometimes they are just silly and annoying. At this point, one of them may not even qualify as a "fear", but I still fondly regard it as a little imp. I have three that I speak to in a variety of ways, that I plan to also use in the project.
My first demon is my fear of fire. It's a little demon. I used to jump when someone tried to light my cigarette and stand a mile away from a campfire because my mother kept pointing out how afraid I should be. Then I learned how to put out candles with my fingers. I suffered a minor set back when I set a lock of my hair on fire once. It was only a bit, but I still hate that smell more than anything!
My second demon is a fear of pain. I have multiple piercings and fake it pretty well. I don't have the usual anxious reaction signs, and some might say this is also another "healthy fear", but as pain is a part of many human processes, I think it's get to reformulate how I think of it and explore the possibility that there may be things don't do for fear of getting "hurt" - even if the chances are remote.
Lastly, and this is my big one, is my fear of success. Now, I am not one for outright self-sabotage, but sometimes the idea that something might work and that I would put upon myself other social responsibilities by succeeding and how I would have to create even higher standards for myself is a pretty big and serious hurdle. This is the first demon I plan on working with.
As for the craft part, I have just bought a little wood shadow box with a tiny shelf inside that can be taken out. This box will be sanded, repainted, and fully revamped into a diorama. To create the demon, I plan on writing two lists - one, the vague list of areas where I feel I could be successful in my life (or want to be successful at least) and, second, a list of the things I do to prevent myself from succeeding (procrastination, excuses, hard work) , as well as the things I perceive as working against me outside myself (negative things I have heard said, money issues, past relationships). I will map out a way to physically represent each of these things while building an environment of them for my demon, in it's own little hell in a box. You know, so it does not get to share space with me!
Yes, it sounds a bit silly, but I am loving the idea. I can't help but think I need to find a photo of the middle school teacher who told me i could not write because I could not spell and something to symbolize the woman who told me I danced inappropriately for my age when I was 16.
My first demon is my fear of fire. It's a little demon. I used to jump when someone tried to light my cigarette and stand a mile away from a campfire because my mother kept pointing out how afraid I should be. Then I learned how to put out candles with my fingers. I suffered a minor set back when I set a lock of my hair on fire once. It was only a bit, but I still hate that smell more than anything!
My second demon is a fear of pain. I have multiple piercings and fake it pretty well. I don't have the usual anxious reaction signs, and some might say this is also another "healthy fear", but as pain is a part of many human processes, I think it's get to reformulate how I think of it and explore the possibility that there may be things don't do for fear of getting "hurt" - even if the chances are remote.
Lastly, and this is my big one, is my fear of success. Now, I am not one for outright self-sabotage, but sometimes the idea that something might work and that I would put upon myself other social responsibilities by succeeding and how I would have to create even higher standards for myself is a pretty big and serious hurdle. This is the first demon I plan on working with.
As for the craft part, I have just bought a little wood shadow box with a tiny shelf inside that can be taken out. This box will be sanded, repainted, and fully revamped into a diorama. To create the demon, I plan on writing two lists - one, the vague list of areas where I feel I could be successful in my life (or want to be successful at least) and, second, a list of the things I do to prevent myself from succeeding (procrastination, excuses, hard work) , as well as the things I perceive as working against me outside myself (negative things I have heard said, money issues, past relationships). I will map out a way to physically represent each of these things while building an environment of them for my demon, in it's own little hell in a box. You know, so it does not get to share space with me!
Yes, it sounds a bit silly, but I am loving the idea. I can't help but think I need to find a photo of the middle school teacher who told me i could not write because I could not spell and something to symbolize the woman who told me I danced inappropriately for my age when I was 16.