When I was nine years old, my imaginary friends convinced me I could herd cats in my backyard; it was a fulfilling but fabled endeavor. They also appointed me daughter of secret agent, Illia Kuryakin; I was successful in foiling evil villains from destroying the world on my Schwinn. And it was their idea for me to wear a towel on my head so I could have the long hair I … longed for. They saved me from a troubled childhood just as art and writing saves me from harsh realities now.
When I was fortyish, I wrote a book with ten imaginary friends I called the nine Modern Day Muses (and a Bodyguard) who ironically helped me write the damn book. I was procrastinating, doubting my idea, and questioning my ability. Given this creative call, I had no idea how to fulfill it. But I did write it and much to my surprise, it sold to Penguin Putnam. Who knew? Evidently the Muses did. Insight, resources, and common sense surfaced when I imagined my inner voices as helpful Muses rather than inner critics, doubters, and the piped pipers of distraction.
These wise inner voices said things like:
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Pay attention to what energizes you not what depletes you.
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Think differently from the obvious and what’s already out there.
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Have fun with your idea, play with it without being so serious.
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Be kind to yourself -it will result in more work than harsh pressure.
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Practice without expecting perfection, love the process.
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Act as if you have courage even if you’re scared.
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Take a break once in a while to refill inspiration and take note of your progress.
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Have compassion for your faults to free up energy for your strengths.
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Just take really small steps – they create an unpressured momentum that will keep you going.
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Protect your time, your intention, and your belief in yourself.
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I gave the bearers of these messages names and they became the voices of and the book called The Nine Modern Day Muses (and a Bodyguard): Ten Guides to Creative Inspiration.
In its fourth edition and twentieth year, the Modern Day Muses (and the Bodyguard) remain whimsical, wise-crackers with surly attitudes and good advice. They continue to offer profound and applicable ways to make creativity easier so our visions and voices can be brought into existence despite everything working against them. The Muses’ principles are part of the Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coaching Certification Training curriculum.
To continue with the theme of I Make Art so I Don’t Die of Reality, I’d like to share with you how to stay creative, how to be more creative, and how to get through all the detractors to the creative process so you too can use the creative process as sanctuary from the harshness out there in reality, and in fact alchemize some of reality’s truths into inspiration for art and writing.
In the next ten articles, I’ll share with you short, painless snippets about each of the Modern Day Muses (and the Bodyguard). Aha-phrodite will be first.
If you listen closely, you’ll hear your own Muses guiding you to answer your creative call. BUT YOU HAVE TO LISTEN.
Onward,
Jill Badonsky
Taking Application for the Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coaching Certification Training
Tools, approaches, and Muses to be a creative mentor and/or unleash a deeper relationship with creativity in arts, writing, and living. Mention you are a subscriber of The Muse is In for $100 off. More Here
The Underground Highway to Creative Results
Keep creativity in your world with easy, unconventional weekly writing and art prompts, two Wild Abandon monthly creativity workshops, and a community of supportive and noncompetitive kindred spirits. No pressure, just fun and a love affair with creativity. More Here
More workshops and retreats including Taos, NM and Omega Institute of Holistic Sciences
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