Creative Solutions & Inspirations from the Modern Day Muses

The Muses Hire a Bodyguard

By Jill Badonsky, M.Ed.

As you take flight to the wondrous weaving of your dreams, know that you may need some help. Embarking upon the journey your soul may be saying: “Excuse me, excuse me, I have something I want to shaaaaarrre!” Or perhaps it is your heart that exclaims, “A life artfully lived? Yes! Yes! That’s the ticket, I’d love to be, do, and have that!” And, as is the reality of the creative process, you are feeling . . . well, sort of alone.

However, the urge is still strong to be creative. So how do you start the dream with all the scary things lurking out there to stop you? You consider the scope of your fear, but advance forward anyhow, realizing that being true to dreams is essential to the fabric of your happiness. You weave on.

All of a sudden, you see someone else doing exactly what it is you want to do, only they are further along in the process. You get slimed with an attack of ENVY. Yuk, the green stuff stains the best of your intentions. Mustering up more courage you say, “That’s okay, I’m still going to do it.”

Then you start to express a little of yourself in some creative medium and this loud voice that seems to be coming right from the inside of your own head says, “YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING? YOU CAN’T DO THAT …. YOU’RE NOT GOOD ENOUGH … YOU’LL LOOK LIKE A FOOL!” Or maybe someone close to you glances at what you are doing and gives you a look like “THAT IS NOT A GOOD IDEA.”

Ok, ok ... then there is this one: You fear that if you try to rise to your true potential it would mean you would have to take on too much … RESPONSIBILITY. AHHHHHWWWWW!

Or, what about the clincher? You stop even before you start by announcing “THAT’S ME, ALRIGHT” referring to one of the statements you see above, exaggerated in caps and quotes. You are defeated before departure. Or maybe not.

YOU ARE BEING TAKEN CARE OF

Regardless of what you are saying or not saying, Jill Badonsky’s Nine Modern Day Muses have assigned you a Bodyguard. "A Bodyguard?" Yes, a Bodyguard, to protect you from all of these adversaries of the creative process — the traitors to your unfolding as a creative possibility in self-realized splendor. Use his powers as your own. Or if you like, let a female image embody the qualities of protection and imagine her participation in keeping your idea safe.

The bodyguard is a spirit in defender form. He takes this form because it gives you an image to conjure up when you come face to face with those forces that stop you from finding and acknowledging creative fulfillment. He reminds you that you have power inside of you and that to give that power away to others by putting their opinions ahead of your own is a crime of unnecessary defeat.

The most powerful form of defense against quitting or discouragement is your strength of desire. If you want the dream badly enough, desire opens up your reservoirs of passion. Desire can create a creative flow so forceful that it washes away anything that stands in your way. Fueling this reservoir includes visualizing the dream coming true. See the results of the process completed and feel the rewards of letting the divine power of creativity express through you. See the appreciation and prosperity that you gain. This mindset of strong desire is the first avenue the bodyguard requests that you explore. Next month, the bodyguard will be back with specific exercises to help you implement inner forces that can keep you focused. In the meantime, practice bodyguard principles by staying aware of anything that detracts your passion … abolish them like a bouncer at the door of your dreams or if you like the compassionate approach, say thanks for sharing but I know what I’m doing. (Click to continue) •

Copyright © Jill Badonsky, 2007. All rights reserved.

About the Author | More by Jill Badonsky
Jill Badonsky, M.Ed. is a nationally recognized workshop leader, artist, performer, humorist, and author of the book, The Nine Modern Day Muses (and a Bodyguard): 10 Guides to Creative Inspiration for Artists, Poets, Lovers and Other Mortals Wanting to Live a Dazzling Existence. She teaches creativity lovers to facilitate classes and workshops based on her book and along with UCLA psychologist, Robert Maurer, she trains people to be Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coaches. She can be found lurking at www.themuseisin.com.

10/11/07