Creative Solutions and Inspirations from the Modern Day Muses

Previously on The Bodyguard ...

By Jill Badonsky, M.Ed.

Last month you were introduced to the modern day Muses Bodyguard. As promised, here are some specific ways you can use your creative bodyguard to protect your creative process and in fact stay in the process instead of procrastinating or putting projects, pursuits and new paths off until the year 2525 if man is still alive (I so just dated myself!).

The Bodyguard Car Wash:

1. Dang, there are so many blogs out there... that seem better than mine, they’re much further along, much more techno-savvy and clever. Oh woe is me.
   
   
2. Why are other people’s blogs so much better than mine?
   
   
3. Oops. My mind is operating in sludge.
   
   
4. How can I make my blog better? (ick... overwhelm)
   
   
5. What’s one really small step I can take in the next five minutes to improve my blog? How can I make it fun?

You have just witnessed a thought process that has gone through The Bodyguard Car Wash. A process designed to rid your creative vehicle, the mind, of the grim, mud and sludge that keeps you from moving forward with sparkling success.

Explanation keyed to the stages above (see stages above then read corresponding number).

1. This is a common thought that comes up for mortals in the creative process. It’s a lethal dose of comparison and competition that can keep you stuck in the mud where you have a good view of the TV but little respect for yourself.
   
   
2. This is the same thought translated into a dangerous question. Your subconscious will work on this question and come with an answer — which won’t serve you. For example: Other people’s blogs are better than mine because they are actually working on them unlike me who can’t seem to consistently work on mine.
   
   
3. This is a very important step. It’s awareness. You are aware you are stuck in the mud so now you can do something about it.
   
   
4. Here is a question that is framed more positively, yet, personally when I read it I become overwhelmed and overwhelm for me usually leads to procrastination, TV and checking emails obsessively including spam.
   
   
5. Ahhhhhhhhh. This is translating the question into one that will result in a more creative and positive state of mind. The mud will leave and upon asking the question over and over whenever you think to ask it without expecting an answer immediately. Your centers of idea formation inside your mind will be working diligently on coming up with answers (for instance: take just 5 minutes to play with a quote). And because it is broken down in to a small step, the mind won’t go into fear, overwhelm, or immobilizing comparison ... it will cooperate and allow your windshield to be clear and drive you forward with enthusiasm, progress and a blog entry. Add fun, lower your unrealistic expectations, add your passion and you’ll go from zero to sixty in five;)

OR

You could go through the instant Bodyguard Car Wash which looks like this:

1. Dang, there are so many blogs out there... that seem better than mine, they’re much further along, much more techno-savvy and clever. Oh woe is me.
   
   
2. So what, I’ll do my blog anyway !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nothing, not even competition or a locomotive can stop me.

Dispatching Muses,
Jill

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.

11/11/07