Fearless Fun Friday…Guest Post by Jill Badonsky..

I believe a happy heart is a creative heart.  In the last year, I’ve looked for many ways to expand my creativity past that which I already know.  I find as I allow my heart to express itself through different mediums, these creative forays then open doors in many areas of my life.  One of the resources I use is the book “the Awe-manac”, by Jill Badonsky.  It is fanciful, fun, full of daily inspiration of writing prompts, celebrations, insights.  As my gift to you, one lucky reader who comments on this–my first “Fearless Fun Friday” series post–will receive a copy of “the Awe-Manac”.  One name will be picked at random on Monday May 3rd at 4am Pacific time and announced on the Monday morning post.

 I am absolutely *delighted* to have Jill share this space with me.  We’ve all heard: ask and you shall receive, step and the Universe shall meet you.  I love Jill’s work, so I wrote to Jill about new blog and my hopes for enriching our creativity with this Friday series, and she answered!  Open your heart, and your life will follow.  Truly.

Thank you, Jill, for sharing this space with me today…..The following are the words she shared with me….In her 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, Jill Badonsky updated the nine Greek Muses into 10 creative principles that help mortals break through blocks like procrastination and overwhelm, and get in touch with their creative joy. 

As written by Jill, here is a description from the book of one of the Muses: Albert: The Muse of Imagination and Innovation.

“To get into the spirit of this Muse, rules and protocols were broken. Thus, this Muse is a male instead of a female. AND not only that, a mortal named Albert Einstein inspired the selection of this Muse in a realm where Muses usually inspire mortals. The Muses giggled at this disobedient gesture of pure genius, and then I can’t remember which one, but one of them said, ‘Well, we’ve got to throw in some surprises or else the mortal mind will stall in the obvious when it could be cruising in the miraculous.’ Albert inspires mortals to see with new eyes so that their world can be construed in a much different way, a way that serves their creative dreams.

Break the Rules. Albert Einstein was told that his work on relativity was not possible. Has anyone doubted something you wanted to do? Break their rules and decide for yourself how to do something. The Muse, Albert says if it’s not a rule about safety or morals, break it in order to live your creative dream, make it up as you go along, commit yourself. You will inspire others to do the same.

Have you ever not done anything because you didn’t think you knew how? Pam Grout author of Art and Soul has written two plays, a TV series, and 11 books but she didn’t know how…She just did it anyway. You’ve heard of Michael Caine, haven’t you? He broke the rules of being an actor… he didn’t take one acting lesson. He just watched people and started practicing doing what they did. Where have you given up because you didn’t think you were doing it “right?” Make up your own definition of right and know that in the world of creative thinking there is more than one right answer. There’s more than one right answer to planting a garden, writing a novel, scrapbooking, running your business, parenting … to being who you are. Which answer energizes your spirit the most?

 Seeing Differently. Albert also gives us tools to see our world differently. He helps us see through a new imaginative lens. When you have a challenge in your life, imagine trying on the personality of someone who is fearless, decisive and filled with grace. What would she say? What would Oprah say? Or Eleanor Roosevelt, Audrey Hepburn or even a strong character from a work of fiction or a movie?  What decision would you make if you thought like you imagined these women think?

This concept can also turn dull writing into irresistible prose, a relationship suffering from routine into one rich with novelty, or an unexciting business plan to one thriving in distinction. Try on a new attitude or genre. Here’s an example of seeing the full moon differently by applying a new lens to the full moon:

Irritable:
Could Someone PLEASE turn the moon off?

 Hard of Hearing:

Huh? Cool tune?

Thoughtful:
I’ll just have a crescent, you take the full one.

Imaginative:
The moon punched a hole in the sky.

Teenager:
Who cares, turn up the radio, dude.

 Error prone:
The moon is sort of oval this evening.

Poetic:

The moon is a harsh mistress.

Stephen Colbert:
Nation, because you are so important I have made the moon full for you.

These new slants can lead to a new energy to creative.

 To See Differently Ask What if?

What if this lapse in the economy made you think differently about what’s important? What if you finally realized how much you already have?What if you acted from your courageous side rather than your scared side? What if you believed in your dreams?

What if almost every loss you’ve had saved you from something worse?
What if you said “no” to the things that don’t serve you and “yes” to your creative call? What if doing that made you better for everyone and everything around you?

What if engaging in something creative made you love life more even if you weren’t perfect?

This notion may take some time and practice to adopt so imagine opening to its possibility just 5% more this week, try that now. Practice thinking differently this month.

 Ask yourself small questions:

What’s one small way I can adopt a different way of thinking about what I’m doing? What’s one way I see what everyone else sees, but think something different?

“There’s a wonder in the way we’re always free

To change the world by changing how we see.”

Cyndi Craven

Visit www.themuseisin.com and www.kaizenmuse.com

Advertisement