Creativity & Wellness

Give Me a Quote

By Jill Badonsky, M.Ed.

One of the philosophies of the program, Body Blissmas (and a Happy New Rear) is that if we tense and release our butts while watching TV, our butts will get better without moving. You can tense and relax your butt right now as you are reading this (go ahead.. tense 2,3.4 relax, and again 2,3…) and you are actually on your way to a happy new rear while just sitting here reading avoiding doing something more creative.… Ah, creative thought reframes things so nicely, so neatly, sometimes a bit flimsily.

Nevertheless, the topic of this article is not rears, it is quotes. Because ANOTHER philosophy we have in BB is that if we fill with creative inspiration, wonder and passion rather than with double-stuffed Oreo cookies we will be filling a self that will be sure to serve us in more fulfilling ways than if we crash from all that sugar and contract obese-related illnesses and die. Know what I mean?

We mortals seem to love quotes. They are like spiritual vitamins in that they can fortify our spirits when they are under nourished. For instance this one:

“There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.” ~ Sophia Loren

I never get tired of that one. I read it often when I start to fret about getting older. It reminds me that I have this inner world that I dwell in that will never get old, a world that will keep me timeless. The creative process actually releases anti-aging chemicals when we are in a flow. Real time goes by fast but we are unaware of it because creativity is its own time zone and we preserve all our faculties when we are fully immersed in it.

Quotes also have the potential to be creative experiences.

“Youth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind; it is not a matter of rosy cheeks, red lips and supple knees; it is a matter of the will, quality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotions; it is the freshness of the deep springs of life.” ~ Samuel Ullman

Take the above quote and answer questions about it. Doing this will make this not only a quote that inspires you but it will be an experience that deepens your creative awareness. Below are your questions related to the quote. Please answer them with a number two, midnight blue crayon:

What does a 'matter of will' mean to you? Where is passion that inspires will present in your life now? What one small way can you exercise just 5 minutes of will today or tomorrow?

What is your 'quality of imagination'? Imagine for 30 seconds that your dreams came true five times better than you are hoping. How would that feel in your body? Does it bring up fear? If you DO feel fear, what can you tell yourself so the fear does not derail your small steps? Do you let yourself daydream positively to enrich the quality of your imagination? Making lists of ideas also feeds your imagination.

How is the 'vigor of your emotions'? Do you explore your emotions in writing and art to fortify them? Do you meditate to strengthen that part of you that remains constant even in the storm of life?

What are your 'deep springs of life'? What small moments of delight refresh you? The smell of cinnamon? The magnificence of a daffodil? The feel of clean sheets? The taste of water after a workout? The possibility inside of an idea?

Now that you have answered those questions, you have brought a quote alive. You have now know yourself a little more. Knowing our SELF helps with SELF expression; helps with our authenticity and confidence. And heavens knows, we need confidence in the creative process.

"Confidence imparts a wonderful inspiration to its possessor." ~ John Milton

Jill Badonsky, Med. is founder and director of Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coaching Training and Body Blissmas (and a Happy New Rear): A Celebration of Creativity and Wellness .
Visit www.2bodyblissmas.citymax.com and www.kaizenmuse.com.

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.

06/13/08