Courting The Muse



Facing a blank page is never a ton of fun. Like any stretch of your comfort zone, it's a little scary, but hopefully ultimately rewarding. Fabulousness demands that you reach beyond what's normal, comfortable and safe. The people who really inspire us have searched within themselves to find something greater, following an inner call to live their own, unique version of life.

The writing process is the perfect metaphor for finding your own inner sense of fabulousness. First comes the artistry of looking inward and finding inspiration, then there's the flow of words and finally crafting them into shape. Without that first creative act of looking within, everything else is just mechanics.

Life, too, is going to feel pretty stale, unless you make space for your own creative expression, whatever that may be. We tend to assume that creativity means making art, but it really means tuning into your own inner vision and expressing what is truly joyful for you. The mythologist, Joseph Campbell, famously said "follow your bliss". If that means making the best chocolate cake on the planet - please let me know if you do - or running a marathon or just being a damned good listener, then that's what you need to do. Honour the voice of your muse.

If you think it's too difficult or too late for you to find that voice, let the tale of the American poet, William Stafford, inspire you. He didn't publish a single piece of work until he was 48. Then he came up with poetry of stunning power and simplicity, like When I Met My Muse. In that poem, his muse says "I am your own way of looking at things ... when you allow me to live with you, every glance at the world around you will be a sort of salvation". It's never too late to be your authentic self.

So where do you begin? That's easy - when did you last have fun? Being your fabulous self is not meant to be an effort. In fact, effort is clearly anti-fab. The things we enjoy are powerful clues to how we can find the greatest satisfaction in personal expression. The ultimate aim is to live our lives with the natural enthusiasm of childhood, full of curiosity and wonder. People who enjoy their work and wake up excited by the possibilities the day may hold are not an urban myth. They actually do exist.

To help you widen your own horizons beyond what you currently think is possible for you, look for stories of people who are living their dreams. If you don't know anyone like that just yet, check out www.igetpaidtodothis.com/the-cast.htm as your starter for ten.

Envy is another great clue. We hate to admit feeling it, but if the green-eyed monster rises up when we hear about someone else's success, that's a big sign to look at exactly what it is in that story that strikes a chord. Would you be more envious if someone you knew started a family, travelled the world, ran a charity or wrote a book? Which one of those stories could you see yourself in? What's your dream?

Childhood memories are also a goldmine for clues to our secret dreams. Embarrassingly, I used to practise my acceptance speech for the Oscars in the bathroom mirror when I was little. Do I act? No. Could it be my dream to write a screenplay that would see me on the red carpet clutching that golden boy? Just maybe.

Your muse is calling you to live your life in a way that is a natural extension of who you are. I'm a bit of a media junkie, so when I find a news item or a tip that I think will inspire or interest a friend, I pass it on. The 'I Am Fabulous' chronicles are just that same habit on a larger scale, a reflection of what I naturally do.

Remember that the muse is traditionally female - one up for the girls! - and therefore does not speak with a loud voice. She cannot be heard over the chaos of frantic day-to-day busy-ness. To court her you'll need to create some space: a walk by the river, just stopping and listening to some great music, writing in a journal or maybe a few precious moments of silence. Stillness is where fabulousness resides. It's your well of inspiration and your greatest hope for the life you really want to live.



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All material © 2005 Alison Porter. No article may be reproduced in full or in part without the express permission of the author. (Originally posted 28 Nov 05)