PLAYFULNESS

“In every real man a child is hidden that wants to play.”-Friedrich Nietzche

The quality of being light-hearted or full of fun. Playfulness helps us “outcompete” worry and anxiety with curiosity and passion.

Positive effect of Playfulness

Play increases freedom and optionality
Play expands the range of options available to us. When we play, we tend to look at things in new ways, often because the particular game or new situation forces us too.
Playfulness fosters better relationships
Play is a stress reliever and relaxing
Playfulness leads to creative thinking and smarter decision-making
Play offers the relatively unique chance to exercise both the analytical and creative aspects of our thinking.
Play can help us learn new skills
Playfulness helps with identity diversification
Play is often the first step toward new passions and income streams for your identity.

Tips for being more playful

Having time for play is as important for adults as it is for children — so make play part of your day! Here are 10 tips for being more playful:

Use unscheduled time to be creative, to daydream, reflect and decompress.
Appreciate playtime – whether it’s alone or with other adults or children.
Smile and laugh often throughout the day.
Try new things and experience the unexpected.
Participate in a variety of arts/sports/activities whenever you can to expand your horizons.
Make mental connections (e.g., “how else can I use this,” “what else can this do?”).
Sing and dance just for the fun of it.
Spend time with the children in your life, observing them as they play, listening to their conversation, and following their train of thought.
Cultivate a happy, joyful, positive attitude, full of gratitude for even the smallest, everyday things.
Plan to make play part of your day, whether it is indoor or outdoor, solo or social, active or quiet.

An Exercise for Accessing Playfulness

First, establish some degree of relaxation and ease in the body and breath, as if you are sitting in a warm and comforting bath, feeling the small knots of tension dissolving, letting go, more and more, with each breath. Take your time to relax.
When you feel relaxed and your breath is easy, allow a memory of a happy moment to arise, one in which you were filled with delight and the energy that brings.
Continue to allow your breath to be natural and relaxed; stay with any flow of images and perhaps sounds associated with this memory scene.
As the memory unfolds, bring attention to how you felt during that experience. Let yourself savor the delight or joy or exuberance. Allow these feelings to spread throughout your body and mind. Let an inner smile form as you feel them.
As the sense of delight strengthens, let go of the imagery, sitting and breathing in this atmosphere of playful ease and relaxation that has been created. If tension creeps in or the mind gets carried off in a thought stream, simply return again to the flow of imagery of this uplifting scene.
When you are ready, return to a normal waking state, continuing to enjoy the feelings.
We are drawn to feeling relaxed and lighthearted. If we elicit these core qualities at the beginning of meditation practice, meditation will become a less intense, more upbeat part of our repertoire.

Essential Oil Therapy

Lavender

Lime

Sweet Orange

Meditation

Breathing, relaxation, sensory and body scan meditation