A friend of mine sent over an excerpt from a book that told me something I already knew. Yet there was that, “I KNOW, RIGHT?” thought screaming in my mind as I read it, and a, “Thank You!” to the person who put it out there, validating what I knew to be true.
Play is good for you!
I don’t mean competitive sports like tennis, football or even golf, where you are keeping score. I am referring to the kind of play you engaged in as a child. When you didn’t care about the outcome of your art project, you just loved DOING it! You tried cartwheels, giggling in fits when you would fall to the grass. There was no failure except the failure to participate.
This is when we are truly connected to our soul and to the divine universe. When we let go of judging ourselves and the outcome of what we do. When we give in to the moment and tap into the joy in our hearts. When we release all fear of past or future and breathe in the now.
Getting into that playful spirit allows us a huge release. Letting go of anything except what you are doing now is like meditation for your soul. It will refresh you, enabling you to come back to situations and see them from a clearer perspective and achieve better outcomes. Most importantly, you have time to unite with your higher self, which will allow you to develop a greater self-love and appreciation for yourself.
This is one of the reasons why adult coloring books, play shops (rather than “workshops”), painting parties and other creative outlets have gained rapidly in popularity. These fun activities aren’t just for the creative types anymore as more “A” personality types are seeing how it actually increases their productivity to take a time out. My friend Lisa Tishman holds amazing art classes and is the author of a great meditative coloring and journaling experience that you will love! (Click on the picture to learn more.)
I have always found this to be true, which is why you will often hear me say you have to “think like a kid to succeed like a rock star!”
Yes, I have tokens for Chucky Cheese, play cards for Boomers and tickets from both places. It’s been less than six months since I have ridden a carousel. But it has been almost a year since I have hit the playground. So if you pass a playground today and see a big kid with long blonde hair, honk and wave. I’ll wave back at ya!
