You Are Created To Move And Have Fun: Create Playfulness

There are a million people in this world that tell you to not be playful, they want you moulded into the robot that society so often wants you to become. But being playful is not only a positive attribute, it is essential for being happy. In this module you will learn to challenge your inner adult and embrace your inner child. You will find out how much playfulness serves you, and create surroundings that enhance playfulness.

Transcript

So,

Today we're looking at how you can become more playful and how you can challenge your inner adult and embrace your inner child.

We will try and find out what level of playfulness serves you and how your surroundings dictate what playing fields are available.

Our goal is to grow and develop by incorporating playfulness into your everyday life.

Charles Schaefer said we are never more fully alive,

More completely ourselves or more deeply engrossed in anything than when we are playing.

So let's play.

First of all,

Let me explain that being playful is more of an attitude or state of mind and not just merely a one-off activity.

At least that is my opinion.

For example,

Two people could throw a frisbee back and forth and one of them could be playing and the other one could be working.

Two people can do the exact same activity but have two completely different mindsets.

This is the very first thing we need to understand.

It is not so much about what and a whole lot more about how you do things when it comes to playfulness.

Now,

This course has so far often been about me inviting you to become a more mature,

Responsible and focused adult.

And all these qualities are extremely important and they are also not the opposite of being playful.

The mentioned qualities can go alongside playfulness.

Being playful does not mean behaving like an immature idiot who does not care.

Being playful means approaching an activity with a less stressed,

Less close-minded and less output-oriented mindset.

It is scientifically proven that playing releases endorphins,

Which immediately puts you in a happier state of mind.

This also means that in the long run you can actually be more productive whilst having better overall well-being through being playful.

Big tech companies see being playful as one of the most important personality traits when they evaluate new potential workers.

I already listed plenty of reasons for that but yet another one is that being playful allows for creative and innovative problem solving.

With a playful attitude you will be less hesitant to try out new ways and explore never-done-before approaches that at first might even seem silly.

Now,

Being playful can have many different shapes and forms.

You can have a playful attitude in a game,

A conversation,

Work,

Sports,

Fishing.

It can happen anywhere and anytime.

As I said,

It is dictated by your approach first and foremost.

Now let me talk a bit more about why being playful is not the opposite of being an adult.

Being an adult actually makes you secure enough to be playful whenever you have the impulse to do so.

Let me repeat this because this is an extremely important note.

Being mature and being an adult makes you secure enough to be playful whenever you have the impulse to.

Of course,

There are times when being playful is less appropriate than other times.

These times are all subjective and individual choices.

Some are obvious,

Like a funeral for example.

Others are less obvious and this is where you should be sensible enough to understand other people's needs.

I personally often have to check myself whether a playful attitude serves not only me but also my immediate surroundings.

So be playful as much as you can but also be sensible.

Next let us talk about environments that your playful state of mind can create.

Being playful allows you to create environments that are a lot more appealing for others to join.

This can be professional or social environments.

Creating environments with fun obstacles and silly challenges will make a huge difference in what attitude people have when being around you.

You can use a playful state of mind in your everyday life no matter how mundane the original environment.

One little challenge,

A silly question or a game to start a meeting or conversation can make all the difference for the time to come.

Also humans are unique and other people's playful environments can look different from yours.

I would like to invite you to enter other people's playful environments as much as create them yourself.

It is such a joy for people when you accept playful environments and tag along with their ideas and innovations.

This will not only bring joy to you but also deepen your connection immediately.

By the way,

When talking about the word playing,

Our mind often connects the word sports.

Playing sports nowadays is often not playful anymore.

In many cases,

The terminology executing sports would be more appropriate than playing sports.

Many forms of sports are extremely goal-oriented,

Structured and their only purpose is to win.

I'm not generally shitting on sports.

I love sports.

I do a lot of sports myself but I want to invite you to become more conscious of how sports are often not really playful anymore.

If executing sports serves you,

Good for you.

But maybe also challenge yourself to see how playful you can be next time you do sports.

Now let us look at why being playful is important to your personal development and happiness.

Much like dolphins,

Apes and other mammals,

Play is important for your social bonding.

All of us humans are inherently social and playful beings.

You are a social being with social needs and you need to interact with others in order to be balanced and happy.

Now when it comes to different forms of interactions,

Playing is one of the easiest and healthiest ways to create social bonds.

With a playful attitude,

You will achieve high-quality connections with others more easily,

Especially with your close friends.

Think about it.

Why do adult birthday parties often have elements of play?

Because playing allows you to connect and bring lighthearted joy that is not easily reached otherwise.

This lighthearted joy opens you up to further your connections.

Another obvious benefit of a playful mindset is that it makes you more physically active,

Which improves your physical health.

A playful state of mind actually gives you energy.

You might think of playfulness as being exhausting when it is actually the opposite.

A playful attitude recharges your batteries.

The reason for that is that playfulness excites you and the result of an excited mind is energy available to become active.

Now another effect is that being in a playful mindset allows you to be more confident.

When you are in an extremely serious mindset,

There is a sharp division between right and wrong and you will be more anxious about failing and you will be more judgmental.

Both are traits that diminish your confidence.

Being in a playful state of mind means you are less anxious because you approach problems as a puzzle that can be solved in a million different ways.

You are less stressed to find the one and only solution to a problem and thus your confidence is boosted.

Now this boost in confidence has the further side effect of becoming more ambitious.

Being more playful seems contrary to being more ambitious but it is proven to be true.

Think about it.

We established that a playful mindset makes you less scared.

Now being less scared of failing and being more confident means you are less hesitant.

And being less hesitant means you are moving faster and you can achieve higher and bigger goals thus you are more ambitious.

So in an even bigger picture you can say that playfulness increases your hope.

The hope you have for yourself and also for this world.

Again,

The mindset of not seeing possible solutions as right or wrong but rather as a puzzle will make your attitude more positive.

You will still see the problems but you will not lose hope easily.

For example,

Climate change is real but what mindset serves you?

Would it serve you to see it as a puzzle to be solved in a creative way?

Would it serve you to think of it as your ticket to hell?

I am not saying you shouldn't take climate change seriously but I am saying it shouldn't make you bitter and depressed.

And in order to not become bitter you can use a playful mindset.

Lastly,

I want to mention that being playful makes you more present and being more in the now in combination with having more hope means that you will appreciate beauty a lot more easily.

Your explorative mind will allow you to see things from all angles and admire beauty in everything and everyone.

Now let us talk about your practical exercises for today.

I would like to invite you now to write down three names of the people in your life that are the most playful.

Write down the names and what qualities they have.

What qualities actually make them playful?

You can also write down the environments these people usually choose to be playful in.

Whatever observations come to mind,

Write them down.

Pause the course now and come back when you have found your three names and observations.

Now you have gained awareness of what qualities your playful friends possess,

I would like to invite you now to write down where and with whom else you can experience these types of qualities and environments.

Imagine yourself as the creator of playful environments.

Again pause the course now and come back to it when you have written out your findings.

For the next few days or during this week I would like to challenge you to create one playful moment every day.

Even if it is very small and just for one second,

Consciously create a playful moment.

Try to be as light and indirect as you can in your qualities and observe how people and you feel when being in a playful environment.