Tuesday Thoughts and It's Playtime

We are never more fully alive, more completely ourselves, or more deeply engrossed in anything than we are playing.

Charles Schaefer

Hi Friends,

Last week we focused on going through fire and this week we will go in a different direction.

When visiting my granddaughter, I saw that my daughter had bought a bubble blower for her baby. Ends up, the cats liked it more than the baby ;)

I saw it and I immediately said, "I need to get one."

I am in a course right now, and part of it is connecting with your inner child.

Well, what does your inner child want to do? Have you asked that question?

What is something you used to love as a child? For me three things came up: Swinging, singing and blowing bubbles.

Now, I am not talking about playing with grandkids here, but you can get a ton of inspiration from them. So, I bought myself a bubble blower! Doesn't it make you happy when you see bubbles??

I, yet, have to go to a playground and swing. I will do that. And singing, well, let’s just say that will happen in the car.

What will you do? We are so caught in our adult world, doing all the things we need to do and don't want to do. What is something that you would consider playful? I dare you to do it. And then report back to me what you did and how you felt!

There are so many ways to play. Play could be simply:

goofing off with friends
sharing jokes with a coworker
throwing a frisbee on the beach
dressing up on Halloween with your kids
building a snowman in the yard
playing fetch with a dog
acting out charades at a party
going for a bike ride with no destination in mind
blowing bubbles
singing a song
swinging on a swing
playing cards

There doesn’t need to be any point to the activity beyond having fun and enjoying yourself. By giving yourself permission to play with the joyful abandon of childhood, you can reap oodles of health benefits throughout life.

The benefits are plenty. Here is an excerpt from helpguide.org.

Relieve stress. Play is fun and can trigger the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.
Improve brain function. Playing chess, completing puzzles, or pursuing other fun activities that challenge the brain can help prevent memory problems and improve brain function. The social interaction of playing with family and friends can also help ward off stress and depression.
Stimulate the mind and boost creativity. Young children often learn best when they are playing—a principle that applies to adults, as well. You’ll learn a new task better when it’s fun and you’re in a relaxed and playful mood. Play can also stimulate your imagination, helping you adapt and solve problems.

Improve relationships and your connection to others. Sharing laughter and fun can foster empathy, compassion, trust, and intimacy with others. Play doesn’t have to include a specific activity; it can also be a state of mind. Developing a playful nature can help you loosen up in stressful situations, break the ice with strangers, make new friends, and form new business relationships.
Keep you feeling young and energetic. In the words of George Bernard Shaw, “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” Play can boost your energy and vitality and even improve your resistance to disease, helping you function at your best.

This weeks affirmation :

I allow myself to play.

Isabelle

How about it? The benefits are plenty and I bet you will even inspire others to be playful, even if it’s for just a few moments. Especially now during tax season!

What is your favorite? Playing cards? Playing with your dog? Playing allows us to let go of worries for a while and just be light hearted. Who doesn't need an extra dose of that?

Painting or doodling might be a fun way to express yourself, as long as you don't censor yourself.

I remember playing a game during the holidays, where one person was given a paper and a word he/she had to draw, then the next person named that drawing and folded the paper, so the next in line only saw the drawing. They then name it and so on until at the end, the last person opens the paper and sees if the last word is anything even close to the original. Kind of like "telephone" just with pictures. It takes a paper and a pencil. Really easy. And it's so fun!

Oh please share some fun ideas with me. I can't wait to hear from you.

And yes, this is something I incorporate in my coaching. Fun. It's part of your future you. Are you ready?

PS: Message me for a free consult to start moving toward a more confident you.

You are loved. Deeply loved. Loved beyond measure.

Until next time,