“It takes courage to say yes to rest and play in a culture
where exhaustion is seen as a status symbol.”
- Brene Brown
A positive-psychology speaker Jerry Harry, defines play as “any joyful act where you forget about time, where there is no purpose or result, where you are entirely enveloped in the process.” Play is so key and yet, so often overlooked in adulthood.
So, why is it that as we become adults, we become conditioned
to not be silly and make time for play?
We all know how important play is for children, but the benefits of playfulness are arguably even bigger for adults. I genuinely believe there is a lot that we can learn from the imaginative minds and joyous spirit that the younger generation so easily exude every day. They look at the world in awe!
As we get older and assume more responsibility, many of us find care-free play more tricky. This is potentially because the idea that playing is something we associate with what children do and being serious and composed is what grown-ups do.
As adults we end up spending much of our time wrapped up in work mode, which results in us feeling chronically stressed and can take a fair amount of time to unwind ourselves.
There's one way to genuinely unwind, relax, and get out of that exhausting mental work mode that almost all adults forget about: Play.
Play is important for our mental wellbeing.
Why is it good to include playfulness activities and practice into our daily lives?
Play isn't goal-oriented or pressure-filled.
Genuine play is stimulating, thought-provoking, and challenging.
Play brings us into the present moment and enables us to connect with a sense of joy which lies within each of us.
When we become playful, self-consciousness goes out of the window and I cannot tell you how liberating and freeing that is!
Play is free-flowing fun that unleashes our imagination.
Play can help lower our anxiety and stress levels.
Play has been shown to release endorphins, improve brain functionality, and stimulate creativity.
One simple act of playfulness
One simple act of playfulness is putting music on and just moving. Let go fully and release the fears of what it looks like and embrace the freeing sensation of moving however you wish.
How often as adults do we get the opportunity to roar out the stresses of modern day life or move in an expressive way? Join us for our next Fawe class and workshops. Click the link below to awaken your playful warrior!
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