Last week, we talked about how exploring your creative side can assist you in finding your own, unique purpose.
Another super fun and fantastic resource on our journey to meaning and purpose is playfulness.
So today, let’s look at why playfulness is important and how to incorporate it into your life!
Playfulness Gently Leads Us Past Our Comfort Zone
Have you ever witnessed a friend or relative show a completely different side of themselves during a silly game?
Or maybe you’ve noticed such a shift within yourself in a time of laughter and play.
That’s the magic of playfulness.
It actually distracts us from our typical limitations, which means we can discover new facets of ourselves that we didn’t even know existed!
It also sheds light on our strengths, values, and passions, assisting us in exploring what we are uniquely qualified to do in this life of ours.
So, whether you decide to browse the toy aisle, set up a game night with friends, take an improv class, or join an epic Nerf battle with your nephews…
Paying attention to what we discover through times of playfulness brings us into greater alignment with our highest selves and thus, our purpose.
Playfulness Improves Our Mindset
A positive mindset is like the biggest Find Your Purpose hack ever.
Since what we focus on we create more of, it’s crucial to incorporate positive thinking on our journeys to our individual purpose.
And though that’s sometimes easier said than done, one of the fastest ways to improve your mindset is to start adding play, laughter, and joy into your life wherever possible.
The humor element of playfulness is particularly useful in shifting our mindsets (and therefore opening ourselves up to greater meaning) since it adds enjoyment to the mundane and a sense of lightness and ease within us.
Laughter even reduces stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, oxygenates the blood, improves our immune system, staves off anxiety, and decreases symptoms of depression by releasing feel-good endorphins.
If you wanna find your purpose, you gotta be at your best!
So, if you’ve found that as an adult, the areas of humor and laughter have been notched down on your priority list, consider stepping up your game by:
watching a favorite funny movie or standup comic, reading from a joke book every day, trying to capture your pet’s personality in a picture or video, befriending an especially funny person, or observing the funny, day-to-day things that happen to you and people around you.
Playfulness is Energizing AF
Take a moment and think of some times you had an absolute blast, maybe even laughing until tears ran down your face.
I bet just remembering that gave you a jolt of energy!
That’s because as human beings, we light up when we play.
Play and laughter boost dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin, helping us show up to our lives with more joy, more focus, and you guessed it – more purpose.
They also fuel us for the future and give us the energy to stay motivated toward our goals.
To Sum Up…
Fun is fun, and it’s super good for you in like, dozens of ways!
It doesn’t have to cost a thing, and it can have you reaping benefits right and left in no time.
Observing what elements of playfulness ignite a spark within you will guide you down your own, authentic path to purpose and meaning.
Cheering you on always!