Lessons for Living
|
|
|
|
|
How playful are you?
|
"Anything on earth you want to do is play. Anything on earth you have to do is work. Play will never kill you, work will. I never worked a day in my life." ~ Dr. Leila Denmark, 103, when she was the USA's oldest practicing physician. Dr Carl Simonton, a researcher in the area of wellness, studies the impact of emotional well-being on physical health. He has discovered that feeling down-and-out and in a state of low energy affects our bodies at the cellular cell by reducing the efficiency of the immune system. The result is that we may more easily catch a cold or the flu when they are going around. We may also open the door to more serious illness. Simonton's recommendation for overcoming conditions of low, emotional energy is to learn to be more playful. In other words, have some fun. Simonton says, "the first objective is to get your energy up, and you can do it through play," which he claims is "... one of the most powerful ways of breaking up hopelessness and bringing energy into the situation." But, what counts as play? One dictionary says that play is recreational activity, especially the spontaneous activity of children. Just how often do you show child-like spontaneity? When you are at a party and someone says, "Let's play a game," what is your reaction? Do you jump at the opportunity shouting, "Yes"? Or, do you slink away to hide. If you hide, what are you avoiding? Is it embarrassment -- "You know, I just can't play those games," -- awkwardness, or failure? What about when you get an unexpected invitation asking you to drop everything you are doing to join someone at the tennis court, softball field, or golf course? Do you ever say, "Sure, I'll be right there"? Or, do your commitments always hold you back. Occasionally playing hooky from your duties could be good for you. Whenever you do play, watch out for play that is too competitive. Competitiveness can be an impediment to fun because it takes the outcome much too seriously. Playfulness is what you are after and to be playful you need a sense of lightheartedness. Lightheartedness is the key feature you are seeking. After all, what you are trying to overcome is the mood of heavyheartedness that leads to low energy states of pessimism and despair, often resulting in the rejection of opportunities for fun. When feeling down-and-out and asked to participate in a playful activity (whatever it might be), the routine reply becomes, "No. Not now. I don't feel like it." Well, if not now, when? Supposedly, when you finally feel like it. But how long will that take? No one knows. It could take weeks, or it could be never. A solution to the dilemma of low energy is: "Do it anyway." Say "Yes" to something you might enjoy, and there is a good chance that you will. Don't wait to feel like it. Learn to say "Yes" to life's playful moments. Not only will you raise your energy level, but you may improve your health as well. Give us your feedback on this article or |
