"The Opposite Of Play Isn't Work....

The opposite of play is depression." 

​These are the words of Dr. Stuart Brown, one of the biggest proponents of play, and the founder of the National Institute of Play. 

Yet, for many of us, play is seen as a waste of time.
Play doesn't get us further and faster in life, or business.
We think play is for children, but not adults.
We have more important things to do. 

Today, I invite you think about it differently. 

Brown says that the only way to find lasting joy and satisfaction in work is through play. 

He says, "In the long run, work does not work without play." 

Brown says that there are 7 components that make up play:
1) It has no apparent purpose - except to play. 
2) It is 100% voluntary.
3) It's attractive - you want to engage (even when you try to convince yourself you don't)
4) It involves freedom from time - you get so entrenched you forget to look at the time.
5) It involves a diminished consciousness of self - you forget about what people think
6) It has improvisational potential - there is room for spontaneity.
7) It produces continuation desires - you don't want it to stop.

As a mother of 2 young children, I am often invited into their play.

Sometimes I say yes, sometimes I say no.

If I truly allow myself to let go, I never regret it. 

When I next approach work, I feel lighter, more at ease, and renewed.

All because I took time out to play.

What's your favorite way to play? (I love to play in the snow, as you see above.)
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Originally posted on Linkedin with comments.
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