The Only Game Today

Feeling not good enough. Feeling less than. Feeling dumb because you made a mistake. So often, we play the "feeling bad" about ourselves game. And feeling bad doesn't provide anyone any real value in the end.

For many of us, we are an unwitting participant, not realizing that this is just a game that we allow ourselves to play. If you find yourself playing this game, just for today -- and maybe tomorrow -- start playing the "Feel Good" game. Here's how: whenever you think a thought that leads you to feeling bad, say to yourself, "Sorry, not today. Today is Feel Good day. I'm taking a vacation from feeling bad about myself."

What could be better? A vacation that makes you feel good and doesn't cost any money!

Adulthood 101 Living Giddy

For a long time, I thought that adults were supposed to act like a James Dean character; aloof, shut-down, tough and cynical. It also included back pain -- adults get that. Unfortunately, part of me still holds on to that image. It's a very high price to pay. It leaves me feeling aloof, shut-down, cynical and in back pain.

In trying to be an adult, I'd give away much of my joy, enthusisam, optimism, and exuberance. I lose my smile too. It may not be very adult-like, but I sure love it when I'm excited about things, believe in fairies, trust people, smile and live with gusto. I love meeting people who have a twinkle in their eye, try new things, skip, sing, hum and whistle while they work.

So here's to a new model of adulthood; one with a big grin, a joyous smirk and living a giddy, happy life!

Playing at a Photo Shoot

Recently I met a really talented photographer while doing a photo shoot for a local business newspaper. We spent about an hour together sharing ideas, trying different angles and just playing with various shots. This was one of the photos that he took. What you don't know is that the first time I wrote P-L-A-Y on my hands the letters were backwards. I had to do a little scrubbing before we did a re-take! Whatever you've got going on today, don't be afraid to play with all kinds of ideas. Oh, and if you can find a willing playmate it can make the experience way more fun!

Playing in the Snow

Wow, did we have a great snow storm. The snow was perfect; deep, fluffy and very white. We had a ball sledding in it, walking through the woods in it and falling in it. It was fun, it was safe and inspired a lot of full body laughs. God it is great to play and have fun.

Hop to It

Ok, how much fun could I have wearing a black suit? Here was the idea. What if we showed up at the center of commerce in a major city and started playing hopscotch? Would people join in? Would I get arrested? Could we help people smile a bit more? So we did it. See for yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lXH2TxcX3E

I Lost My Sense of Play

When you start feeling angry or frustrated, it is a sure sign that you have lost your sense of play. Last night I was teaching an MBA class on presentation skills. Early on in the night I found myself feeling angry at a few students as I watched them perform well below their potential --either because they hadn't prepared or because they adopted a somewhat silly approach to the assignment.

When I find myself playing the anger game it usually catches me unaware, it's unintentional - mostly a response to a situation. When I'm angry, I never feel that I am operating as my best self. It's almost as if I've lost a bit of control and I worry that I may say something that I will regret.

So this morning I've decided to play a new game as it relates to teaching this class. The game I'm going to start playing is the "Committed but Detached" game. In this game, while I'm committed to my students growth, I'm detached from how they choose to engage in class. It is a reminder to me to not take their level of participation personally. It's not that I'm lowering my expectations, I'm just choosing to adopt a new approach when my expectations aren't met. It also helps me to stop feeling responsible for the actions of others.

I invite you to play the Committed but Detached game along with me. Playing this game will allow you to keep giving 100% while providing a well-needed buffer between you and the responses of others.

The Fun Theory

Evan and I received the same YouTube clip from 4 different people within the same week. You may have seen it too. It shows how given the choice, most people in this subway station take the escalator up vs. taking the stairs. Then a change is made to the stairs -- they are ingeniously turned into piano steps so when people walk on them they play a note. (Anyone who has ever seen the movie Big remembers the scene of "Tom Hanks" playing chopsticks in FAO Schwarz.) The YouTube video shows how 66% more people start to take the stairs when walking up them becomes fun.

This clip is connected to this initiative Volkswagen has created called The Fun Theory. It is dedicated to the idea that something as simple as fun is the easiest way to change people's behavior for the better. Of course, Evan and I would say that the easiest way to change your own behavior is to start making things fun for yourself. That's the who idea behind our Games for the Day. They enable you to build your own piano keys for whatever set of steps you need to climb. Are you interested in walking through life making music?