Seeds for Change Wellness
Lighten Up
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Are you frequently feeling stressed and hassled?
Have you forgotten the playfulness of childhood?
Is laughter a word missing from your dictionary?
If so, you may be taking life too seriously!
The average 5 year old can teach us a lot about what we are missing out on in life. Think about it! When
was the last time you noticed a young child continually stressed out about what was happening in their day?
How many kids do you hear saying, "If I just had two more hours in my day, I could get everything done!"
Maybe you have overheard them lamenting "Billy, I can`t come out to play with you today, I`m just too tired
and every bone in my body aches."
Granted, childhood isn`t perfect, but it is doubtful the typical child is consumed with worry and stress to the
degree we seem to engage in these activities as adults. Why could that be? Well--you are right if you are
saying they do not have the responsibilities we have, that they have a limited range of life experiences, and
they are too busy being a kid and haven`t been taught to worry yet. This portrait deserves a closer look.
Why are children not caught up in the stress and worry?
The first question to ask is:
Why are children not saying to their parents such things like:
"How will I ever get enough time to play all the games I want to play today?"
"My room is such a mess! When will I ever get it all straightened out?"
"If only I could organize all my toys, then I could find my Barbie when I`m looking for her!"
"Do you think my friends will laugh at me when I wear a pink stripped shirt, green camouflage pants,
and orange socks today?
Answer: Because they are experts at living in the present moment, they engage in creative activities
and they still know how to have fun, for starters.
Next question:
How can I recapture some of this?
Answer:
Imitate the spirit of childhood!
Question:
Where do I start?
Answer:
Become an expert at living in the present moment. This is about focusing our attention on what we are
doing, fully experiencing the moment. When we do this we are:
~ Stepping beyond our thinking minds
~ Opening our hearts to the sacred
~ Listening to inner guidance
~ Finding the peace we want
~ Letting go of attachments
~ Feeling our real self
It is difficult, if not impossible to continually be in the NOW, but with awareness, we can tune in more
regularly. How many little things do you find yourself doing on a daily basis that have become routine, so
much so, you may even have lost all awareness of what happened?
Think about any long term relationship you are in. How do you greet that person? For example, what do
you do when your spouse or partner comes home from work? If they walk in the door, and you greet them
with a big hug and kiss and say "I`ve missed you today, I`m so glad your home!" And they respond "OK,
what do you want now?" Or, they say "What`s gotten into you?" Then you know something is wrong.
Somehow over time, we tend to dilute our experiences by not fully engaging in them, thus losing the richness
they offer. You can start by consciously picking one routine you participate in and fully engaging your
awareness, paying attention to sight, sound, feeling, detail, etc.
Turn a possibly dull, boring routine into a new adventure. Assume this perspective while: washing
dishes by hand, folding clothes, grocery shopping, or straightening around the house. Experience with new
eyes: watching children playing, greeting our loved ones, talking with co-workers or attending a meeting.
Engage in regular creative activities. Children are definitely the experts in this arena. They can take what
seemly appears to be nothing and develop it through their imaginations to be something that can intrigue
them for hours. How do they do this? They are not bounded by rules, structure, limitations. They explore all
possibilities.
Some suggestions:
Take a simple task or activity and think of all the ways it can be done differently...how many different ways
can you fold a cloth napkin?...how many different uses can you find for a paper clip? Do something you
normally do one way, and try it another... If you are right handed, trying drawing with your left hand....if you
always go to work one way, try taking some different back roads to see where they will take you. Try
something totally out of character...enroll in a drawing class, audition for a play at the local community
theater, plan a trip to swim with the dolphins. But remember how to have fun
Below is an article which has wonderful suggestions on how to lighten up at the office to help reduce stress.
Get Serious about Your Office Toys by Mike Kerr
Wacky office props are great "humor-aids"- helping us access our sense of humor during stressful periods.
Some psychologists believe our sense of humor is the opposite of stress, so accessing your humor is one of
the easiest ways to combat stress.
Toys can remind yourself of the number one humor-in-the workplace credo: Take your work seriously, but
yourself lightly. Toys reveal our human side. Some toys create nostalgic childhood memories, reminding us
that behind our fancy workplace titles, we are all real, warm-blooded human beings.
Need a creative lightning bolt? Using toys to tap into our playful side may be just the thing the creativity
doctor ordered. Both humor and creativity are about playing around with ideas, so any time we tap into that
playful inner kid lurking inside us, we also tap into that creative child.
If you catch yourself say, "We`ve got to stop meeting like this!" after every meeting, then bring in some toys
to break folks out of their rut. Fun toys can turn your "boredroom" into an inspiration room.
Looking for a conversation starter? That silly gadget sitting on your desk might be the perfect icebreaker.
Adding office toys to a customer reception area can help folks relax, reduce their perceived waiting time and
send the message that you are a fun company that cares about its clients.
Stuck in another traffic jam? Then reach for the bubble blower in your glove compartment and start blowing
away your stress.
Studies of prison cells, hospitals and gerbil cages all reveal the same thing: our physical environment has a
substantial impact on our moods, stress levels and creativity. (If toys can help gerbils grow brain cells, then
imagine what they might do for you and your co-workers).
Life is too darned short not to have fun at the office. Who ever said work wasn`t supposed to be fun? We
know that productive workplaces are positive, and yes, fun places to be. If you are spending 2/3 of your
waking hours somewhere, then for goodness sakes, do whatever you can to make your working experience
as creative, passion-filled and as fun as you possibly can.
So folks, take your toys to work with pride. And when you are playing in the corporate sandbox, just
remember to share- a little fun can go a long way.
