…the self that emerges through play is the core authentic self
– Dr. Stuart Brown
One of the most powerful gifts I gave myself when I decided to take charge of my happiness was making time and space for play. I began prioritising activities that had no specific purpose or end-goal. Things I did just for the sake of doing them, because I enjoyed them, because I was curious and interested to explore.
Why was this so powerful? Because in play, I found my way. Actively prioritizing play (which for me often means dancing, immersing myself in a fibre arts activity, exploring a new place, or cooking) was a simple, accessible way to rediscover what I enjoyed doing after years of living life for other people. I began to remember and love my “core authentic self”.
So when I discover Dr. Stuart Brown’s book, Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the imagination, and Invigorates the Soul, I was thrilled. Here, in book form, was someone explaining the science behind something I’d always known to be true deep in my bones. That play is a vital part of life, not just for children, but for adults too.
Dr. Brown, founder of the National Institute for Play, sets out evidence-based information about why play is so important to humans of all ages. How embracing play as an adult can make you more resilient, flexible, successful and happy. He stresses that play has the power to drop you quickly into flow – that beautiful space where time seems to suspend, and solutions to problems you’ve been chewing on for ages seem to drop out of the blue.
More importantly, he stresses that:
When we stop playing, we stop developing… when we stop playing, we start dying.
Give it a read, and let me know what you think!
