Learning to play “during regular business hours” is a practice for me after 20 years of corporate service.

This summer I practiced “playing” at lunch time. I took 2-3 hour lunch breaks to drive to friend’s house, have lunch, float in the pool, take in the sun and relax and appreciate my life (like wow, I’m floating in a pool at lunch time!)

When I got back to my office, I would always be surprised at what was in my inbox for instance. Each time I gave myself permission to play – fear would say, “Are you crazy? You need to be working… working hard!”

I took the risk to take a swim and surprise! I’d come home to a new business invitation, a client prospect… something good, really good.. and productive, for myself and my business.

Thank you for the really great post and reminder to choose fun & play.

@Ali: We can sense when someone enjoys what they’re doing, even if we can’t see them. Our art carries that emotion, and others want to share in it. So it doesn’t surprise me that you and your readers are sharing in the fun. I’m so happy you’re able to actualize your talents into fun – it’s a joy to watch.

I’ve actually made the decision recently to focus more on the “play” elements of what I do (creative writing in particular), and I’ve also found myself injecting more “fun” into the work that I’m doing on my paid blogging, by trying to make posts a little more creative and unusual. The writing process is easier, because it’s enjoyable, and it’s going down brilliantly with readers too!

Ali Hale (from Alpha Student)s last blog post..Stay in touch with friends back home

I count my blessings for having realized this myself. I love making music and I love blogging. So I have a business plan to combine the two into a profitable enterprise.

Do you know of Tom Volkar? He’s a great business coach (sorry if this is a conflict of interest with your service, but I think you and Tom are compatible, not competitive). I recently took his business discovery course, which is designed to help people discover their ideal self-employment/business. It’s here:

http://www.delightfulwork.com/business-discovery-group/

ari

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@Matt: I like the pensive yet optimistic “yet.” Keep at it, day by day, and “yet” will become today.

@Duff: That’s why hackers and writers are always such a tough crowd to mess with. Sure, you may get the first word, but it’s the last, enduring word that counts. And plus, I thought I should share the humor!

@Alex: I know exactly how you feel. Really. I found out the hard way that my approach to philosophy is not quite in line with the direction of my department. So I do the best I can to find areas of convergence and let the rest go. Otherwise, you end up wasting a lot of energy. Your mileage may vary.

@Evelyn: I wonder about the outcome. Specific outcomes are bothersome. But a general one may help constrain the play to make it productive. There’s a fine balance here.

@Amanda: It’s that sustainability piece that I find so empowering. You don’t need breaks from productive play – so ideas like vacations seem a bit weird. Vacations become a change in scenary, not something needed to keep you working. It’s a critical difference.

@JoVe: It’s so much easier to either blame somebody else or become a martyr. Everyone appreciates when people make sacrifices so we’ve learned to reach first for that – it’s understandable and comforting. Admitting that the time we waste each day can build a better tomorrow, and it’s almost all about choices – that’s hard. The cognitive dissonance between the reasons we give ourselves and others and the realization of the reality is discomforting.

@Sara: Gasp!, indeed. How dare we have fun while being the type of people we want to be?

@George: Because we have to. I think there are good reasons to keep a job while building your way out of it. The important point is to start moving in a direction that’s toward your optimal self-actualization.

@Nathalie: Thanks for the encouragement! I find it ironic that we all know that social rules are malleable, yet we make them out like they’re not. There’s no set script in front of us – we just need actors willing to improv!

@Amber: Beautiful insight. Since most creative work is expressive, we cannot but help for our negativity to collude with what we are trying to express. Pure joy and beauty, though, is contagious. People want a taste of it, and are willing to provide opportunities for us to show it.

@Carla: Excellent point! Our days are much better when we realize and focus on the good parts, while admitting that there are some bad. The good parts give us momentum and energy, whereas the bad drain us.

The quote above from comment #2 sums it up for me. It also helps for to me thankful for what is RIGHT with my job and not focus on the negative too much. I’m working of weaning myself from having a typical day-job, but it helps to focus on what’s right for the time being.

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