Since bringing The Playcation Experience to the world we’ve been on a mission to get more women embracing in play.
However, many women just don’t seem to allow themselves to. Because…
- Many beliefs have been drummed into the modern day female about a woman's role in life – she must nurture those around her, keep her children safe, run the house, cook the food, put others before herself (etc etc)
- Play has been put into a box and only seen as to be something that children / animals do, confined to sporting activities, or sexualised in adulthood.
- Many women believe they don’t know ‘how’ to play.
- It becomes yet another thing on the to do list for an already busy woman, I mean who’s got time to play when they are doing all of the above hey?!
BUT
The truth is.
So many women have lost themselves in trying to be everything for everyone else. In trying to do everything for everyone else. That they’ve lost the sense of who they are, lost the essence, the sparkle, the truth that lives inside of them.
Their energy so scattered outside of them that there is nothing left.
Their attention so divided on other people that they’ve forgotten what it is that lights them up.
Many a womans sympathetic nervous system is constantly on override that she daren’t stop and face up to that reality until sadly her body forces her to.
In believing that she is responsible for SO much more than she really is, she forgets to serve herself first, doesn’t realise that she has a choice in all this and she can say no.
Desperate to be seen, heard, loved and appreciated, she does more and more for those around her. Only to drive herself out of the equation completely and even feel guilty for locking herself in the bathroom to grab a 5 minute bath without being disturbed! (Sound familiar?!)
So when we even mention the word play all the beliefs I stated above rise to the surface, and the all the behaviours above act as a pretty solid reason for not engaging in any play.
BUT
Listen up, because play is essential not only to the development of our children, and to exercise our pets, but to the mental health, physical health and sanity of all women!
- Play is non-threatening and allows our body to naturally switch off from any state of stress and overwhelm.
- There are no consequences in play, nothing matters, you can try things without fear of a consequence. Where else do you get that in adult life?!
- Play creates a freedom of time, allowing us to connect and be in the present moment.
- Play switches on our creativity, helping us see new perspectives, change our view and problem solve for ourselves.
- Play brings people together and offers a new way of being, interacting and connecting with others.
Before your brain reads this and goes straight back to ‘but I don’t have time to play’ continue on…
Play is not just another thing to do, play is a state of being.
It’s a choice to see the lightheartedness in everyday situations.
It’s the choice to laugh instead of cry.
It’s the impulse to spring out on someone just to make them laugh.
It’s the spontaneity of throwing a pencil across the office to start a war, or be the subtle rebel in the room!
It’s finding the joy in the moment.
It’s inviting others to engage in something that lifts the mood, even if just for a moment.
Please, please, for the sake of your health, wealth and relationships stop putting play in a box. Leaving it behind and believing you don’t have time for it.
Play will allow you to engage with the essence of you.
It will remind you of who you are, separate from your roles and responsibilities in life.
It’s the magical tool that is so overlooked, yet so vital to us living our most fulfilled life.
Now get out there you lovely one, and go be more playful.
Because you’re worth it *swooshes hair*