After a tough loss in my weekly softball game, my brother-in-law (who plays on my team) went home where his daughter asked him “How was the game, Dad ?”
“We lost. It was a tough one,” he replied.
She asked, “But, didn’t you have fun playing? The only reason to play softball is to have fun, right?”
Sage wisdom from the innocent mouths of babes…
It’s amazing how easy it is to forget this simple, yet powerful wisdom here. Sometimes, I have gotten so caught up in trying to win the “game” of life that I forgot that it is only game…and also forgot that the purpose of any game is to play and have fun. Nothing more.
Can you relate?
“Everything exists for joy. There is not one other reason for life than joy. We’ve got nothing to prove to anyone, because nobody other than All-That-Is is watching. We’re not trying to get someplace else; we’re not trying to get it done, because there is no ending--we cannot get it done. Everything exists for the purpose of joy in the moment.” - Abraham-Hicks
Getting Serious About Fun and Play
Have you ever found yourself taking the actual goal of having more fun and play too seriously (just like your other goals)?
I know that I have. That’s right; I got too serious and focused about having fun. Nice! Kind of defeats the purpose, doesn’t it?
This reminds me of a scene with
“Well, I'll tell you something, this is no longer a vacation . . . it's a quest! It's a quest for fun! I'm gonna have fun, and you're gonna have fun! We're all gonna have so much f***ing fun we'll need plastic surgery to remove our G**damn smiles! You'll be whistling Zip-a-dee-doo-da out of your a**holes!”
Yes, there are moments where I have lost my perspective and felt like
In this mindset, fun and play became just another goal or achievement to accomplish, another item on the “to-do” list or day planner.
After this happens, it has been helpful to remind myself that the primary purpose of playing anything, even the “game” of life, is to have fun.
"If it isn't any fun, why bother?" - Ben Howell Davis
Benefits of Fun and Play
Yes, fun and play have obvious benefits.
However, for me, the number one benefit for playing and having fun is that it feels sooooo good. As a result, we feel very happy. What could be better than this?
Other benefits of fun and play include:
- Brings our focus into the present moment.
It is very difficult or nearly impossible to be truly having fun and playing and thinking about anything from the past or future.
- Raises our conscious awareness and overall performance in any activity.
We can easily enter into the creative “flow” or “zone,” the one often experienced whenever playing sports or other highly focused activity.
- We laugh easily and more often.
Laughter itself has many powerful benefits.
Benefits of Laughter
The benefits of laughter include:
- Relieves or helps eliminate stress, tension, and inner resistance.
- Relieves or helps eliminate anxiety.
- Relieves or helps eliminate anger.
- Relieves or helps eliminate depression.
- Enhances the immune system.
- Promotes healing.
- Relieves or helps eliminate pain (including chronic pain).
- Massages all of the internal organs in the body.
- Enhances overall sense of well-being.
"Laughter is a holy thing. It is as sacred as music and silence and solemnity, maybe more sacred. Laughter is like a prayer, like a bridge over which creatures tiptoe to meet each other. Laughter is like mercy; it heals. When you can laugh at yourself, you are free." - Ted Loder
Key to the Power of Fun and Play
The key to receiving all of the benefits from the power of fun and play is to remember that it should all be natural, unforced, and inspired. Fun and play should never be one more obligatory task or activity to do, with a fake smile and an empty, hallow “I’m having fun now!” Rather, it should be genuine, just like when we were children. You remember, right?
Insights into the Power of Fun and Play
“Give yourself a break. Give yourself the benefit of the doubt. Lighten up. Be easier. Go slower. Take it easy. Have more fun. Love yourself more. Laugh more. Appreciate more. The more playful you are about it, then the easier it all is.” – Abraham-Hicks
Here are more insights into the power of fun and play (collected from DeepFun.com):