Feeling Stressed or Anxious?
Welcome to the 21st Century. It seems that we are in a world where there are constant struggles, global crises and the pace of change is moving at a rate so fast we can barely keep up.
My mind is spinning, over the past three years we were locked down, we were cut off from our social connections, we had to adjust to a totally foreign way of going about our day to day lives and now as we slowly recover from the pandemic we are have been hit with an economic downturn. Inflation has risen, the cost of food is soaring and it’s becoming more difficult for people to find affordable housing. People are losing their jobs. How will they manage, what does their future hold. Others are working in toxic workplaces. For many, the future is not so bright, but that is exactly why we need to change our outlook, let optimism take hold and have some fun.
I know, you’re thinking “Fun”, you’ve got to be joking after reading all of the above. But I’m not, I’m quite sincere. I recently read a great book called “The Power of Fun”. In it, the author Catherine Price, stresses that “true fun isn’t optional”. Having fun gives us energy and brings joy to our lives. This in turn makes us feel less anxious and less stressed. Fun is not just for children, it’s for people of all ages who are looking to improve their health and wellness, and find purpose and meaning in their lives. Fun is for people that want to “thrive” not just “survive”.
Having “True Fun” is where we laugh, play, immerse ourselves in something that gives us pleasure, and helps our brains function at a level that boosts our confidence and happiness. Having fun helps us to reconnect with our true self. Dr. Stuart Brown, founder of the National Institute for Play, cites research that has found that people who continue to play games and to explore and learn throughout life, “are not only much less prone to dementia and neurological problems, but are also less likely to get heart disease and other afflictions that seem like they have nothing to do with the brain.”
According to Caroline Adams Miller, life coach and author of Creating Your Best Life, she says that “once our clients begin to incorporate more play into their lives…they experience more well-being and feel better in other ways, including improved health, stronger friendships, more creativity and greater zest for life”.
Has this peaked you interest? Are you tired of feeling overwhelmed, anxious, burnt out? Is it impacting your well-being? Let’s chat. Check out Catherine Price’s Ted Talk on YouTube and her book “The power of Fun”.
“We do not quit playing because we grow old. We grow old because we quite playing.”
- Oliver Wendell Holmes