Inspiration for a joyful and creative life

“Serious play is not an oxymoron; it is the essence of innovation.”
Michael Schrage

Play is essential to creativity and innovation but we often see it as a either a luxury or waste of time.

Experimentation and play allow creativity to flourish.

When you let yourself play, it is usually without expecting a certain outcome.

That alone allows freedom to try new things or ask what if kinds of questions.

Some of my best jewelry designs have come from that state of playing around and seeing what would happen.

You also tend to be in a more relaxed state when you play.

Play also implies fun. Who doesn’t want more of that? I know I do!

How can you add more play to your life?

P.S. This is one of my whimsical animal prints called Talking Llama

Imagine if joy was your job.  What if it was your responsibility to find happiness in your business and personal life wherever you could?

“There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy.” Robert Louis Stevenson

What kind of difference would that make for you and the people around you?

There may be times when you feel like there is nothing joyful about your life let alone your job.  But don’t you owe it to yourself and the people around you to pay attention to what brightens your day, what puts a spring in your step?

How could you make things more enjoyable?  What if you made a game of taking routine tasks and added a twist to make them more pleasing?

Even if you can’t be the head Joymaster in your work, you can find dozens of ways to make life more fun at home and work.  And if you are lucky enough to have an entrepreneurial spirit, you can make choices to define your own job and put a priority on joy.

Your ongoing responsibility as Joymaster of your life is to be aware of everything that you are grateful for, everything that puts a smile on your face, and everything that makes your heart skip a beat (in a good way).

I love hearing stories about janitors, school bus drivers, and others who show genuine delight in what they are doing and their enthusiasm becomes contagious.  They remind us that how we do something really does make a difference.

If you choose joy as your job, what might you do differently?

Our black lab, Nikki manages to teach us a thing or two about living a happy life with her profound wisdom.

If You Want Something, Ask.
Nikki may take this a little far and can be shameless in her persistent pleas for dog treats. But the fact she “asks” for them every chance she gets by trying to lock eyes with us and move us toward the treat jar, as if we are in a hypnotic state, she gets more treats. She keeps us reminded of what she wants and doesn’t assume we’ll remember on our own.

Show Your Appreciation
When you pet our dog and she really likes it, she moans with loud, audible breathing that sounds like Darth Vader. It’s hard not to laugh and keep petting her.

If we had known this about her from the beginning, we may have named her Mona (Lisa) instead.

Enjoy Your Work
She takes her job seriously as Ranch Security around here. She takes great pride in barking at coyotes and raccoons, and chasing squirrels, but wags her tail just the same.

Learn to Relax and Take a Break
This may be one of Nikki’s finest skills. While being in charge of Ranch Security is an unrelenting 24/7 on call business, she takes her relaxation just as seriously.

She knows to be her best, she has to listen to her body. When she is sleepy, she doesn’t fight it. She gives it 100%, takes a deep breath, and surrenders to as many naps as it takes.

Wag Your Tail
If you’re happy and you know it, wag your tail. Good moods and enthusiasm are contagious. No matter what kind of day you are having, when you are greeted with such obvious delight, it’s hard not to respond in kind.

As we mature, we learn not to outwardly show our emotion. Maybe we could let just a little of the merriment out now and again. Perhaps it would be better to show your momentary glee in public by smiling, giggling or clapping. Wagging your tail may have undesired consequences.

Be an Explorer
Using all your senses, especially your intuition helps you to be alert and aware for adventure along the way.

Being ready for a crumb dropped here or a scent on the trail of excitement will make today another really good day.

P.S. I did the painting above with acrylics.

Please comment on this and share lessons you’ve learned from your pet.