We live in difficult times. Ask anyone, and they would most likely agree with that statement.
The economy has been improving, but will it continue to so? What about the job market? Housing?
Technology changes by the minute, and the rate of change is exponential. It is easy to feel like you will be left in the dust.
Every time you turn on the news, doom and gloom seems to be everywhere. Catastrophes abound…
How can we keep ourselves from living in fear and anxiety when the world is in such a state?
The first order of business is to break state. Continuing to focus on negativity, and the possibilities of more, just keeps you in a never ending state of stress.
That is one of the reasons why exercise can be so good for you. The chemistry that is produced by exercise counteracts that of anxious thoughts.
If you choose to participate in some type of sport it can be even better, as you need to focus on the game at hand – definitely a state breaker!
Which brings us to play.
Playing helps us to balance out the stress and anxiety more effectively than just “exercise.” In a recent post by Charlie Hoehn on his blog he talks about how the anxiety produced by working too many hours and fearing imminent disaster was only put to rest once he started to allow play back into his life.
Get up and move around everyday, get outside, exert yourself, walk away from the news, HAVE FUN!!
Take Charlie’s advice, along with that of several famous people that he quotes, who incorporated the spirit of play in all of their endeavors:
“A lack of play should be treated like malnutrition: it’s a health risk to your body and mind.” – Stuart Brown
“I never did a day’s work in my life. It was all fun.” – Thomas Edison
“Play is the highest form of research.” – Albert Einstein
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs
“Without work, all life goes rotten, but when work is soulless, life stifles and dies.” – Albert Camus
If you have forgotten to play, like so many of us have, take the time to start adding it back into your life. You will never look back!
