B120: How to be a more playful person (guided visualization)

Time for a guided visualization exercise: I want to simplify how to be a more playful person. It’s time to shake things up on the podcast this month… hey, it’s summertime, which means it’s the perfect time to shift the energy a little bit!

What feels right in my heart and soul is to make “Adventure + Play” be our primary intention for the entire month ahead. I know for me, I get so driven, so focused on going after my goals that I sometimes forget to slow down and have a bit of fun. It’s in these moments where the greatest joy and the greatest inspiration can be found. Shift gears a bit. Change it up. Release. Therefore, if you’re like me, let today’s episode be your official permission slip to let your hair down and let go a little. It’s time to bring your playful side out and have a bit of fun again.

 So to kickoff the month, today is another guided visualization episode, which we’ve decided to release on the first Tuesday of every month this season. How does it work? Simple! Let my voice be a guide for you as you focus inward to help you tap into your inner wisdom and Intuition for answers.

Listen and participate in a guided visualization exercise: how to be a more playful person.

Before we get started, here are a few things that you’ll need to do in order to get the most out of this.

1) Create a safe space – no distractions or interruptions

First off, you’ll need to create a safe space where you won’t be distracted or interrupted… and also, keep in mind that during this exercise, you’ll have your eyes closed. So yeah, probably not best to do this one while driving. 

Silence your phone notifications… The world can wait for the next few minutes.

Then, get comfortable in a seated position or lying down, if that feels better. You get to decide. As with all visualization and breathing exercises we do together this year, you always get to decide what is best for you… take what you need, bless and release the rest.

Okay, now close your eyes or avert your gaze to the ground.

2) Take 3 intentional breaths together with me

Let’s take three intentional, life-affirming breaths.

• Deep breath in through the nose, expand the belly, hold at the top, and then slowly release through the mouth. (Do this three times.)

Now, let your breathing come back to a normal pace, whatever feels right for you.

3) Do a body scan and feel your feet

It’s time to do a body scan… imagine you are slowly scanning your entire body from the tip top of your head, slowly down like molasses, all the way to your fingertips, and then to your toes. 

What sensations do you feel? Knots, sore spots or sourness… or on the flip side, any feelings of harmony, joy, or flow…. just notice what you feel in your body, without judgment or trying to fix it. Just scan down, ever so slowly until you’ve done your entire body.

Once you’re at your feet, really take notice of what it feels like to have your feet make contact with the ground. To be firmly rooted down, the safety and security of that sensation. What do your feet feel like right now?

4) Time to visualize and bring forth your playful side

I want you to imagine you are with two of your favorite people on the planet right now. That could be your BFF, your partner, or maybe someone that you knew in your childhood that you always enjoyed hanging out with. Your ride-or-dies… the people you do life with. In your mind’s eye, these two people come forth from the crowd, walking with their bicycles, and they make their way towards you with a great big smile. 

The fact they shine so bright brings such a big smile to your face as well… you can’t help but feel utter joy in their presence. You embrace each other in a great big group hug.

As a group of three, you look over your shoulder and realize that you’re at a very big festival out in the desert. It’s a sunny day with blue skies above and a cool breeze wisps past your cheek… you know deep down inside, it’s gonna be a spectacular day ahead. 

You and your beloved two friends have agreed to go on an adventure together and explore the unknown as a team. There are no time constraints, no expectations, no stress, no bings/pings/notifications from your various devices (because you’ve left them behind today), and no one is demanding anything from you at this very moment. You’re free… absolutely, utterly free.

Breathe.

You each have your bicycles, a bottle of water, enough sunscreen and snacks for days and you’re ready to explore… 

…But where do you go first? What lies ahead? (Well, that’s part of the fun, isn’t it?!)

Black Rock Desert – photo credit: Denys Nevozhai

As a team, you’ve devised a playful call & response system for this adventure… you each take turns to decide where you all will go next, by simply pointing at something that catches your eye and saying, “What’s that?” And then, someone else must respond back, “I don’t know… LET’S GO!”

At that moment, you point your bikes in that very direction, start to pedal, and see where it takes you next… c’mon, LET’S GO!

Breathe.

It’s your turn to decide… you look left and you see a big dance party in what looks like a pyramid that is high enough to touch the clouds. It’s high energy, people are moving their bodies, smiling, laughing and having such a great time. It looks welcoming and fun… you might even recognize the song that the DJ is spinning, as well. This option is particularly appealing.

Black Rock Desert – photo credit:
Eelco Böhtlingk

You look right and see an oasis where people are gathered in what seems to be a replica of your favorite coffeehouse, right down to the very last detail. Sitting, talking, laughing… connecting. Everything is free, no money is needed here. No lines to wait in and there’s a perfect spot for you three to sit down, share a tasty beverage together, connect, and meet new people. This one is much more of a mellower vibe but also very appealing.

Either way, your heart is spinning because both options seem like a dream (you are out in the desert after all!) but also both paths lead you towards more play, more adventure and helluva lot more fun.

You point in the direction that speaks to your soul most in this very moment and playfully say to your friends, “what’s that?”

And one of them says back (right on cue), “I don’t know… LET’S GO!”

With a great big smile on your face and an open heart, you put on your goggles, place your foot on the bike pedal, and head off in that direction with your most favorite people on the planet.

Black Rock Desert – photo credit:
Denys Nevozhai

The wind wisps through your hair, your body feels electric and the excitement and anticipation of what’s to come feels exhilarating. This is how your soul wishes life would be like every single day. 

Play.

Adventure.

Connection.

Love.

Exhilaration.

Joy.

Radiance.

Being on your bike reminds you of the carefree, playful spirit you once had when you were a child. 

It was summertime and you just had to be home by dark… you had all the time in the world to go out and explore with your friends. Bring that energy into this moment right here. How does that make you feel?

Breathe.

There. There they are… the 10 year old version of you, on their bike, coasting alongside you as you head to your next destination on today’s adventure. You both stop pedaling and they tug on your shirt so you lean over to them. And then, they whisper something very special into your ear. 

It’s something that they need you to hear in this very moment… a secret on how to be a more playful person in this season of your life. 

They share (with such sweet innocence) an idea of something fun that you could do later today or even this week. Something simple and the moment you hear it, your heart sings with joy… “YES! I haven’t done that in ages… LET’S GO!”

You smile at your 10 year old self and say thank you for this sweet reminder. And then, they ride off on their bike. As soon as you can’t see them any longer on the horizon, you quickly realize that you and your two friends have actually reached your next destination.

Breathe.

Alexander Milov’s sculpture at Burning Man 2015 – photo credit: Adam Hornyak

Take this last moment to say thank you with your full spirit and remember that you can revisit this gift any time you wish. It’s yours forever and ever. 

You are never alone and you are always fully supported.

Take a moment to gather yourself with a deep, belly-filling breath. And when you’re ready, open your eyes.

—————–

So, what did your 10-year old self whisper into your ear? What did they say?

I want you to set a 7-minute timer, grab a pen and paper, and take this time to write down everything you remember from this visualization exercise. 

• What wisdom was shared? 
• What visual clues did you see? 
• Which option in the desert did you choose and why?
• How did it feel to be on an adventure with your loved ones?
• What part of this exercise is sticking MOST in your mind and in your heart, that you can’t seem to shake?
• …and what’s one thing that you can do today (with courage and simplicity) to take action on this vision, in real life?

One final whisper

I’m starting to realize how valuable it is, in my own life, to break out of my regular patterns and my bubble… to shake things up a bit. 

I have that masculine energy that is driven, highly motivated, sooooo narrowly focused, always plowing through to-do lists like a warrior. Well yeah, it’s highly productive and super useful at times… but let’s be real, it’s not sustainable 24/7.

Also on the flip side, if I sit too long in my feminine energy of flow, grace and nurturing love… I mean, all of that feels incredible and is very healing, but it too isn’t always the right thing, all the time either.

So, I encourage you to consider that in each of us there is a third spirit we can call upon at any time we need it. We each have that masculine energy and the feminine divine (no matter our genders)…BUT we also have a child-like playful spirit, deep inside us as well. 

Call upon them this week and see what shifts in your life by incorporating in a little light-hearted play… So in practical terms, that might look like:

• creating a playlist of music that makes you smile
• taking the long way home from work, just to see a different perspective… or even better, go on an impromptu road trip this weekend 
• (or maybe) painting, doodling, or just creating something out of nothing with whatever art supplies you’ve got laying around the house
• having breakfast for dinner… because why not!
• …or maybe even, laying out on a blanket tonight and looking up at the stars with a loved one.

What does your inner child crave? What sounds fun?

I hope this visualization sticks with you the entire week through. Do it again and again if you need clarity or fresh ideas to spark your playful side… because when you tap into your deep inner knowing, you’re accessing the Divine. That electric energy that can be found inside all of us that connects us all together. It knows. You know. We all know if we are brave and we open ourselves to it.

You can do this, I believe in you.

It’s time to SIMPLIFY.