To a large extent, the way we relate to ‘play,’ started in childhood and has its foundation in desire. When we were children no one needed to tell us what we wanted to do or what we considered fun, we just knew! We would climb trees, make mud pies, and spin in circles while singing and enjoying the experience of being giddy and out of control.
Few of us, however, were left with this sense of abandon intact. Bumping into a wall with our eyes closed, likely drew the attention of our parents, who may have told us off for being wild and irrational.
Over time, we learned that to engage our desires with a sense of unrestrained playfulness wasn’t a good thing, and that if we wanted to be acceptable, we better tame that part of ourselves that tempted us into wildness.
We taught ourselves how to get by with the very occasional indulgence, that anyway, we could never even allow ourselves to fully enjoy. Truthfully, most of us have forgotten how to play, and have lost touch with what we really want and what makes us excited.
If we are to connect with our deep desires and enjoy a sense of unbridled freedom and fun again, OM teaches us that we must become willing to embrace the unknown again!
But bit by bit.
For our desires to trust us again, we must take it slow, and start following their whispers. Building slowly, we might begin to play with our subtle fears, and lovingly confront our boredom, while gently reconnecting with our old friend, spontaneity.
Going gently in the directions of our desires allows us to stay in range and to pull back if it begins to feel too scary or dangerous. Allowing ourselves to pinpoint what brings us pleasure, draws our attention, energises and delights us, we begin again to see the world through childlike wonder.
Have you ever asked yourself the question of “why we play? Turns out the happiest people, simply play to play! Discovering your reason ‘why’ could in fact, make all the difference to recovering a sense of joy and amazement!
(Reading from the weekly Wednesday International iOM meeting on 20 May, 2020)