Leaps of Faith

Taking leaps of faith requires both action and surrender.  It takes action to actually step off the cliff and then a moment of surrender into the unknown... or perhaps a surrender into the Knowing that once you have taken that first step, the Universe or the God Spirit/ Source Energy is there to support you. 

I feel a shift happening in my life.  Over the past month or so making a career change has been under my thoughtful consideration.   I discovered much to my surprise that there are many more jobs out there in Expressive Therapy than I previously thought - and they are all over the country!  That was thrilling!  We don't exist in a vacum.  There are options.  Many options.  This field is gaining respect as people become more and more aware of its efficacy. 

I am a very proud Expressive Therapist!

Invitation to Playfulness

Tip Number One: Playfullness is a state of being.  It is not something you necessarily do.  It is possible to be playful and never actually DO anything. It is who you are being as you engage your environment.

And yet, I find it incredibly difficult to remain playful sometimes.  Sometimes being playful feels in my body the way combing my hair feels once it has started to lock.  Painful.  I am honest enough with myself to know that not being playful is often less to protect myself from the pain of it, and more to prevent the other person from experiencing the joy of it.

OUCH!!!!!!!


That admission felt like looking directly at the sun in July.

Tip Number Two: Playfulness can be difficult.

But it shouldn't be this hard to play!  Playfulness speaks directly to the innocent child who lives inside of me who is free from all elderly woes.  She is carefree and completely without shame or fear.  I should always invite in playfulness as a way to keep the sweet spaces in me clear. 

Academically I totally get it, and experientially I know that it works.   It is like magic!  It is like the difference between yelling at your puppy and expecting it to do what you say by dragging it by the collar and screaming versus lifting your voice, smiling and turning whatever you want into a game.  The differences are staggering... and consistent.  And still, in spite of myself (or perhaps to spite someone else), I still resist playfullness. 

Like when Ishmael pulled my hair today, right?  I should have immediately pretended to be Rapunzel letting down my long, golden tresses.

Or when Roger was sliding across the table and Joshua was turning cartwheels in my group room.  I should have pretended we were watching acrobats at Cirque du Solei, right?

Or maybe it was when Jeff punched Kevin in the mouth and Jaqueline tried throwing down the trash can which happened to be full of half eaten trays of Spaghetti and Meatballs.  I should have pretended that we were in a UFC fight - all holds barred.  Right?

Ok.  So, that was passive aggressive griping rather than a genuine inquiry into the value of playfullness.  I was admittedly speaking to the ridiculousness that is called having my group size exceed capacity (because we are overbooking our admissions by 30%) and never being able to have a closed group - or even choose group members.  We take patients as they come whether they fit with the milieu or not.  And to top it off, the acuity level of my patients is very high.  I had three go to inpatient within the last three weeks, I had to go to court for one and another went to the Emergency Room for a broken shoulder after jumping from a Recliner while re-enacting "Jack Ass" with his brother.  And mind you, my patients range in age from 5-8.  They are struggling with everything from the loss of parents, being in DFCS custody, physical abuse,  molestation, mood disorders, impulsivity and ADHD. 

Deep Breath.

Now, back to being playful.

My Developmental Transformations colleagues argue that a healthy individual is one who is able to play with anything.

Yes, ANYTHING. 

Honestly, I don't argue with that assertion.  And I do realize that I am making two completely separate references here.  One is a state of being (playfulness) and the other is being willing to play with identity, circumstances, past experiences, etc.  My feeling is that the more willing one is to play with something - and I don't mean in a self deprecating - I'm gonna make fun of myself before you have a chance to-fat girl-class clown sort of way.  I mean genuinely play with a subject - release IT - whatever IT is - detach from IT and free yourself from the meaning of IT- one finds a kind of freedom that is truly unparalleled.  It is a very Buddhist way of approaching life when you think about it.  Detachment and Playfullness.  Doesn't that sound like just like someone who has attained an enlightenment of sorts?

Tip Number Three: Playfulness is difficult, but worth it!

You feel better, the other person feels better, and you get what you want.  It enhances the relationship with you and the other person because it allows them to save face and you get what you want.  Did I say that already?

There is an art to playfulness and playfulness requires practice.  The more you do it, the more naturally you will start responding playfully.  In our real lives, if we are able to respond to things and people playfully they are less inclined to retaliate from a negative place and... well, the energy is just lighter.  And sometimes light energy is just what is needed to diffuse a situation.

*All names have been changed to protect patient confidentiality.