Play Journal/ Courage to Play

The purpose of this journal series is to delve into various aspects of play in everyday life and observe its existence. I'll be sharing my personal journey and daily questions that make me wonder:) Enjoy!

Day4 : The Courage to Play: Embracing Uncertainty with Playful Minds

08.02.24

In the midst of uncertain times, the concept of courage takes on new dimensions.

Many years ago, while reading "The Courage to Create" by Rollo May, the phrase "Courage is not the absence of despair but in spite of despair" became embedded in my mind. Last week, at the RSA, The Most Reverend Justin Welby spoke about courage as the capacity to embrace uncertainty. This brought me to the source of playfulness—childhood. Can we re-learn the resilience to the unknown, have fun with the curiosity of 'what if's?

?Playful minds are those who can navigate with the uncertainties, they see many possibilities and can create new opportunities. Like a child who is eager to learn about the world around them, they have the thirst to explore. The courage to play emerges from the idea of daring to play despite the absence of a guaranteed outcome. It involves being ok with the vulnerability of the unknown, taking each step as a new exploration and flexing the imaginativeness.

?As Rollo May suggests, imagination is the outreaching of the mind, a capacity to dream dreams and see visions. It’s about being open to new ideas, playing around with possibilities, and imagining positivity even when faced with potential challenges.

?Courage to play is an invitation to imagine, explore and create without the constraints of pre-determined outcomes. (Not easy maybe) It is the ability to find joy in the process and embrace the uncertainty that comes with it. Playful minds can unfold fears when it can create anxiety and let them focus on what they can control.

?As a conclusion, in a world where we are dealing with many uncertainties, cultivating the courage to play becomes a transformative act. It is not being dismissive of the reality on the contrary it is really facing the reality and being true to the moment rather than being speculative and engaged with possibilities.

?As we rediscover the wisdom of childhood, we unlock the door to creative possibilities. One Playful Step at a time!