Room for Play

If you are at all plugged in to the therapy world, whether that be through being in therapy or following mental health accounts on social media, you may be familiar with the language of "inner child work." This concept encourages us to get in touch with needs that have gone unmet for quite some time, such as playfulness.

While addressing mental health individually and systemically is largely about hard work, it is important to reflect on the importance of play within this process. We need to balance challenge with levity -- just as we do in life. Even the most challenging, deep therapy sessions I facilitate for my clients often include laughter at some point.

Take a moment to consider how you welcome play, lightness, and joy into your life. Do you move your body in joyful ways like dancing, team sports, and walks in nature, or do you feel obligated to put in time at the gym? Do you create space for creativity -- through arts and crafts, cooking, browsing Pinterest? Do you prioritize time with people around whom you feel relaxed and happy?

If you feel resistance, guilt, or shame to allowing room for play -- or if you rolled your eyes the second you read the words "inner child work" -- that is understandable. We are conditioned to work as hard as possible and make sure every moment is productive. Just know that as a mental health professional, I have heard many people express regretfulness that they did not give themselves room to breathe or enjoy the fruits of their labor.

For nearly everyone on this earth, and in its own way, life is busy; life is hard. It is key for us to not lose sight of the simple things that keep us well and balanced. I invite you to commit to more play this month. Perhaps you can cancel a routine meeting and take your team out for a fun activity. Maybe you can schedule time to buy some paint and a canvas and let loose while you play some music -- you don't have to be an artist at all to do this. If you have children, bake a cake together and decorate it to look as gaudy as possible. You could also simply call a friend you always feel at ease around and catch up.

Drop me a line if you end up making room for play. I'd love to see how the cake turned out.