Hi everyone, it's Keisunga.
Just a reminder that you can listen to all of our podcasts ad -free on the Headspace app.
Hey everyone, it's Keisunga here.
On today's episode of Radio Headspace, we'll get into something we often overlook as adults.
The power of play and joy.
We get so caught up in responsibilities that we forget to just have fun.
Let's take a moment to breathe and reconnect with that sense of lightness.
Hey there, welcome to Radio Headspace.
This is Keisunga, and it's a wonderful Thursday.
So for today, I want to talk about something that often gets overlooked in our busy, sometimes stressful lives.
That's the importance of play and joy.
As adults, we sometimes think play is just for kids.
And joy, well, that's something we experience only during special occasions or during big life events.
But what if I told you that play and joy are vital to our well -being and that they can be a part of our everyday life?
Not only that, but mindfulness and meditation can help us to access these feelings more easily, more often, and with more depth.
If you will, let's take a brief, mindful walk down memory lane, all the way back to elementary school.
What was your favorite part of the day in elementary school?
I would bet that most of you said recess.
In elementary school, recess was everything.
Do you remember what it sounded like when we were first released into the playground or the schoolyard?
If you were anything like me and my friends, then you would run to the schoolyard while simultaneously yelling at the top of your lungs.
It's hilarious when you think about it.
And then my favorite game to play was kickball.
Talk about stress relief.
Nothing feels better than kicking a big pink rubber ball with all your earthly might and seeing it fly into the stratosphere.
It was the absolute best.
We knew the importance of play as kids, but you see, as we grow older, we tend to get caught up in life's responsibilities, work, bills, relationships.
Life can become a cycle of tasks and we forget to engage in activities that make us feel light, that make us feel energized and happy.
When was the last time you did something just for fun, without any purpose other than to enjoy yourself?
And play doesn't have to mean throwing on a pair of sneakers and hitting the playground like when we were kids.
It can be anything that makes you lose track of time, anything that sparks that sense of wonder and lightness in your spirit.
It might be drawing, playing a sport, dancing, cooking a new recipe, or even just goofing around with friends or family.
When we engage in play, it allows us to be fully present, immersed in the moment, and that's where mindfulness comes in.
Mindfulness, at its core, is about being in the present moment.
One of the meditation techniques I love for this is called a joy practice.
It's simple. You start by closing your eyes and bringing to mind a time when you felt pure joy.
It could be a memory from childhood or something more recent, allowing yourself to fully feel that joy, noticing where it shows up in your body.
Maybe it's a warmth in your chest or a lightness in your shoulders.
Then, imagine radiating that joy out into the rest of your day, carrying it with you as you move through whatever comes your way.
By practicing mindfulness and meditation, you learn to create moments of joy and play on purpose, even in the most ordinary parts of your day.
Whether it's pausing to enjoy your morning coffee, or laughing with a coworker, or taking a few minutes to dance around your living room.
You're giving yourself the gift of presence.
And in that presence, you can find joy.
So, as you move through the day, I encourage you to ask yourself, where can I make space for joy?
How can I invite play into my life?
Alright, thanks for listening today.
I'm going to stop here.
Please continue to send any questions you may have to my Instagram DMs at ksundigaskoombay.
Be well and remember to find some joy today.
I'll catch up with you tomorrow.
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You can find Ebb on your Headspace app, or head over to headspace .com forward slash Ebb to learn more.
