Hello, Subscribers. One of my former leaders told us it's not worth doing if it isn’t fun. This forms the core philosophy of my weekly writings and will help you prepare for the week through the power of play to set yourself up for success. As your guide, I believe incorporating play into your daily routine can enhance your creativity, problem-solving skills, and overall well-being, leading to personal and professional growth. I glean insights from my inner child about behaviors and patterns and can help you do the same. Let’s get set up for success.
It’s time for an accountability check-in. There were tears and laughter this week. I released about two contractor bags of things weighing heavily on my soul. I reached my physical limits and have been focused on rest this week. I have slept in for the past two days and am more tired than when I wake up at the same time, but also feel as if I needed the extra sleep. I beta-tested a Mission for parents and it has been well received. I also charmed a giant spider into redecorating its den instead of eating my merry crew of adventurers and solved Merlin’s riddle with the help of my kids. If you don’t know Stefan Zavalin, The Professional Unicorn, you are missing out on some magic in your life. My opportunities continue to be accepting that I need to be still and sit with myself as Future Cain often says.
Are you running on empty? This week, we will explore how to fill our cups in the week ahead. I am using The Black Tarot by Nyasha Williams illustrated by Kimishka Naidoo. The first question to ponder is what is our current state of being? I had to laugh since the first card was The Tower. The card depicts a shoreline littered with destroyed trees and garbage. Nyasha asks if we are “experiencing a breakthrough or a breakdown?” Last week was a bit of both and I see that I need to reevaluate my relationship with rest. Most people freak out when they get The Tower because it represents great upheaval and destruction. Change is not an easy process because we are resistant to change. Just as “one does not simply walk into Mordor,” one needs a plan to manage the change. I have literally removed obstacles to being creative and yet, my current unfinished canvas of red paint mocks me. What areas of your life are being uprooted? Change is never one and done. Once you do something different, it ripples out and causes other repercussions. When things get hard, we often want to quit. In my day job it takes a minimum of ten calls to get someone to respond and they still do not always agree to further contact. Why would I expect my life to change after only a week of effort? We are not going to overcome years of repeated behavior in a day. I am adding one new habit until it is mastered because I also need to work on patience. What is your plan for dealing with disruptions to your standard operating systems?
What are the things that empty our cup? The Nine of Wands portrays a group of nine people raising their right fist. This card is the personification of resistance. It cuts both ways. We are bombarded with news about current events and many of us struggle with internal challenges. Next, you find yourself crying because you got a flat tire or a bill in the mail. My brilliant Yinka Ewuola wrote about the shackles of corporate conditioning which allowed me to come to the realization that it starts by setting a boundary to stop betraying oneself. Much of the destruction from The Tower is self-inflicted because we ignore the warning signs. We push on despite knowing we need to rest because of our responsibilities. Community can help to catch our fall but if we do not protect our boundaries, can also pull us in many different directions. When I stay up doom-scrolling instead of going to bed, I am emptying my cup. When I blow off my decompression time, I empty my cup. I can’t blame external forces for all of my decisions. I put something on my calendar and something that seems shiny and fun comes along and instead of recharging, I’m wracking up the energy bills. Are we really missing out? We went to a new food hall to celebrate my kid turning twenty-one. The first time was fun, and everything came out on time and was tasty. Since we were in the area, we went back to try “the one that got away.” We could have gone home and cooked but chose “the easy way.” One hour later, no food and one hangry Stacy. Finally, the order was filled and it was tasty, but I paid for it in aggravation and giving up my peace. Pay attention to where you are directing your energy this week. Hans F. Hasen said “[Things] inspire you, or they drain you. PICK THEM WISELY.”
What are the things that fill our cups? The Moon card inspires us to touch base with our shadow self. The Moon depicts a Black woman wearing a blue strapless ballgown with her curls in an elegant updo dancing with her shadow. For me, it means spending time with our subconscious. Being still need not be literal. Dance is a creative activity. Perhaps you like to draw, journal, experiment with new recipes, or tinker. Play is a safe space to process your thoughts and emotions. When I play video games, I am unconsciously working through my inner demons. When I am operating from fear and a scarcity mindset, the games remind me that treasure is all around if you are curious and willing to explore. When I sit still and fish in the game, I can gain rare gems and other artifacts. The need to be busy is an illusion. When Rajesh Ravisankar and I hosted our second Mindful or Mind Full, so many people validated that there is only so much that the human mind can absorb in one sitting. Schedule your breaks in advance and use your vacation time if you have it. You don’t need to wear the badge of busyness as an honor. It’s a thief and robs you of joy. Do you know what fills your cup? Will you make it a priority?
What is your plan to overcome self-sabotage? Have you checked in with yourself? Many of us are still in distraction mode and do not realize we are in danger of overwhelm or burnout. We can’t see that we are stuck. Your body can normalize pain. You often do not realize the load you are carrying until it is removed. What is your body trying to tell you? Our final card is the Five of Baskets. A man looks down at an overturned carton of eggs. Four other cartons and other crops are neatly stacked in the background. When I launched my 7 Days of Play Challenge, it was wildly successful. People were sharing powerful stories about the impact of integrating play into their lives. Where was my focus? The one piece of feedback that said it would have been helpful to have the tracker on the kick-off email. Failure is a part of life. It is disappointing and you should honor those feelings. Honor, not wallow in your feelings. What are the lessons your disappointment can teach you? I know I can allow a tiny setback to define everything and make me want to take my bubbles and go home. Or if I sleep in, write off the entire day as a loss for a simple moment. Do not forget that you have other cartons of metaphysical eggs. I find taking action on troubling things is empowering. You are not helpless because it is YOUR choice. You are the boss of You. Where will you lead yourself this week? Namaste
Please get in touch with me if you wish to incorporate play into your day to spark creative ideas and get unstuck.
