Playfulness - Humor and Self-Esteem by Michael Horemans and Gwendolyn Keith

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When was the last time you played, had so much fun you forgot about all your problems, and experienced how beautiful and easy life can be? Play is such a natural attribute of our soul. It’s our soul’s desire to be playful. Look at children, they play and laugh the whole day. Have you ever had a child knock on your door saying, “I am tired of playing. Can I please come in and clean your bathroom?”

Did you know that children at the age of four laugh 400 times a day, but by the time we are an adult we hardly crack up 15 laughs a day. Play, joy and humor are essential for feeling good about yourself. No wonder that two out of three Americans suffer from low self-esteem. Playing allows us to relax and be in the moment – which is difficult for most people.

We are afraid to be playful because in early childhood we were told:

• to stop being silly and to grow up
• to wipe that stupid smile off your face
• and who do you think you are?

Playfulness evokes joy and humor and allows us to gain greater perspective around our so-called “problems.” It releases the good neurochemicals called endorphins – natural opiates that make us feel good. People are drawn to funny movies, stand-up comedy and children. They bring a smile to our face. When we smile we send a message to our brain, saying, “I think I am happy.” Playfulness and laughter also provide many health benefits. It strengthens our immune system and massages the internal organs when we laugh and play.

Play is a natural way of finding out who we are and what we can be. Play helps us to create new responses to our life challenges and helps us experience our life as more of an exciting adventure. Playfulness allows us to try on different characters, attitudes, and personalities. This helps us to explore and expand our possibilities in life.

From a scientific perspective the action of play and laughter fires new neurological pathways in our brain. Research in Alzheimer’s disease has revealed new knowledge in understanding our brain chemistry. Studies have shown that most people get stuck in life because we keep firing off the same patterns of neurological connections out of habitual responses to events in our lives. This consequently makes the neuro-connections stronger and more automatic. We can create new brain chemistry and different neuro-patterns through play, acting and humor.
Even the chemistry of happiness is a biological reaction set in motion by our predominant thoughts and actions. Most people try with fruitless efforts to control the emotion of happiness. Emotions come and go, like the ebb and flow of the ocean.

On the other hand, we do have control of our intention, attention and action, and can set the stage for happiness to flow and abide in our daily life. Yes, you are the director, producer and actor in the movie of your life. Life is a stage and we all play many roles in it. So let’s explore how to rewrite the script, the play, the stage and the many intricacies of the life you want to live.
Would you like to discover how passion and magic can be a part of your daily existence? Would you like to explore the building blocks of your self esteem and how to increase its essence? Remember that when we feel good about ourselves, our happiness is its natural by-product.
Join Michael Horemans and Gwendolyn Keith for a two day workshop of laughter and play: Monday, September 22, and Monday, September 29th , 2003, from 7:00p.m. to 9:30p.m. at the Meta Institute in the Golden Valley Wellness Center, 5748 Olson Memorial Highway, Golden Valley, Minnesota.

In our workshops we are going to provide you with many easy to use tools to help you to change your inner chemistry to create laughter, joy and playfulness.
Discover how to laugh and not take yourself so SERIOUSLY! Come learn activities and techniques to break the old stuck patterns, tickle your funny bone and be prepared for deep belly laughs!!!!

The workshop costs $70 for both days. Space is limited so register early!! To register, or for more information, call: Michael at 612-281-4630, or Gwendolyn at 763-588-9449, or e-mail: keithwings@aol.com, and write “Play” in the subject line.