Last week, I began recording the audio version of Living with the HEART in Mind. It’s an intense process that requires a delicate balance between concentration and relaxation. On one hand, I need to stay connected to the text, reliving the emotions that inspired each story. On the other hand, I have to remain calm and present, so I can enjoy the process rather than fixate on avoiding mistakes. Thankfully, my audio engineer is both kind and patient, supporting me as this audiobook comes to life.

This experience reminded me how essential playfulness is. When we become overly attached to a specific outcome, even one worth pursuing, we can get so fixated on achieving it that we forget to enjoy the process. But when we adopt a more playful mindset and allow ourselves to learn as we go, we often create something even better.

What if we approached our professional lives with more playfulness and a sense of wonder? 

During my own experience with burnout, I realized I had lost the playfulness necessary for creative and joyful work. It’s easy to let the demands of adulthood push play aside. Yet engaging in what we truly love is essential for well-being.

While we may see play as a childhood luxury, it can become a powerful mechanism to relieve stress and awaken our creative thinking at any stage of life.

In Living with the HEART in Mind, creativity is one of the vital qualities that help us grow HEART skills and cultivate a sense of purpose. To help you get started, I’d like to share one of the tools from the book, which is designed to support you in bringing more playfulness into your daily life.

Tool: Discover Your Play Nature

Take a moment to reflect on the following questions. They’re intended to help you clarify your preferences and identify experiences that can bring more joy, flow, and playfulness into your life.

• Describe an activity(ies) where your engagement is so deep that you lose all awareness of time.

• Identify a formerly beloved hobby or interest you have put aside. Could you bring it back to your life?

• What spontaneous or unconventional activity would you pursue if nobody could see or judge you?

• What specific moments or brief windows in your typical week already feel like true play?

• Name one activity in which you have consistently felt a strong, unexpressed urge to try. What is blocking you from trying it? What would happen if you did?

As you explore these questions, notice how your answers might guide you toward incorporating more restorative play into your daily life.

My hope is that this practice offers a gentle path back to your curiosity, supports your creativity, and enhances your overall well-being.

If this tool resonated with you, subscribe below to the HEART in Mind newsletter, where I share additional practices, tips, and resources.