Stress, Play and Goal Setting

 I have a thing about goals.

I understand they are necessary and also know they simply don't work for many people.

Going back into all my old psychoanalytic, play and learning/development theory; reading up how brains work and putting all that together has given me some insights into this.

Our left brain thinks in a structured way, it gives us our ability to speak and count, gets us up in the morning, makes sure we get things done, is responsible, it likes to follow the rules and needs evidence there is a point to whatever it's considering embarking on.

It loves goals and to do lists.

Our right brain is creative and collaborative, thinks holistically and simply believes. It only does what it enjoys and has no idea of time, so may think on the lines of "I'm hungry so it must be time for dinner", "I'm bored so I must have been doing this long enough". It's where all our emotions reside and its altruistic. It can use language but this is not its natural means of expression because it's non-linear and it wouldn't recognise a goal if it was runover by one!

For us to operate at our full potential we need to allow both sides of our brain expression. Some of us will naturally depend on our left brain thinking more and others on right brain thinking but if we're not using both sides we become frustrated and resentful; that things never get finished or that life is dull and boring for example.

If we don't give ourselves time to do activities that allow both sides of us expression we become stressed and unhappy but since emotion resides in the right brain, our left brain may tell us just to carry on, finish off, be a success and when everything is done, there will be time for all that emotion to come out.

However, our right brain, which doesn't understand linear time can get tired of waiting with all that bottled up frustration and stress and need to let it out before the tasks are completed. It isn't capable of rational argument with our left brain so it has tantrums and disrupts our plans.

If you find that you can't sleep, can't achieve what you set out to do in spite of good plans with sensible deadlines, that you sabotage yourself and are comfort eating, drinking too much or vegging out in front of the TV it is very likely that you are not giving your right brain enough time out to play or express bottled up emotions.

The longer this situation continues the worse things will get. Your right brain will behave like a dissatisfied toddler and scream and scream disrupting everything until you take notice, if it eventually gives up because you don't you may well feel depressed or like an automaton.

This is serious stress.

But never fear, dealing with this is easier than we're lead to believe. It does not have to take years of therapy, talking therapy in fact does not meet the right brain's needs since words miss its point entirely.

And unlike what our left brain seems to believe, the right brain is not an insatiable monster that will gobble up our entire existence with its demands.

Play hits the spot perfectly and in a very short space of time can satisfy your right brain. Once satisfied it will sit quietly while your left brain ensures tasks are completed. It even becomes able to contribute and feed your left brain, bringing innovative and creative solutions to whatever you're facing.

It is amazing just how effective and helpful time spent playing can be.

In effect, playing can help you achieve goals faster and more innovatively and with less stress.

What do you do for play and to nurture your right brain?

When did you last take a walk and marvel at the beauty of the sunset? Splash in a puddle, revel in the feel of satin, run for the fun of it or blow bubbles in the bath?

This might be all you need to do.

One of the participants on Saturday sat with his feet in a tray of sand and simply became more content. He even realised he had some sand at home he could do it with.

Take some time to feed your right brain regularly and if you suspect you may not do it alone; come to a Playpays workshop, even join us for 5 sessions.