The opposite of play is not work, it’s depression.
In fact play improves our work.
- Steven Keil
I watch TED Talks almost weekly for inspiration, but when I came across Steven Keil’s manifesto for play I was especially moved. It’s not brilliant, or a discovery of something we don’t already know, but the way he presents the need for play in culture is fascinating to me. It may be that I relate dearly to the subject matter or that it validates the way I live. I watched it twice and decided to share a few key points.
Keil believes that “The opposite of play is not work, it’s depression. In fact play improves our work” and thus he calls for a players revolution, for a drastic change in the way people think and behave. Although he addresses the “serious meme” that has infected his home of Bulgaria — and calls for a return to play to revitalize the economy, education and society, his sparkling talk has a universal message for people everywhere who are reinventing their workplaces, schools, lives.
What he finds in Bulgaria is that people are not living up to there potential. That society lacks innovation; they have poor heath, and have been dubbed the saddest place on earth. They also have few entrepreneurs, the assumed engine of the economy. He calls the operating system broken and believes they are last because they don’t value play. In fact, they de-value it by trying to be overly serious.
Some limiting factors:
Untrusting.
Controlling.
Restrictive.
Not valued.
Not having any FUN.
Fear is the enemy of play. The concept that needs to be broken in Bulgaria and everywhere is that the opposite of play is work. Where we feel guilty if you’re playing at work or doing something that can be perceived as fun. That thinking is backwards, because play improves our work. It stimulates creativity, increases productivity and improves our ability to learn. So much of our lives are spent at the workplace, it should be fun. Play doesn’t mean not serious, instead it promotes self-fulfillment, innovation, and creates meaning.
Playing is not just meant for kids and recess. We are all designed by nature to play from youth to old age. Keil declares, “Our brains are hard wired for play. Evolution has selected over millions and billions of years for play in humans and in animals. Evolution does a really good job of deselecting traits that aren’t advantageous for us and selecting traits that are competitive advantage. Nature isn’t stupid.” It’s proven that the more you play the bigger the brain size. They found that rat’s that play more have bigger brains. And bears that play more live longer.
The benefits of play are emotional maturity and decision-making ability. Play creates a synergy of ideas that maybe you wouldn’t have occurred before. Playing can be very social and it shows other sides of your personality. The people I play with or engage in exercise, the arts, laughter, etc. are the people I am closest too, I understand the most and am challenged by. I believe in Kiels closing statement, that we need a drastic change in the way we think and behave but we don’t need a workers revolution. What we need is a players uprising. Reinvigorating our lives, schools and work. Who cares what time you get in or leave work, the focus should be on providing results. I couldn’t tell you how much time I spent on the mountain or in the water when I am trying to get better at surfing, I can only tell you when I succeed and when the hard work comes to fruition. I believed that we should all rediscover play, innovation, and trust; allowing people to be thought leaders. Empowerment and constructive criticism goes a long way.
1. First and foremost, Thank women who inspire you!
