And we’re lucky to have play expert TJ Matton back for this second episode in our two-part series on play. If you haven’t already, listen to last week’s episode for fundamentals about the science of play; and here we get practically applied. How can you increase play in your life? Listen (or read on) for answers.

Episode Highlights:

• Foundations of Play: Play is essential for learning and development, helping us build new neural pathways.

• Play as a Mindfulness Practice: Integrating play into daily life to enhance mindfulness and personal growth.

• Managing Hypervigilance: Practical exercises to use play as a tool for managing hypervigilance.

• Mindfulness and Emotional Reactivity: Shifting from emotional reactivity to curiosity through play.

• Types of Play: Exploring different play patterns and how to integrate them into everyday activities.

Common Questions:

1. How can play help with mindfulness?

2. What are some practical ways to integrate play into daily life?

3. How can play be used to manage hypervigilance?

Notable Quotes:

• “Play is how we learn new ways of thinking, being, and operating. It’s necessary for growth and evolution.”

• “Focusing on our enjoyment is never wasted; it’s an embodiment practice.”

• “Hypervigilance can be a play buddy. Opt into it in safe environments to transform it from a suffering experience to an impulse for growth.”

Guest Information:

TJ Matton: Founder and Chief Play Officer of the Playful Revolution. You can find more information about TJ and her work at theplayfulrevolution.com and on Instagram at @theplayfulrevolution.

Next Episode Teaser: Join us next week for a conversation with another incredible expert about stuckness and mental health. Don’t miss it!

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Stay Connected: Thank you for joining and listening. I can’t wait to hear what resonated with you in this episode. Subscribe to our newsletter at findrc.co/newsletter to stay updated. You can find me, Sara Lobkovich, pretty much everywhere online. Feel free to contact me at sara@thinkydoers.com. If you have other Thinkydoers in your work world, please pass this episode along. We appreciate your referrals, mentions, shares, and reviews.

Find full show notes and transcript at http://saralobkovich.com/thinkydoers-pod.