Mindfulness vs Improv

'It's letting go of what we want it to be,'' he said, ''and moving closer to acceptance of what is happening right now.'' (Hint: This can also be applied to matters of work, health, love.) 

In the Sydney Morning Herald online today, they posted an article from The New York Times titled, "Go placidly amid the noise ..." whereby the author talks about the delights and benefits of 'mindfulness', where in the situation of a noisy spot whilst flying 'Cattle Class': 

First, simply acknowledge that you're frustrated (in your head, not by lobbing a shoe).
Then, listen to the sound. Don't blame the noisemakers. Just listen to the sound.
When listening to a noise, aim for ''gentle acceptance.'' Don't worry about deep breathing.

The whole thing of 'being in the moment' and 'accepting' forms the basis of improv.  

I make it a rule to mention and reinforce this foundation in the workshops not just for the games, but I also contextualise it for the class relative to their own lives, be it in work or personal lives.  From example, I've known friends after a breakup find it hard to deal with it because they overanalyse the whole failure of it and fight their emotions that they're feeling at that time.  However, I've also had friends who have accepted their feelings of disappointment, anger, sadness and that it's over - they tend to move on a lot quicker. 

Being in the 'mindfulness' mindset (from my improv training rather than a meditative knowledge) is how I manage to role play effectively when I'm hired for Leadership training sessions in both corporate and public sector as well - you need to be mindful and accept what is happening right in front of you.  You need to acknowledge it, take it in, and then go with it. 

So, that's your homework for today: accept something and go with it. You'll find that your life is a lot simpler. 

Click on the following link for the full article at the Sydney Morning Herald HERE.