“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” –Maya Angelou
In cultivating lightheartedness, we create and sustain joy, find peace in times of turmoil, and respond rather than react to life’s challenges by not allowing temporary circumstances to diminish our well-being. When we exhibit the qualities of lightheartedness—such as humor, play, flexibility, and spontaneity—our lives seem brighter which in turn increases our ability to uplift those of others. This occurs because humor, play, flexibility, and spontaneity are expressions of our soul.
Children are our best teachers for cultivating lightheartedness because they infuse their daily lives with it. When we observe children at play, openhearted and present, we see them as conduits of joy, delighting in the beauty of life. We, too, knew lightheartedness as children, especially when we splashed in puddles after a warm rain, chased fireflies on warm summer evenings, or built forts or fairy altars in our backyards. We paid attention to the ordinary, which made life extraordinary. We immersed ourselves in experiences that made our hearts sing.
Unfortunately, as adults we are more inhibited about expressing ourselves freely, sensing that society frowns upon adults being spontaneous and playful. We fear that if we follow our hearts and express our free-spirited nature we will be seen as irresponsible or immature. It is hard to move past limiting beliefs such as “There’s too much work to do and no time for play,” “Playing is a waste of time and unproductive,” or “Play is only for children.” Such negative beliefs squelch our spirits and suck the life-force energy out of us. As a result, many of us have lost our sense of life as a mysterious adventure to be embraced and enjoyed.
Play is essential to cultivating lightheartedness. Being playful naturally liberates the mind, opens the heart, and lifts the spirit. In this state of pure being, we feel free to channel our energies and expand our awareness beyond any limitation. As much as we value work over play in our competitive culture of productivity, the opposite of play is not work—the opposite of play is unhappiness. Play positively influences our intellect, fosters compassion, awakens the core of creativity and is vital to our well-being.
Play is crucial to expressing our soul potential, as well as sustaining joy and satisfaction with work—so much so that creative work cannot exist without play. This is why creative work environments are becoming increasingly play-based. Companies are beginning to realize that a climate of playfulness fosters creativity and productivity. Work environments that promote mediocrity, rigidity, and stagnation are being challenged by people who are no longer bound by old dictates like “Keep your nose to the grindstone” or “Work can’t be fun.”
It is important take time to simply play, have fun, and celebrate being. We can do this with ourselves, our partner, family, or friends. Engaging in playtime is challenging in a culture that values “doing” over “being,” “net worth” over “self-worth,” and “productivity” over “creativity.” In our society it’s easy to believe that we are connecting with our partner while doing the laundry or bonding with our children while driving them to soccer practice. Our obsessive focus on doing rather than being short circuits valuable energy and keeps us running in circles on the track of life. But only by becoming more present can we restore the balance of energies needed to sustain our relationships, deepen intimacy, and go with the flow. While engrossed in creative play, we feel more connected, distractions disappear, and we live in the moment. Stringing together such moments of present-oriented experiences brings joy and inspiration.
Sustaining a lightness of heart is also crucial in healing. Research shows that laughter lowers blood pressure, increases vascular blood flow, and reduces stress, which, in turn, reduces anxiety and depression. In fact, Norman Cousins, adjunct professor and researcher at UCLA, documented in Anatomy of an Illness the healing power of laughter. Told that he had little chance of surviving a fatal disease, Cousins developed a healing program that focused on a positive perspective, love, faith, hope, and laughter. He discovered that even ten minutes of genuine belly laughter had a healing effect on the body. Most importantly when we laugh with others we share a sense of connectedness that likewise assists in healing as well.
Cultivating lightheartedness through humor also assists us in obtaining an expanded perspective on our lives so we can assess situations with healthy detachment. Nearly every experience we have, no matter how trivial—an impatient driver who cuts us off in traffic, an irritable salesperson at the checkout, or a downpour that drenches us to the bone—can be viewed as something humorous as well as an opportunity to discover more about ourselves.
Cultivating lightheartedness also requires flexibility. It takes letting go of our ego, self-consciousness, or reservation and embracing the sense that nothing is more important than the present moment. Thus, laughter comes more easily, as does an instantaneous recognition of the absurdity of many situations.
You can discover your capacity for play and connect with your childlike nature by letting go of any thoughts that interfere with your ability to be flexible and fully enjoy life’s wonders. Dance spontaneously when you hear music at the grocery store, giggle when you get drenched in the rain, or sing aloud while listening to your favorite music. Instead of tackling household tasks in earnest, you can boogie while washing the car, laugh while doing the dishes, and recite poetry while cooking. You can take pleasure in the simple things in life that makes your heart sing and invites others to join in as you go barefoot in the grass or float in a pool of water. Seek out new activities that make you laugh and play with joyful abandon while broadening your perspective on wonder. Your life will evolve miraculously when you are able to cultivate lightheartedness and embrace the philosophy of “Let’s see what happens.”
Here are a few ways to cultivate lightheartedness in your life:
- Discover wonder in the simplest experiences, such as in a rainbow, a child’s smile, a favorite piece of music, or a loved one’s warm embrace. Note how playful and joyous you feel as a result.
- Practice including instead of excluding. Include others in your play, remaining unattached to acting in a certain way or coveting a particular time or experience.
- Be present, notice what takes your breath away and do what makes your heart sing.
- Take a play break at least once a day. Close your eyes and envision a favorite image of a sunset or person.
- Invent celebratory activities that make you laugh and play with joyful abandon, such as taking dance lessons, snorkeling, riding bicycles, or traveling to cultivate lightheartedness.
Cultivating lightheartedness involves a willingness to participate in life fully and fearlessly while realizing our spiritual potential. It also is looking for and expecting nothing while inviting in everything. Through our lightness of heart, we love, heal, connect, and create.
