Almost everyone suffers some guilt for taking time for himself. We are often embarrassed by our enjoyment of pleasure and need to justify it to others and ourselves. From somewhere deep inside us come memories of people saying things such as, "Quit wasting time," or "You should be doing something more productive."

We have all gotten this attitude from our parents, teachers and especially our work-crazed society. Work and productivity are considered worthwhile, but play and relaxation are seldom commended. These thoughts have been programmed deep into our minds from a variety of sources. And, quite simply, these thoughts are often hard to turn off.

However, play is very important. Recently, the value of play and relaxation is being discovered more and more. Many physical disorders are being linked to high stress levels. Stress wears out the body and soul. Play allows the body to rejuvenate.

Still, the fact remains, some of us need some sort of justification to allow ourselves to play. An old saying goes, "Life's door, love's door, God's door -- they all open when you are playful. They all become closed when you become serious."

Seriousness breeds anxiety and creates tension. Seriousness demands that we give meaning to mystery, leave no question unanswered, that we evaluate every aspect of our lives. The opposite of seriousness is play.

"The way to reconnect with our purpose is to do things that seem, at first appearance, to lack purpose," a philosopher once noted.

During a recent meeting, a colleague shared the following story. She was experiencing a particularly stressful time and a friend told her she needed a break. Her friend asked her to arrange an afternoon off work and dress casually and she would pick her up. That afternoon, they had a picnic in the park, played on all the playground equipment and just acted like kids. My co-worker said that is was a great day and she felt better than she had in a long time. Better still, the feeling stayed with her for weeks.

Play is a form of self-nourishment. It is not something you do but an attitude. It can be created any time, any place and can transform the mundane into the divine, the boring to excitement and even the required into delight.

Learning to play is a challenge for some and challenges often require energy to follow through. The way to gain energy is to allow oneself nourishment. What nourishes one person may not nourish another. Also, our needs may vary from day to day. But everyone needs to be good to himself. When we allow nourishment and feel loved and cared for, almost anything is easy. When we are deprived, tired and needy, even the smallest detail becomes a monumental task.

Our old habits and fear of the untried only limit the alternatives and possibilities for self-nourishment. Nourishing yourself is well worth the risk.

The Center for Behavioral Health® can help you cope with stress. For more information, call (502) 896-7105 or toll-free 1-800-478-1105. Help is available 24 hours a day. 

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