Are you playing with your partner?
Often our experience of the mundane aspects of life gets in the way of being able to have fun or enjoy something creative and novel. The ironic thing about play is that it is an executive function in our brain that creates social bonding, opens creative opportunities, and produces natural healing properties in the body.*
When it comes to connecting with another person, one of the most natural ways we do this is seen in the behavior of children…PLAY!
Often our experience of the mundane aspects of life gets in the way of being able to have fun or enjoy something creative and novel. And then if you add stressors from work, maintaining the house, or relationship conflict, play is generally the furthest thing from your mind.
The ironic thing about play is that it is an executive function in our brain that creates social bonding, opens creative opportunities, and produces natural healing properties in the body.* You may be thinking… what do you mean play…
Here are a few examples of play as adults:
plan a picnic
take a long hike or drive together
explore a town you have both wanted to visit
choose and learn a new game together
plan a meal and invite friends over
choose a new restaurant or cuisine to try
learn a new language together
rent a tandem bicycle
How do play with your partner? What are some things you can try to breathe new life into your relationship by playing together?
I’d love to hear your stories with this. Please leave a comment and I’ll get back to you! If you want to process this in your counseling journey, you can start here.