(20) Playfulness - Children
Have you repressed your spirited jovial self and inherent childlike nature while adult inhibitions and the more serious aspects of daily life seem to dominate your emotions?
Watch young children at play and witness the magic of make-believe as they learn to navigate the world. Your own mischievous light-hearted persona is now waiting in the wings for the laughter and fun to begin.
This Rune is inviting you to take play seriously, and for good reason. Playfulness is one of the key positive personality traits that many so-called 'grown-ups' have outgrown to their detriment.
Happily, you can indulge your playful nature in the knowledge that recent psychological research has revealed several very important benefits of continuing to be playful throughout adulthood.
It seems playful people are better at making accurate observations, they are good at turning dull tasks into interesting fun experiences and they are able to view life’s challenges from more than one perspective.
This means they are open to creativity and originality because playfulness affords an inquisitive flexible outlook, hence they come up with left of field ideas and solutions to everyday problems.
Likewise, you can choose to let go of restrictive habits and playfully re-engage with the lively impish side of your nature.
At the biochemical level - which is so important for brain function and your emotional health - when you are playful it activates the release of hormones called endorphins. These hormones don't just make you feel good, they also help to combat anxiety and can even provide temporary pain relief.
The Rune of Playfulness emphasises the benefits of letting go of your inhibitions and sharing laughter, fun and games with the people in your life. If you are lucky enough to interact with children you will be doubly blessed.
Take this opportunity to fool around with friends and family, see the funny side of everyday happenings and play around with fresh ideas to improve the monotony of mundane tasks.
Change the focus of your daily life and recognise its entertainment value. Sing, dance, make funny faces, theme your play by adding a word such as 'world' or 'land' to an activity or to your name: eg. song-world, paint-land, Yana-realm, Anna-sphere.
Give yourself permission to play stress-free in your 'anything-goes' new place. Sounds silly but it is extremely liberating! Your reward will be better motivation, less stress and healthy resilience to cope with life's ups and downs.
This Rune is a member of The Congenial Set incorporating agreeableness, sociability and your willingness to flourish by collaborating with others.
"The soul is healed by being with children." Dostoyevsky
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Happily, you can indulge your playful nature in the knowledge that recent psychological research has revealed several very important benefits of continuing to be playful throughout adulthood.
It seems playful people are better at making accurate observations, they are good at turning dull tasks into interesting fun experiences and they are able to view life’s challenges from more than one perspective.
This means they are open to creativity and originality because playfulness affords an inquisitive flexible outlook, hence they come up with left of field ideas and solutions to everyday problems.
Likewise, you can choose to let go of restrictive habits and playfully re-engage with the lively impish side of your nature.
At the biochemical level - which is so important for brain function and your emotional health - when you are playful it activates the release of hormones called endorphins. These hormones don't just make you feel good, they also help to combat anxiety and can even provide temporary pain relief.
The Rune of Playfulness emphasises the benefits of letting go of your inhibitions and sharing laughter, fun and games with the people in your life. If you are lucky enough to interact with children you will be doubly blessed.
Take this opportunity to fool around with friends and family, see the funny side of everyday happenings and play around with fresh ideas to improve the monotony of mundane tasks.
Change the focus of your daily life and recognise its entertainment value. Sing, dance, make funny faces, theme your play by adding a word such as 'world' or 'land' to an activity or to your name: eg. song-world, paint-land, Yana-realm, Anna-sphere.
Give yourself permission to play stress-free in your 'anything-goes' new place. Sounds silly but it is extremely liberating! Your reward will be better motivation, less stress and healthy resilience to cope with life's ups and downs.
This Rune is a member of The Congenial Set incorporating agreeableness, sociability and your willingness to flourish by collaborating with others.
"The soul is healed by being with children." Dostoyevsky
Return to Interpretations