Asense of well-being and inner calm doesn’t only arise through sitting still in meditation. You can also find it in your leisure, which research has documented isn’t a frill but a necessity for quality of life. When you pause from the hurry-worry of your working life and take part in activities that bring a smile to your face (salsa dancing, pottery making, a short trip to the beach), a space opens up in which you can see what the Japanese poet Basho called “the hidden glimmering” behind all things.

      Suddenly, the world appears more playful, and you begin to notice, for instance, the branches of a tall cedar swaying in opposite directions simultaneously or the person singing in the car next to you in traffic.
      Participation is the key that unlocks the magic of what’s known in India as masti, or the intoxication of life. Joy comes from the sense that you’re determining the content of your life and from the brain’s natural reward system for learning — the rush of dopamine that’s triggered when you find novelty and challenge. The satisfaction comes from doing things for your own amusement, which taps into your internal validation — a source of strong selfworth. You knew this instinctively as a child, when you indulged in play for its own sake. And you can feel it again, when you bring back childhood leisure skills and plunge into the experience of living. So awaken that spontaneity and nonjudgmental attitude, wander without aim, dive in to things you haven’t done before, find a hobby, leave the yardstick of productivity and its guilt behind, and rediscover something long forgotten: That recess is the best part of the day.

finding fun
    It’s okay, and even beneficial, to occasionally leave your responsibilities behind and engage in the simple acts that bring joy. The following tips from life balance coach Joe Robinson can help you do this. For more information, visit worktolive.info.
    Put yourself on the calendar. Take leisure appointments as seriously as you do those for work.
    Unplug. Set aside cell phones and e-mail when you’re at play.
    Slow down. Most speeding is false urgency, and the habit of rushing keeps you from peace of mind.
    Let go of the guilt. You are entitled to enjoy the fruits of your labor.
    Go for the experience. When we only do things for a result, we wind up postponing our lives.
    Play without judgment. You don’t have to be good at everything. Learning is essential to the idea of play.

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