Have you ever played Scrabble or a similar word game? What many players don’t realize is that the ability to see what is right in front of them is perhaps more important to the game than a facility for spelling. The ability to see what is available for play is a powerful asset in life, allowing us to be more fully present in the moment and to identify a greater number of choices. Rather than remembering backward into the past, or spending time wishing and hoping about the future, Scrabble teaches us to focus, keep moving, and do well with what is available now. We learn about balancing preparation for the future and the futility of regret. The game reminds me of the expression, "Happiness isn’t about getting what you want; it is wanting what you have”.
Our perceptions are filtered by our beliefs and emotions, similar to looking through colored glass. If you see through 'victim glass', you often interpret your experiences in terms of being “picked on “ by others or anticipating failure. If you look through 'celebration glass', you notice and acknowledge what is positive in the moment. One of the biggest challenges for couples occurs when they begin to see through the clouds of their own projected assumptions and come to accept their partner for who they are. And of course we have the same experience with ourselves periodically throughout our lives. We will brush aside an awareness from our own inner conversations and ignore it because it does not fit with our expectations or desires, and later realize it was a truth that we did not want to see. We can get so caught up in our own thoughts that we miss what is actually front of us. A game like Scrabble can provide a window to observe this process in ourselves.
We encourage our children to play games in order to increase their skill base and have fun. They get to socialize, laugh, learn how to take turns and play fair. Perhaps we all can use some more of that. Think of playing games as opportunities to refine your vision and focus, and maybe learn something new. While there are a multitude of online games available, a game night in the physical presence of other people can refresh your abilities while you socialize and have fun at the same time. If you can’t find one locally, think about starting one with your friends or as a community event to meet new people.
"When you’re having fun, you boost your positive emotions which activate the learning centres in your brain. That means you are connecting with more of the brain power you have and hence you’ll be more alert in noticing new things and learning through them. When you’re having fun, you’re also much more creative and innovative which means you’ll be able to engage with whatever you’re learning through coming up with new ideas as well as challenging things.” Susanna Halonen
Our perceptions are filtered by our beliefs and emotions, similar to looking through colored glass. If you see through 'victim glass', you often interpret your experiences in terms of being “picked on “ by others or anticipating failure. If you look through 'celebration glass', you notice and acknowledge what is positive in the moment. One of the biggest challenges for couples occurs when they begin to see through the clouds of their own projected assumptions and come to accept their partner for who they are. And of course we have the same experience with ourselves periodically throughout our lives. We will brush aside an awareness from our own inner conversations and ignore it because it does not fit with our expectations or desires, and later realize it was a truth that we did not want to see. We can get so caught up in our own thoughts that we miss what is actually front of us. A game like Scrabble can provide a window to observe this process in ourselves.
We encourage our children to play games in order to increase their skill base and have fun. They get to socialize, laugh, learn how to take turns and play fair. Perhaps we all can use some more of that. Think of playing games as opportunities to refine your vision and focus, and maybe learn something new. While there are a multitude of online games available, a game night in the physical presence of other people can refresh your abilities while you socialize and have fun at the same time. If you can’t find one locally, think about starting one with your friends or as a community event to meet new people.
"When you’re having fun, you boost your positive emotions which activate the learning centres in your brain. That means you are connecting with more of the brain power you have and hence you’ll be more alert in noticing new things and learning through them. When you’re having fun, you’re also much more creative and innovative which means you’ll be able to engage with whatever you’re learning through coming up with new ideas as well as challenging things.” Susanna Halonen
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