Will tomorrow look and feel a lot like today? Probably, yes. Will five years from now look and feel a lot like today? Plausibly. Possibly, no one knows.

No one can see the future. Hell, no one knows exactly what to do right now. We strategize and plan and then the unexpected happens (it always does) right before we need to do that thing we spent all that time planning. 

We’re taught to plan the work and work the plan. And arguably that’s important, but it can’t be urgent. It can’t be responsive and everything is unscripted anyway. 

You know who has all this “embracing uncertainty” stuff figured out? 5 year old kids. They make up the rules of the game while they’re playing the game. Play is such a powerful way to learn. To “learn the rules” sure, but also how to get along with people. How to communicate, collaborate, and create with one another.

The systems were all a part of discourage play and encourage more serious ways of learning. Learning how to learn is important, and knowing which mindsets and tactics are best for the specific goal is great. 

However, we’ve lost play as a learning component along the way. We’ve lost a valuable tool in our help-me-make-sense-of-all-this toolbox.You know who else has that “embracing uncertainty” thing figured out? Improvisers. At least for the amount of time they are on stage. 

If you want to bring play back into your life (which has psychological benefits) reach out to an improv person or troupe near you.