Playing with Perspective
16 years old in Costa Rica, helping my host mom with dinner after a run
For much of my life, I’ve hated running. It can be challenging, painful, and create a boatload of emotional stress for me. When I was 16, I remember running down the Pan American Highway near my host family’s house in Costa Rica. It felt like I had to run, with no choice in the matter. It was hot and muggy - my two least favorite conditions for running - but it felt like the only thing that might help me feel better about myself and my body at the time.
I still have moments when I wish my body were different. But what’s changed for me is the realization that when I do something because I feel like I have to, it's nearly impossible to enjoy it - to make room for play, lightness, gratitude, joy. And when it’s hard to enjoy, I don’t want to do it - and often I won’t. This isn’t a big deal for some things in life, but when we have goals that we want to achieve, and we really want to take action in important areas like climate change, it’s crucial that we can and do take that action - particularly when it’s challenging.
I’ve been taking a course on the neuroscience of change, which had me wondering about the scientific reasoning behind this phenomenon. According to Harvard Health Publishing, “exercise reduces levels of the body's stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. It also stimulates the production of endorphins, chemicals in the brain that are the body's natural painkillers and mood elevators." In essence, physical activity naturally makes us feel better.
But what happens when we put excessive pressure on ourselves to be better, to do better? That creates a cascade of neurochemicals, activating the stress response. Research on self-criticism indicates that "over-relying upon the threat system as a source of motivation can make us stressed, anxious and depressed, and generally inhibits a good emotional mindset." In other words, self-pressure makes it really challenging to access a playful mindset. And why does that matter? Because playfulness and joy can motivate further action, even when the going gets tough.
On my run this morning, one of my favorite coaches was preparing us for what she called ‘Speedplay’. “Notice,” she said, “that I didn't call it ‘speedwork’. This is an opportunity to play with rate change, to listen to the beat of the music, to express what you feel in your body.” I love how she invited us to shift to a playful perspective as a way to enhance our work and amplify our ability to run for longer, with greater ease. Because play isn’t about circumstance or the activity itself – it’s about our mindset. Running can feel fun. or horrendous. Or both. Just like climate work.
