I have a highly controversial and possibly triggering statement to make: everything is work. You’re never not working.

Do you feel resistance building, arguments at the ready; a slow *twitch* of the left eye? Let’s suspend some cultural conditioning for a moment to zoom out and consider this thought experiment:

Work is effort and everything requires effort; so everything is work. Beside the obvious “9-5” and “side hustle,” we expend energy and effort every moment of every day and night. Whether it’s making meals, running errands, staying up-to-date with family and friends, doing chores and tracking your budget—even when you’re resting, or in a state of rest, your body is working (although with less effort) fastidiously to rehabilitate and repair itself. And this costs, or taxes, our energy reserves.

You are always working. So, umm… how can this be fun?

play : work :: work : play

everything is work

play is work

work is play

everything is play

They say “play is the work of childhood,” and yet they expect, we expect, to abandon this play to take on the heavy yoke of adulthood, to work. Our current social paradigm upholds and reinforces that adulthood, that grown-up life, is burdensome and a chore. See: Adulting. Oof.

It doesn’t have to be like this. We can choose another way.

“But Monika—” you might be thinking, “how do I find my path of least resistance?!” This is how:

This is not a typo. Take the path of eased resistance.

Approach challenges with curiosity, with your instinctively creative problem-solving playfulness, and get ready to be amazed by how things will flow.

Yes, there are and will continue to be challenges. And—yes, your disciplined focus and perseverance will be required, but—AND—each one of those is your opportunity to choose your path. This is your chance to cultivate the quality of your process. This path requires focused oversight* accounting for full circle integration, for wholeness. 

I hear you—actions have undeniable consequences. Even what we call “inaction” is actually an active choice. If you don’t go to your job, you won’t receive your paycheck, and then how will you pay your rent, or buy food? So, the question isn’t about whether or not we work or play in traditional terms, but rather a matter of shifting from our heavy-laden, burdensome relationship with work to one of curiosity and buoyancy. Go with the flow. Lightening the load allows your energy to expand with lightning inspiration!

“Do we get to play today?” is the question I started asking myself every morning. Doing so carried me from hopeless, self-defeating “can’t-do’s” or “no-goods” to diligent, self-empowering, grounded “just look what I accomplished.” And even better, “look what I am accomplishing.” The process continues, full circle, strengthening my integrity. 

I invite you to give it a try for a week—a month—you decide. (Do you want to play together?)

Work with it. Play with it.

— yours truly,

P.S. *What a wonderful irony, the double meaning of “oversight”—in this case I mean care, supervision.