Photo taken in Harry Potter Studios, London
Playful Silliness: Delight or Discomfort?
It comes as no surprise that as we grow older, we become more set in our ways. With time, our preferences get more pronounced as well as our opinions of trivial things; things that very quickly reveal our love or hate relationships with the most mundane of choices like sandwiches without the crust, mushrooms on a pizza, or blue cheese in a salad.
Sure, our likes and dislikes can shift, but often our initial reactions are rooted in childhood experiences. It’s only natural—our early environments shape how we view even the simplest things.
Take families, for example. Some revolve around sports, puzzles, or camping trips. In my family, the focus was on music, the arts, and performance.
As kids, my sisters and I watched all the classics—The Sound of Music, The King and I, The Phantom of the Opera, and more. We would break into harmonies spontaneously, imagining ourselves in the middle of our own musical scene.
Consequently, in my ignorance, I grew up thinking that the love for any whimsical musical world was the norm for most people; that is, until I came to understand from multiple interactions with others just how wrong I truly was.
I can’t remember exactly when it hit me, but I do recall scanning a room mid-song and noticing two very different reactions. Some people were smiling and singing along, while others seemed frozen in discomfort, almost like they were enduring a slow form of torture.
It became clear that play, especially in the form of musical expression, can deeply divide people. What feels joyful and liberating to some can be deeply uncomfortable to others.
Lasting Joy
One musical that’s captured generations of theater lovers is Mary Poppins. The original film and adaptation of the book are filled with lessons, but one of its standout themes is the power of play.
While the father of the Banks family places high value on doing things in an ordered and pragmatic way, Mary Poppins, in contrast, understands the use of both seriousness and fun at the same time. She inspires the entire family with her animated flair, highlighting the importance of balancing work and enjoyment; practicality and playfulness.
For children, play is second nature. Whether through neighborhood games, coloring books, musical activities, or just silly classroom moments, kids interact fully and vulnerably. They give their best creative energy to the present moment—often without even realizing it.
For adults, tapping into that playful side is harder. But research shows it’s not only beneficial—it’s essential. In Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul, Dr. Stuart Brown writes:
“True play that comes from our own inner needs and desires is the only path to finding lasting joy and satisfaction in our work. In the long run, work does not work without play.”
Beyond the Fun
Some of us might be lucky to have encountered a unique presence, a particular person who somehow manages to lift the tension of a group in any setting. It can be difficult to put our finger on it, but we can see the wonder of such a magnetic skill if we pay close attention.
Maybe it appears through the humor of a family member, through the mindset of a stranger, or through the silliness of the pets we cherish. Yet regardless of whatever form this comforting energy takes, such an uplifting energy usually stems from a playful spirit.
Just at first glance, we can visibly see how the use of it can lighten up any room or space it fills up. But even more importantly, the science and research on the topic reveal that there are many emotional benefits of play worth exploring.
Beyond just being fun, research shows that play reduces stress, boosts creativity and energy, sharpens brain function, and strengthens relationships. It even has measurable health benefits. A loss of play, in fact, has been linked to symptoms of depression.
This goes hand in hand with one finding that a key indicator of depression is a loss of adrenaline. In The Gifts of Imperfection, author Brene Brown references Dr. Stuart Brown’s research on play and writes:
“The opposite of play is not work – the opposite of play is depression. He explains, that respecting our biologically programmed need for play can transform work. It can bring back excitement and newness to our job. Play helps us deal with difficulties, provides a sense of expansiveness, promotes mastery of our craft, and is an essential part of the creative process.”
The Benefits of Play
Naturally, bringing play into certain contexts can meet resistance. Nevertheless, we have plenty of opportunities and practical methods that we can adopt to transform our relationship with our projects into a playful one.
Studies show that play at work boosts productivity and creativity. By starting small and implementing simple habits into our creative process, we can activate this kind of energy with an open mindset.
By approaching our tasks with curiosity, using humor, and celebrating progress, we make room for joy alongside effort. We also engage parts of the brain that foster design thinking, empathy, and storytelling.
In A Whole New Mind, author Daniel H. Pink writes:
“Humor embodies many of the right hemisphere’s most powerful attributes – the ability to place situations in context, to glimpse the big picture, and to combine differing perspectives into new alignments. And that makes this aspect of play increasingly valuable in the world of work.”
Making it joyful
One pop cultural and television phenomenon that captures a playful tone, which might have contributed to its worldwide success, is the American version of the hit series The Office. As a fan of the show myself, it is not difficult to understand and appreciate what makes it stand out.
Just a few clips can transport any viewer back to the days of our youth with delight and amusement over the absurdity of adults acting like children. Yet as bizarre as the concept can be, its creative perspective gravitates to us for a reason if millions of fans from across the globe continue to watch it regularly.
In my experience, the show carries quite a high dynamic of play in each episode with the use of pranks, wit, sarcasm, mischief, and overall silliness – all of which are more than enough to recall one’s childlike energy. Of course, not all forms of playfulness are well-received in certain cultures or contexts.
But does that mean that it needs to be eliminated entirely? Surely a healthy balance exists between seriousness and playfulness that matches very well with one’s personality and current setting.
When you strike that balance, you create a space where work becomes more than just effort—it becomes joyful.
The Metaphor
Today, more and more studies continue to highlight the powerful impacts of play and its essential role in all creativity and innovation. As bizarre as it may be, adults were never meant to stop playing and perhaps actually need it the most.
In looking back at the iconic scene in Mary Poppins in which the character teaches the children to tidy up their rooms, the subtle implications of what she suggests are quite easy to overlook. For more than the lyrics, music, and animations that accompany the song, the most astounding thing of all is at the heart of what her empowering philosophy offers.
Because there, during the moments of a random musical number that some might deem silly and unimportant, she unlocks the key to the greatest metaphor of alchemy itself. She points to the significance of turning any situation into one with an element of fun; to find enthusiasm in anything we do.
Be it an accountant, a programmer, a store clerk, or something else, you elevate each and every matter with your truest creative and playful spirit. This is what it means to transform metal into gold; the ordinary into the extraordinary.
This is alchemy at its finest; to turn work into play. For as Mary Poppins says:
“You find the fun and snap —the job’s a game.”
