Improvising purpose: Say yes, risk more, and discover yourself
When I took my very first improv class over 15 years ago now (what is time)… I didn’t realise it would be the gift that kept on giving.
In the shorter-term it enriched my writing and unlocked more joy in my life. It’s where I met my husband and some of my best friends. And of course, I’ve gotten to play a lot of fun characters and scenes on stage with some of Australia’s best improvisers. Longer-term, it’s become a way of life. I brought it into workshops and creative labs to unlock new ways of thinking. I used it in the office, to help alleviate stress and build connections with colleagues. And I’ve embraced its central tenets for my work with The Story Shaman.
So here are the top five things I learned from improv that you can apply to any context:
Say ‘YES AND’ to the call of possibility.
‘Yes and’ is the first and last rule of improv. Nothing is invented, no imagination activated, without it. ‘Yes and’ is the doorway to exploring new horizons.
Use this prompt: list out all the possible pathways to achieving what you want. Practice saying ‘yes and’ to each and explore (in theory) what would open up as a result.Accept your own offers.
There’s something right now that you’re curious about. Something you or your team have been circling around. Accepting the offers in front of you makes the magic possible, and not just on stage. Stop blocking yourself and take the courageous action that’s been calling.
Use this prompt: once you’ve listed the above pathways, and explored what ‘yes and’ looks like, choose one courageous action to take that feels aligned, and take it. See what happens as a result.Follow delight to find the way.
Co-creating something in real time with partners means discovering what delights both the person you’re on stage with and yourself. A path built on delight is richer and more meaningful. Delight isn’t puffery. It can be the cobblestones that line the way.
Use this prompt: on your own (or in your team/group), brainstorm all the things that delight you, from the most whimsical and small, to the big and powerful. Explore what direction they open up or suggest.Be prepared to risk who and where you are to discover who you want to become.
Great moments on stage don’t come from playing it safe. The same goes for real life. Don’t be afraid to jump in with both feet, and risk what’s there to uncover a deeper, more aligned story.
Use this prompt: journal about where you want to be or what you want to achieve. Now look at what things in your current state need to change, and ask yourself what of these am I prepared to risk?Paint the picture of what you want in detail to make it real for yourself.
In improv, adding detail – emotional and physical – enriches and deepens the play between performers. The same goes with the story you’re trying to step into. The more detail you can add to how it feels and looks and moves, the more powerful your story becomes. The better able it is to trigger impact.
Use this prompt: Write down your big hairy goal. Now try to flesh it out in as much detail as possible: how it feels, how it looks, how you move, how you act. Use words, visuals, art, sounds — anything you need to in order to colour it in.
Imagination, openness, play, creativity and fun don't have to be things for other people. They can also be gateways for bringing your truest vision to life.