A number of years again, I attended my buddy Nick’s blowout fortieth birthday celebration.
As a part of the celebration, he employed an improv comedian, and we all needed to take part in studying improv comedy.
(I simply felt the collective shiver of all of the introverts studying this text).
We began tossing out enjoyable situations and scenes to take part in, and we discovered about an important rule of Improv: “Sure and.”
Two easy phrases, and the inspiration for all of improv comedy:
Every time any person comes up with a scene, sentence, or scenario, the ONLY acceptable response is: “sure and”
- Sure: Acceptance! I settle for and acknowledge that regardless of the scenario is, regardless of how absurd, to be true.
- And: construct! Like a tennis match, after your improv companion hits the ball to you, your job is to hit it again! Constructing on the scenario or scene.
For instance, in case your improv companion says, “I’m an area pirate” your response may very well be:
- “Sure, and I’m the area police, you’re underneath arrest!”
- “Sure, and I’m a primary mate searching for a brand new crew, that is excellent!”
- “Sure, and my title is Captain Hook, welcome to Pirates Nameless.”
The “sure and” rule is so essential, as a result of there’s nothing worse than a nasty improv companion!
Type of like Liam Neeson in this short sketch with Ricky Gervais, (I chuckle each time):
The Sure And Rule for Life
As a former overachieving “gifted youngster” who has fairly the damaging inside critic, I’ve labored laborious on incorporating “sure and” into my life.
The “sure” half is constructed round acceptance, which is one thing I’ve spent the previous two years working to embrace.
Take a look at my previous essays on Acceptance and Wabi Sabi for extra.
It’s the “and” half I’ve centered on these days.
As Dr. Kristen Neff factors out on in her ebook Self-compassion, life is advanced and so are people:
“Judgment defines individuals as dangerous versus good and tries to seize their important nature with simplistic labels.
Discriminating knowledge acknowledges complexity and ambiguity.”
Nothing is ever so simple as it appears. Issues are by no means pretty much as good or dangerous as our brains assume they’re both.
So regardless of the voice in our heads that wishes to evaluate every little thing in black-or-white, yes-or-no, good-or-bad phrases… We should keep in mind that life is a fantastically sophisticated mess.
Writer F. Scott Fitzgerald as soon as stated:
The take a look at of a first-rate intelligence is the power to carry two opposed concepts within the thoughts on the similar time, and nonetheless retain the power to operate.
One ought to, for instance, have the ability to see that issues are hopeless and but be decided to make them in any other case.
That is my process for you in the present day.
Is there part of your life that feels black-or-white, and as an alternative might use a little bit of complexity?
Nothing is so simple as it appears.
Life is tough, and alter is tough. AND you’re a very good one who’s making an attempt.
Which suggests there’s hope. And hope is the warrior emotion.
Additionally, please go watch that Liam Neeson skit.
You’re welcome.
-Steve
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