We leave you with a few more improvisational exercises. They are tools that you can use to create more of your own Happy Accidents. We encourage you to experiment with these at work with coworkers and even select customers. You can also put the exercises into practice in your home life. Improvisational tools have a powerful impact on how you experience the world and interact with others on a day-to-day basis. So get out there and put these to good use – and remember to have fun!
Spend one week giving “gifts” to those around you. For example, if someone at work comes up with an idea, make it a priority to not only acknowledge the idea but to greet it enthusiastically. Note in your work journal what the benefits were of giving the gift. How has your new attitude positively affected those around you? Keep specific notes throughout the week in order to see firsthand how giving gifts has changed the mojo around you. You can do the same outside of work when you’re at home with your family or spending time with friends. You’ll notice that when you become open to the ideas of others, they become open to yours. You’ll cultivate an entirely new culture in your life, one of positivity, adaptability, and collaboration. It’s a gift that keeps on giving.
For one week, change the phrase “I have to” to “I get to.” Many of you may ask what the difference between the two phrases is. “I have to” denotes being forced to do something against your will and usually is accompanied by negative feelings surrounding whatever it is you are being asked to do. “I get to” comes from a place of gratitude and therefore brings more positive synchronizations to the forefront. When we “get to go to work” we realize how fortunate we are to have a job; when we come from a place of gratitude, it reflects in the work we do.
In your notebook or journal, keep track of all the times you change “have to” to “get to” and then see what transpires from the change throughout the week. Soon you’ll begin attracting more opportunity into your life – both at work and at home.
Partner up with someone you don’t know very well and tell a fictitious short story about something the two of you did together. You can make up the scenario – like the time you both went to Las Vegas together or went on vacation to the Caribbean, or even the time you climbed Mount Everest! The idea is to gauge the give and take between you and your partner. Was it 50/50 participation or more like 80/20? The idea here is that, even when telling a fictitious story, we have more in common with each other than we think. Our experiences in life, the emotions we feel, are shared universally.
This exercise is based on positive energy and active listening, which promotes a culture of gratitude by being heard and appreciated. It’s a variation of “Yes, and,” in which the first person begins an opening statement and then their partner responds with “Thank you” and builds on the pertinent information in the last statement. Every response begins with “Thank you” from that point on. The two of you go back and forth like this for two to three minutes. An example of an exchange might look like this:
Partner 1: “I would like to invite you to dinner tonight.”
Partner 2: “Thank you for the invitation. I’ve always enjoyed your company.”
Partner 1: “Thank you, the feeling is mutual. We should spend more time together.”
Partner 2: “Thank you, I couldn’t agree more. What are we cooking?”
Partner 1: “Thank you, that’s a great question. How does lobster sound?”
Partner 2: “Thank you, I love seafood. And we can add some homemade macaroni and cheese.”
At the end, ask yourself these questions: