The opposite of play is not work…

“The opposite of play isn’t work; it is depression.”
– Dr. Stuart Brown

When we misplace the act of play in our lives, we put ourselves at a disadvantage.

We need to play. 

Both in big splashy ways like carnivals and beach days and in smaller sips when we doodle in our notes or tell bad dad jokes to friends (did you hear about the fire at the circus… it was in-tents).

No one was better at play than Salvador Dali. When he collaborated with Life Magazine photographer Philippe Halsman in 1948 their ultimate creation would become one of the most iconic photographs ever taken.  

The photo, titled Dalí Atomicus, is brought to you by play. 

Dali's first idea for the collaboration was to blow up a duck with dynamite (I kid you not, a real duck), but Halsman refused. Instead, they created a photo where everything would be floating in the air, including three soaring cats and a bucket of water in flight.

It took over 26 attempts to get a shot with the cats, water, and Dali in the right spot, and without the behind-the-scenes helpers accidentally in the frame.

Halsman's playful approach came from his other celebrity photo shoots. When he struggled to make famous people look natural, he'd ask them to jump. He explained, "When you ask a person to jump, their attention is on the act, and their mask falls, revealing the real person."

In addition to Dalí Atomicus, this playful technique led to a series of mid-air photos by Halsman.

Play is like a muscle. 

Using it in small ways makes it easier to embrace bigger, more playful ideas. Regular play boosts confidence and helps you respond optimistically to challenges.

Play more games, create more things with your hands, wander, go on side quests, and be curious.

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In my upcoming book, The Case for More Bad Ideas, I go deeper into the power of play with real examples, best practices, and more on the research behind it all. To get access to more of my bad ideas, find me at my new IG handle @GetMoreBadIdeas.