Improv Wisdom

We’ve Moffled the 13 strategies from the book, Improv Wisdom. Here is part 1. They are a call to lightening up & living an unscripted life.

 I was introduced to them by Dan Hughes many years ago on my DDP training & I have kept a copy on my office wall ever since.  A great prompt to try & stay present in the moment, to remember the importance of attending to exactly what is in front of us, & to keep trying.

These are techniques used by generations of musicians & actors that Dan recognised could be equally helpful to therapists, parents, teachers & other professionals in their relationships & work with traumatised children. A recognition of the artistry we all engage in when we are in attuned relationships.

Trauma is a great organiser & when we begin to feel ineffective or ‘not good enough’ in the face of trauma, it is easy to become narrow in our thinking & risk averse. To become hard on ourselves & to anticipate failure.  This can lead to us to stick too rigidly to a set plan in an attempt to create a sense of safety, or worse, can lead to us becoming defensive or giving up. When this happens we can miss the sparkling moments or opportunities for connection that are right under our noses.

In my work with families & with the clinicians I supervise, one of my favourite mantras is that ‘we don’t do perfect’ – we do good enough, we try to stay kind to ourselves & those around us & we hang in there & keep on doing it. We model that it is ok to make mistakes & the most important thing is how we make amends & prioritise being in good relationships. 90% of success is turning up.

Improv Wisdom beautifully summarises how to approach life more playfully, more intersubjectively & with spontaneity & compassion.