Zen and the Art of Improvisation
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Improv Comedy is a very Zen sort of thing.
Zen is an eastern mind set that focuses on emptying the mind, reflecting, and being in the moment as opposed to thinking or struggling for answers.
When most people see improv comedians perform (at least good ones), they are dazzled by the wit and cleverness that they see. This style of observation is one of the most destructive obstacles to getting more people involved in improvisation…
Improv is not about being clever, witty, or funny. It is really about being in the moment, being honest, and being yourself.
I was once teaching an improv class and I was taking the students through a simple creativity exercise where the goal was to simply say the first thing that came to their head regardless of how "good" the idea was. One student said, "I have trouble because I am trying to think of the "right" thing – I mean, we need to come up with a good idea right?"
The answer is no. Great improvisers don't necessarily come up with great or good ideas. They stay in the moment and come up with a simple idea, and then, by using their talent and skill, they build off of the basic idea until something wonderful and great forms.
The faster you embrace this idea into your own life, the easier life will become. How many times do you wait to do something because you can't figure it all out? Or are you waiting around for a great idea to form?
Like most people I have many friends of varying degrees of closeness. With my closest friends, I don't need to have any plans at all. We just get together, and even if we do nothing but hang out at one of our houses, we have an amazing time. With other friends, I feel like we always need "plans." We can't just get together; we need to know what we are going to do. These are people I like very much, but don't think I will ever be exceptionally close too.
While it's great to experience all that life has to offer, and to travel and do many different things, the person who will be truly fulfilled will be the one who can find joy in simplicity.
Now that's a Zen thought…
Avish Parashar is a dynamic professional speaker who shows organizations and individuals how to get what they want using the Art and Science of improv comedy. He weaves together humorous stories, witty observations, and interactive exercises from improvisational comedy to get people laughing, learning, and motivated! Avish is most commonly called upon to deliver programs on Motivation, Sales, and Communication
For more free articles, downloads, and resources, visit http://www.AvishParashar.com
To learn how to apply the powerful principles of improv comedy to your own business or life visit http://www.ImprovforEveryone.com
