The Power of Play Gets Hired by the US Army

As we were sitting in the office of the command's clinical psychologist at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, I had a moment that made me giggle out loud. And what I said to the clinical psychologist who was part of the team that brought us in, was, "So what you're saying is that basically, it was a snowball's chance in hell that The Power of Play and the US Army would be here working together...with Richard and I sitting in front of you."

And she said, "Yep. That's about right. You are the snowball, Rahla, and this is hell!"

Wow! From our initial "read-ahead" white paper (which was a new term for us) back in December, 2007, to yesterday's acknowledgment from the Colonel who was the other part of the team who hired us, we are now taking a deep breath to share with you what a unique, powerful, creative, laughter filled, exhausting, miraculous journey this intersection in the history of The Power of Play and The Power of Play Approach has been.

Our goal is to work with returning veterans who are suffering with the suddenly broken life that PTSD, deep brain trauma and the amputation of limbs brings. We know The Power of Play Approach works, because of our experience in the 1980's with veterans from another war - the Vietnam war.

At that time we were working at a support center for homeless and mentally ill adults in Santa Monica, called Step Up On Second. One day a couple of Vietnam veterans showed up in my class. One, in particular, was hesitant to participate. On the spot I began an exercise that has become a staple in The Power of Play repertoire of games. I asked him to tell a true story from his life that had something to do with a pair of shoes. His story was inspiring, poignant and wonderful. He told of how he had been a Rhodes Scholar and was on his way to Oxford, when he went to Paris for a short holiday. He found a pair of shoes in a small shop that made him feel like a king when he put them on. He blew his holiday budget to buy the shoes, but they were worth it.

The smile and openness of this man who moments before had been closed off and shut down, told me that something important had happened. Soon other vets were showing up in my class. The reason? They said they heard they could tell their stories there. They also said that my class was one of the few places where they could laugh and enjoy some humor, instead of the usual gripe and complain sessions that they were used to.

Now, with a new war and a new wave - make that tidal wave - of veterans returning, I know we have an important job to do. Our Approach helps people discover or rediscover their creativity, authenticity and natural sense of humor. That practice has health benefits that science is now validating. But more importantly, I believe our fun and easy methods bring people - whether they be dealing with cancer, chronic illness or deep brain trauma - to a familiar place within themselves that they may have forgotten about. It is kind of like going through your old junk drawer and finding some treasure you haven't thought about in decades. You are reminded of who you were then, with all the feelings of excitement and anticipation that each adventure in life brings. It is almost like meeting an old friend on the street. Only the old friend is you!

Introduction

Hi! I am Rahla Kahn, the creator of The Power Of Play®.

And I’m Richard Rossner. I’m married to Rahla and am her partner in The Power Of Play®.

How The Power Of Play® came to be and the many roads we are traveling on this journey will be the subjects of this site. It will be an ongoing inquiry into creativity, health and personal excellence.

We probably should begin with what The Power Of Play® is and what it is not. Sorry, but The Power Of Play® is not a sex site, although The Power Of Play Approach™ to sex and relationships has important implications, and we’ll be exploring them in future writings.

So…what is The Power Of Play® and The Power Of Play Approach™?

The Power Of Play® is a dynamic, experiential, innovative approach to health, wellness, personal empowerment, business culture and productivity. We use the rules of improvisational theater as a structure to design exercises that reveal patterns of thought and behavior in a fun, safe, non-competitive and non-confrontational manner.

Educators know that the “fun” ingredient helps students learn, anchor and retain information. In our seminars and private work, we create a safe environment in which participants discover the liberating effects that our inventive methods provide. While some may consider any training or personal exploration with the word “play” in it childish, our work embodies the childlike qualities of curiosity, wonder, amazement, imagination, surprise, creativity and playfulness that allow for peak performance as adults.

The Power Of Play® succeeds, because our programs create an opening in both heart and mind. Then we further the learning process by engaging participants in an active process. Add the element of laughter, and personal insights are anchored in a profound way. Participants do not simply listen to theories. They engage in an experiential process and are given an opportunity to reflect on their response, which provides insights into how they operate at work and in life. Participants are also amazed at their own creativity and recognize how they can apply new tools to discover different possibilities to approach persistent problems. People have personal breakthroughs in perspective that enhance the quality of their experience of themselves, which affects the choices that they make, which ultimately brings more joy and aliveness into their personal and work lives.

Recommended Reading:

We have experienced life as a grand game that has magically and wondrously led us to develop our ideas and approach. There were many people and books along the way that inspired and helped give us the theoretical and practical foundation for our work. We will offer a couple of books at a time (so as not to overwhelm you) that you can read to increase your understanding of what animates us and what can practically support your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual mental health and wellbeing.
The first two books we highly recommend are selections for anyone who is dealing with cancer or other health issues. They were authored by extraordinary visionary and pioneering men who became my (Rahla’s) mentors.

The first book is Anatomy of an Illness As Perceived by the Patient, written by Norman Cousins. Norman was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis, a painful and debilitating nerve disease. He was given a few months to live. He discovered, however, that when he laughed for 15 minutes, he was able to get more than two hours of pain free sleep. His intuition led him to rent every comedy movie he could, and he eventually “laughed himself well.” His story is fascinating, inspiring, empowering and easy to read.

The second book we highly recommend is Getting Well Again, written by radiation oncologist, Dr. O. Carl Simonton. This book lays out a brilliant theory and practical program that can help anyone dealing with cancer learn how to re-balance their life and bring joy and serenity to the overall healing process. Carl and his program were the true jumping off point for many of today’s mind-body health gurus, such as Bernie Segal and Deepak Chopra. This seminal work and Carl’s ongoing retreats in Santa Barbara, CA, are a constant source of inspiration for us. The program Carl offers in this book makes so much sense, it can and does apply to everyone seeking a healthy and balanced life. If you know anyone who is dealing with the chaos of cancer, RUN out and get this book for them. If you are experiencing a stressful life and want to avoid the illnesses that stress can bring, get a copy for yourself!