Rediscovering Play: A Journey of Balance and Authenticity with Nina Everflow
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“You have to be everything that we are conditioned as adults in this society to not be... You have to be soft, you have to be spontaneous, you have to have spaciousness.” - Nina Everflow
Join host Nikita Burks-Hale as she welcomes the vibrant and playful Nina Everflow, an instructional designer and trainer facilitator, on a journey to rediscover the transformative power of play in adult life, challenging societal expectations and infusing joy, spontaneity, and creativity into everyday experiences. In this episode Nikita and Nina explore the transformative power of play in adult life. Nina opens up about her personal journey of rediscovering playfulness after a stressful college experience, which led to health issues. Through her own experiences as an entrepreneur, Nina emphasizes the importance of infusing play into daily life as a way to rebalance the mind-body relationship.
Listen to the Episode 026 with Nina Everflow
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In the midst of a predominantly work-focused world, Nina Everflow emerges as a beacon of playfulness and joy in adult life. With her background in corporate training and instructional design, Nina has reshaped the traditional landscape of leadership development, interweaving a relaxed yet effective approach into her methods. Beyond her professional sphere, Nina is passionate about gardening, theatre, and fostering connections beyond a mere transactional level. Her playful spirit, honed from her rich childhood experiences and deep belief in taking a stance against societal norms, enables her to infuse a sense of spontaneity and creativity into her personal and professional pursuits. This unique ethos is what makes Nina Everflow a true champion of play in adult life.
In this episode you will be able to:
Encounter the unexplored realm of integrating play into your everyday life as an adult.
Identify intriguing ways of incorporating fun elements into professional and learning spaces.
Interpret the nexus between genuineness and contentment throughout one's adulthood.
Appreciate the value of self-celebration, including cherishing your external attributes such as hair color.
Recognize the refreshing retreat of leading a vibrant life and embracing your unfiltered individuality.
Episode Summary
00:00:01 - Welcome to Headphones and Crayons
In this episode, host Nikita Burks-Hale welcomes guest Nina Everflow to the podcast. They discuss the importance of play and how it can be incorporated into adulthood. Nina shares her personal experience with play and how it has influenced her work as an instructional designer and trainer.
00:02:25 - The Power of Purple
Nina shares that her favorite color is purple and recalls a childhood memory of dressing up in a purple gown. Purple represents her playful and imaginative nature, and she uses play as a way to reimagine herself and the world around her.00:05:13 - Relearning Play
Nina discusses how she had to relearn how to play in adulthood, as it was often suppressed during her college and graduate school experiences. She emphasizes the importance of healing and reconnecting with one's body, and how play can be a tool for rebalancing the mind and body relationship.
00:09:11 - Playful Surroundings
Nina reflects on the influence of her partner, who is an artist and musician, and her children, who are still deeply connected to play. She shares the joy of gardening and the playful experience of planting seeds and witnessing the harvest. Play is integrated into many aspects of her life.00:10:10 - Playing with Colors
Nina talks about her enjoyment of using dual-tip markers in various colors for writing and organizing her thoughts. She believes that having a wide range of colors allows for more00:17:42 - The Impact of Energy Levels
The conversation begins by discussing different energy levels and how they affect our outlook and perspective. It is noted that anger is a level two emotion, and that our terminology and perception can change depending on how we're feeling.00:18:19 - Scarcity and Rest
The conversation shifts to discuss the conditioning of scarcity in our lives, particularly related to rest and sleep. The pressure to be constantly productive in capitalism leads to a lack of rest, and the constant need to compete with others for productivity is exhausting. There is a longing for a sense of fulfillment and completeness.00:19:39 - Finding Fulfillment
The speaker shares their personal experience of finding fulfillment despite external challenges. They emphasize that fulfillment can coexist with difficult circumstances, and that it is possible to thrive even in tough times. Fulfillment is described as a positive shift and a sense of completeness.00:20:51 - The Significance of Breath
The conversation explores the significance of breath and its connection to the universal presence. Breath is seen as a reminder of our proximity to all that is, and it is described as a sacred and intimate experience. The speaker envisions breath as a visible, golden energy that is seen and felt by higher forces.00:23:27 - Connectivity and Nature
The conversation delves into the connectivity between breath and nature. The speaker talks about their experience living in a natural environment surrounded by forests and feeling connected to the plants and trees00:36:13 - "Exploring Hair Color"
Nina discusses her experience of coloring her hair for the first time and how it has been a fun way to play with her appearance.00:37:00 - "Melanin Appreciation"
Nina expresses her deep appreciation for melanin and how she is falling in love with her own skin. She celebrates the beauty of melanated skin and embraces her own colorful identity.00:38:46 - "Living Colorfully"
Nina reflects on what it means for her to live colorfully. She talks about unfurling and exploring different aspects of herself, embracing her emotions, and allowing herself to fully experience life without guilt or shame.00:40:48 - "Radical Permissioning"
The concept of radical permissioning is discussed, emphasizing the importance of giving oneself permission to be authentic and fully embrace all aspects of their identity. This includes breaking free from societal conditioning and limitations.00:41:52 - "Breath and Colors"
The conversation concludes with the theme of breath and colors. Nina mentions how this relationship between breath and colors, along with the imagery of mist, is a gift she will take away from the conversation.
Additional Reflection Points
Discover the Power of Play
Play is not just for children; it's a transformative tool that can bring joy, spontaneity, and creativity into adult lives. Through play, adults can rebalance their mind-body connection and ignite innovative insights into problem-solving. Cultivating a playful attitude can challenge societal expectations of seriousness and productivity, leading to more authentic and fulfilling experiences.
Bring Amusement to Your Environment
Introducing playfulness into your daily life can be as simple as incorporating colorfully designed tools, like Nina Everflow did with her Rion dual tip pens. Even in the seemingly mundane tasks, infusing a playful element can inspire new perspectives, motivating us to reimagine our world. The result of this infusion enhances personal growth, creativity and promotes a balanced and joyful atmosphere in both professional and domestic environments.
Embrace Your Unique Identity
Living colorfully isn't only about playing with hair color or clothing choices; it's deeper than that. It's about fully embracing and expressing your unique identity with confidence and pride. When you allow yourself to unfurl, to express all shades of your emotions and experiences, you give others the permission to do the same, and together, we challenge societal norms and expectations. Embracing your unique identity allows for personal growth and fosters an authentically vibrant and meaningful life.
Connect with Nina
Learn more about her work here.
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