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Play can unlock your creativity and lead to innovation and success--creative director Piera Gelardi shows you how. The demands of adulthood often cause us to view play as something child-like, silly, and ultimately separate from our real lives. In treating it like a luxury, we fail to experience the critical advantage that play offers us to lead whole, successful lives. Play--a state of absorption in activities for enjoyment or exploration--can be a superpower at any age, and individuals who engage in more frequent play tend to have better psychological and physical functioning. In The Playful Way , creative director Piera Gelardi helps adults reclaim their playfulness by developing a more playful mindset and applying it to their life, work, relationships, changes, and challenges. Anyone can rediscover their sense of wonder by embracing life the playful way, a path that offers advantages, unlocks innovation, and feels a whole lot better. Science has proven these and more benefits of a playful mindset: Improved mental health Improved physical health thanks to enduring commitment to (fun!) fitness Trust and creativity in teams Focusing on both the light and fun and the tough and serious, The Playful Way is a guide to reconnecting with your inner child and realizing that when you have a playful mindset, you don''t have to go play. Play comes with you everywhere. The Playful Way features 20 original black-and-white illustrations by the author.
About the author
Piera Gelardi is a renowned creative director, entrepreneur, and speaker passionate about bringing out the creativity in everyone. She co-founded the iconic women’s media brand Refinery29, and today facilitates workshops for corporations and conferences about creativity, courage, and play. Outside of work, she loves leading play experiences, performing in storytelling shows, teaching cathartic dance, and making up songs with her four year old.
Summary
Playfulness can help you navigate life with more creativity, resilience, and joy—entrepreneur Piera Gelardi offers simple practices and radical permission to shift from the Pressured Way to the Playful Way.
Since childhood, we're told to "grow up" and "get serious." But what if playfulness—not grinding harder—is the secret to navigating life's challenges with more creativity, connection, and joy?
When life feels overwhelming, most of us default to the Pressured Way: clenching our jaws, white-knuckling through, trying to force solutions. Creative entrepreneur Piera Gelardi shows there's another option: the Playful Way—a mindset that transforms how you move through the world, making you more fluid, experimental, and alive.
Gelardi guides readers in uncovering the mental barriers and inner critics that restrict their playfulness, offering practical techniques to reconnect with curiosity, wonder, and possibility. You'll discover the Eight Powers of Play and learn to quiet the "Anti-Play Posse" voices in your head.
Through personal stories, real-world examples, and science-backed insights, Gelardi shows how a playful mindset:
- Unlocks creative solutions when conventional thinking fails
- Builds resilience during uncertainty and change
- Transforms mundane tasks into sources of joy
- Deepens connections with yourself and others
- Helps you feel present and alive instead of numb and disconnected
The Playful Way meets you where you are. Whether you're navigating major transitions or simply seeking more joy in daily life, this is your permission slip and roadmap to discover what becomes possible when you choose play.
