Holding Off

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Improv is about being fully present to the moment. Sometimes the best way to live in the moment is to make plans for the future. 

I have often found myself reluctant to make long-term plans. Some of my rational is that I am an ENFP on my Myer's Briggs Personality profile. That means I keep looking at options, sometimes waiting until an opportunity passes. Not making a decision, is making a decision. It also means I concentrate on the "what ifs." What if I make a non-refundable deposit and my situation changes? What if I change my mind or my living situation changes or a myriad other catastrophic options? So in order to be safe, I back down, I don't take the risk, I don't plan. Plans can't fall through if I don't make them, right?

What I'm really doing is guarding myself and refusing to live now. I'm letting fear control how I live. Even though my plans are for something a year away, the effect is very real in the present moment. Rather, than saying "Yes, and," I'm saying wait, be cautious, hold off. 

Improv is about not holding off. Throw yourself fully into the now, and that may mean making plans for the future. Truly an improv mindset can deal with whatever happens. Better to go with the flow and adapt to changed plans than to sit and do nothing. Living in the now means taking risks. Don't hold off. Risk by saying "yes" to the future now!

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