Spiritual Growth Through Improv

I titled my blog "Improv Spirituality" because I believe the tenets of improv can go hand-in-hand with spiritual disciples and growth.  I'm currently reading "The Tears of Things" by Richard Rohr. In his book, Richard reflects on the teaching of Carl Jung. Jung describes the movement toward wholeness as primarily facilitated by conflicts. When we work through our conflicts, Jung is speaking primarily about inner conflicts, we let go of dualistic thinking and enter into growth. Rohr writes, "there is always a third, fourth, or fifth insight r solution to uncover, but it does not seem to be worth the trouble when we can fall back on one of our two usual and easy choices." Improv is about foregoing the easy choices and being open to think creatively about a given situation. Whether it is a scene on stage or a conflict in real life. I've written about "Make Another Choice", one of my favorite improv games. The leader rings a bell and that forces the participants to make another choice rather than rely on the easy answer. These games often scare or intimidate newcomers to improv. But using the words of Rohr, "It is all about waiting trustfully, holding without panicking, and anticipating, even in the silence, that an answer will be given." 

It is by facing our fears and trusting that we can experience growth and find new ways to engage. In Improv its about trusting our improv training and our own ability to react authentically. In life its also about trusting ourselves, but also trusting in a loving God who is there even when we fail. We merely present ourselves as a willing container "to hold all of our conflictual paradoxes together in creative tension."