When you truly surprise yourself, the ripples can last a long time.
In an improvisation class with Jules Munns some years ago he asked what skills or challenges we wanted to work on. I said that I kept hanging back, judging things, editing myself and that I wanted to follow my impulses and get more involved.
Jules looked me straight in the eye and said “OK Alex, I want you to move your feet EVERY SINGLE SECOND in this class. If your feet are not moving you’re in big trouble. Got it?”
So I moved my feet and toes, constantly. Sometimes hopping from side-to-side, sometimes just tapping on the floor, sometimes just moving my toes.
It felt strange at first but it worked like magic. I found myself jumping into scenes from the sidelines quite easily, even with only half a shit idea (to quote Katy Schutte).
The inner critic and inner editor in my head went silent (usually pretty vocal back then) but I didn’t really notice. I was too busy following my feet and having fun.
Later in the class, I was sat down watching another group performing (feet still jigging). Usually when you are the audience you stay sitting down, but this time something else happened.
I saw something happening and I felt I could contribute something useful, and I jumped out of my seat and rushed on stage, following an impulse to get involved.
The players on stage were starting to make a house and I lay down on the floor in front of them as a brick in the foundations of a house. Somehow they understood this and built on top of me, rather than kicking me off the stage.
A few moments later the scene moved on and I headed back to my seat, my pulse racing.
Was that really me that jumped into the action? Me with the heavy duty impulse control?
As a platinum award-wining overthinker this moment came as a total surprise. I did somthing before I realised I had done it. No filtering, screening, judging.
Something shifted in me that day. I realised that when I give trust to myself and others I can go with my impulses.
The funny thing (at least for me) is that there’s a famous Del Close quote about improvisation along the lines of “You bring a brick and I’ll bring a brick and let’s build together.”
For a brief moment I literally was a spontaneous brick. And they built on top of me. And I survived. And then I went back to my seat.
It might seem small, trivial even, but since then I’ve been much more willing to jump into the moment and to trust my instincts.
That doesn’t mean I always get it right, but when I feel something needs to happen, I just do it.
There’s probably a catchy slogan in there somewhere.
Thanks Jules for pushing me.
I should say Jules knew exactly what I needed. He’s good like that and this class took place on day four of an improvisation festival. So while I’m happy to be pushed, and I believe that improvisation reveals that we are more resilient and much less at-risk in social situations than we usually think, that doesn’t mean I’ll push you to get on your toes. Unless it’s right for you too… Then maybe 🙂
