In a nutshell

Partners take turns pulling imagined objects out of an imaginary box. The goal is to surprise yourself, respond instinctively, and play in the space between certainty and chaos.

Set up

• Pairs sit on chairs (or the floor) facing each other

• Pretend to have a stack of boxes full of interesting objects!

Activity flow:

1. Players take turns pulling imaginary items from the box between you.

2. Aim to be spontaneous and let yourself discover each object by it’s imagined size, weight, texture (your left brain will want to decide in advance – ask it to relax!)

3. Keep up the momentum of new objects. Allow unrelated objects—no story-building needed.

Encourage people to:

• Commit to discovery

• Let go of planning (it’s a simple, low stakes game!)

• Support each other with positive reactions

Results

• Unlocks playful spontaneity & creative impulses

• Highlights our tendency to ‘predict & control’

• Reduces fear of “getting it wrong”

• Builds focus and partner awareness

Things to flag up

• Some participants may hesitate—remind them: there’s no meaningful way to get it wrong

• Watch for over-explaining or verbal processing—redirect to doing

• How we use humour and connection to navigate situations where there’s some uncertainty

Riffs & variations

Mindful: Allow reactions to be small and internal (a smile, raised eyebrow). Give permission for stillness and quietness. Avoids overstimulation.

Emotional Lens: Pick a mood (e.g., grief, delight, mischief) and pull objects “from that world”

Sensory: Do it eyes closed or with eyes on the floor, focusing on feeling rather than performance or pleasing others