The Questions We Ask Ourselves

The disappearance of adult play correlates with a shift in the questions we ask ourselves. 'Is this productive? Does this serve my goals? Can I monetize this? Is this a good use of my time?' These are the questions that kill play. Nasreddin asks different questions: 'What is actually happening here? What am I not seeing? What would happen if I did the opposite? What am I pretending not to know?' These questions open play; those others close it. This concept invites a simple practice: notice the questions you're asking yourself throughout your day. Replace productivity questions with curiosity questions. Replace goal questions with presence questions. Replace utilitarian questions with exploratory ones. This is not about becoming irresponsible; it's about shifting the internal orientation that determines whether play is possible. Nasreddin teaches through questions that invite playfulness rather than demand justification. When adults begin asking themselves different questions—questions alive with curiosity and paradox—play returns not as luxury but as the natural expression of a mind that's actually engaged with life.