Hi, I'm Sam and welcome to Radio Headspace and to Thursday morning.

So I've always been into improv.

For the last 20 years, I've attended a competitive improv comedy show called Comedy Sports.

And I'm always in awe of the performer's quick wit, team cohesion, and their ability to

let go of self-consciousness so that they can be fully present.

There are many ways that improvisation and mindfulness intersect and complement one another,

and I've learned many helpful life skills from my brief foray into improv.

Firstly, improv requires your full, undivided attention so that you can respond naturally

and spontaneously to what your teammate gives you as a suggestion.

If you're in your head, you miss that precious handoff and can't progress the scene.

It's immediately obvious how relevant this is to life.

By being present with whomever we're with, we're able to glean valuable insights into

who they are and how to respond to what is said, whether in a meeting or at home with

loved ones.

There are also agreements or rules of improv that are generally helpful in everyday life.

One of them is to make each other look good.

When I love this one, I use it often.

I also think of this rule as preserving dignity.

I have a dear friend who comes to mind as I think of someone who's masterful at making

people look good.

Whenever she introduces me to someone, she immediately gushes about all of the qualities

that she loves about me, and she does this for each one of her friends when introducing

...