From Proving Ground to Playground with Gary Ware

What if life wasn't something we had to constantly prove ourselves in? What if, instead of treating the world as a proving ground, we began experiencing it as a playground? In this episode of Shadow Playground, Ez Bridgman sits down with play facilitator and speaker Gary Ware to explore how play, curiosity and a little rebellion can transform the way we work, connect and experience life. Gary introduces the difference between seeing the world as a proving ground, where people become competitors and success is measured through achievement, and seeing it as a playground, where people become playmates and collaboration, experimentation and creativity become possible. Together, Ez and Gary explore how workplaces built around pressure, performance and external rewards can unintentionally create stress, burnout and unhealthy behaviors. They discuss the power of intrinsic motivation and how play, purpose and personal growth can help people reconnect with the meaning behind their work. But bringing play into serious environments isn't always easy. Gary explains why psychological safety, trust and genuine choice are essential. Rather than forcing people into uncomfortable activities, he invites them to participate, meets them where they are and gradually creates space for exploration. He shares a powerful story about a leadership team participating in a playful exercise designed to challenge their assumptions about multitasking. What began as a game led one executive to recognize how their own management habits were affecting their team. The conversation also explores playful rebellion, the practice of questioning the expectations and habits that keep us trapped in constant productivity. From taking meaningful breaks between meetings to creating healthier boundaries between work and leisure, Gary challenges the idea that working harder always means working better. Ez and Gary also explore what children can teach us about play, why different people experience play in different ways, and how discovering our personal play styles can help us bring more curiosity, creativity and enjoyment into everyday life. IN THIS EPISODE: • Why life can feel like a proving ground • How shifting toward a playground mindset changes relationships • The difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation • Why pressure and performance culture can lead to burnout • How play encourages creativity and collaboration • Why psychological safety matters when introducing play • How playful experiences can challenge limiting beliefs • What playful rebellion looks like in everyday life • Why rest and leisure are essential for meaningful work • How to create healthier boundaries between work and personal life • What children can teach us about play • Why everyone has different play styles • How curiosity and experimentation can transform our routines Rather than treating play as something reserved for childhood or time away from work, Gary invites us to recognize it as a meaningful part of being human. Perhaps we don't need to earn the right to play after everything is finished. Perhaps play is part of how we create a more enlivening life in the first place. ABOUT GARY WARE Gary Ware is a speaker and play facilitator who uses playful experiences to help individuals, leaders and organizations transform how they think, collaborate and work. His approach combines creativity, experimentation and playful rebellion to challenge established patterns and open new possibilities. V10 LIFE DESIGN Interested in designing an enlivening life, with space for both joy and shadow? Visit V10 Life Design to learn more.