One of the play signals dogs use is the bow they perform when they try to get another dog to play with them — they lunge onto their front elbows, stick their bottoms in the air, and wag their tails. An example of a play signal in humans would be brief eye contact combined with a smile or a commen...

• They’re spontaneous.
• They’re at ease with themselves and comfortable in their own skin.
• They’re not afraid to be silly.
• They’re not afraid to try new things and to be a beginner.
• They’re not afraid to be vulnerable.
• They’re appreciative of the small things.
• They fi...

Having a fun mindset refers to the habit of intentionally approaching and reacting to your life in a way that is attractive to fun — or, more specifically, true fun, which I define as the confluence of playfulness, connection and flow.

The secret to developing a fun mindset is to deliberate...

Here are some specific suggestions for how to do so.

1. Be easy-to-laugh
2. Say “yes, and”
3. Sprinkle playfulness, connection and flow into your days
4. 
   

What might not have occurred to you is that it’s possible for you to become one of those people yourself, even if you think of yourself as shy or introverted.

Very few of the characteristics mentioned were genetically determined and you don’t need to be extroverted to be considered...

We all know people who seem to attract fun.

They’re the friends whose presence at a dinner party guarantees that everyone is going to have a good time. They exude warmth, playfulness and self-confidence, and people always appear happy to have them around.

“Yes, and” is a technique (and philosophy) derived from improv comedy in which you respond to new ideas and suggestions by agreeing with them (the “yes”) and building on them (the “and”).

You are supposed to agree and then add something of your own. If I start a scene with ‘I can’t believe ...

And if you’re still feeling insecure or apprehensive about putting yourself out there, remember that anything you do to attract fun is a gift to the people you’re with. As bestselling author Michael Lewis points out, “People don’t want to have a boring life, or even a boring conversation. They’re...

Being “easy-to-laugh” is one of the most powerful ways to nurture a fun mindset.

We all enjoy spending time with people who make us laugh and who laugh a lot themselves. The easier you are to laugh (and the more things you can find to laugh about) the more attractive you’ll be, both to othe...

It's about deliberately choosing not to shoot down ideas, but instead to affirm and build on them — as a way to strengthen your fun mindset by opening yourself to spontaneity, making other people feel included, and becoming more adaptive (and, for that matter, less of a wet blanket).

Another way to develop a fun mindset is to regularly — and explicitly — ask yourself, “How could I add a bit of playfulness, connection or flow to whatever I’m doing or experiencing right now?”

You can do this whether you’re with other people or alone, and your ideas don’t have to be earth-...