6 Lessons From Improv That Apply To Life

From listening to commitment, these are principles that can be applied daily no matter who you are.

I’ve been studying and performing improv for almost two years (as of this writing). Not only did I fall in love with the craft, but it has changed my life. The principles of improv — from listening and agreeing to commitment and playing — have proven applicable at work, at home, hanging out with friends, networking, and beyond.

Now I’m sure I’m the 1,087th person to write this article, but that’s ok. Because no one has written it like this before, and no one will write it like this after. It lives as its own entity, just like every time you go to an improv show.

1. Learning to live in the moment

There are countless books, articles, life coaches, speeches, etc. that talk about being present. Why? Because it’s important, but extraordinarily difficult.

You will never feel more present than when you stand on a stage in front of an audience with no idea what is about to happen. For some, that’s exciting. For others, it sounds like somewhere between the sixth and seventh circles of hell. Either way, the result is a very present state of consciousness.