🍋 What’s your Power Play when things go sour?


I just celebrated my birthday, and true to my wanderer soul, I chased every playful whim, Reader.

There was a vintage roller coaster, a saltwater soak in the mountains, and frolicking through Boulder with Italian food and a spark of spontaneity.

It reminded me how energizing it is to choose play — even in the in-between, imperfect, or unpredictable moments.

If you caught my last message, I talked about breaking out of your perception box — that mental framework that quietly shapes how you interpret what’s happening around you.

Recently, I came across a concept that’s all about shifting that box. It’s called lemonading.

And it instantly struck me as a Power Play, the kind that interrupts stress and opens the door to a different experience.

Not the drink (though, sure I love a refreshing beverage).

Lemonading is the practice of reframing a sour or difficult moment into something useful, creative, or even playful.

It might look like turning a canceled meeting into a walk in the sun…

Laughing when your travel plans fall apart…

Or turning something you really don’t want to do into a game, like racing a timer, making it a team effort, or adding music.

Researchers at the University of Oregon studied lemonading during the height of COVID. They found that people who practiced it experienced:

🍋 More joy on the daily
🍋 Greater resilience to ride out life’s curveballs
🍋 Quicker emotional recovery
🍋 Sharper problem-solving skills

It doesn’t mean bypassing or faking positivity.
It means pausing, noticing, and asking: What else is possible here?

I love the idea that a small shift in how we meet a moment can change the whole experience of it.

Lemonading is a shift.
It’s a Power Play.
It’s perception… unboxed.

👉 What Power Play could you reach for next time things go sour—something you can pull out in the moment, before the spiral sets in?


🍋 With zest,


P.S. Wondering how Power Play might help your team or your vibe?

💥 Join my free Play Challenge
🎯 Reach out about 1:1 coaching
🏢 Or connect about bringing play into your organization → Start here

Hi! Creator of Power Play™|Resilience & Play Specialist

Grown-up-go-getters, ready to feel alive? Join the 7-Day Play Challenge: Revive Levity & Take Life Less Seriously 💫 👉 https://www.ashleydepaulis.com/

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