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Each month a new inspirational,
spiritual, or educational article by Alice McCall is posted.
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July 2016
Boredom - Why You Should Embrace It!
Let's face it, no one
likes to be bored - I know I don't.
Most say, "How can you be
bored? There is so much to do!" But being bored has many facets. It
can present itself because of the repetition of your routines, the
tasks that you complete on auto-pilot, or when you lack the energy
to find meaningful stimulation after a long day.
Boredom can
also mean we reach for unhealthy coping mechanisms like eating,
smoking, or zoning out in some type of entertainment for prolonged
stretches.
We have all experienced boredom and when we do, it
can make us feel impatient with others, irritated, antsy, or
agitated. These are not great feelings, so we often will change our
plans or otherwise let them affect our lives when they arise.
Perhaps, one of the most common reactions to boredom is to attempt
to multitask, which can often lead to mistakes and further
frustration. We all develop strategies, even unconscious ones, to
help us avoid boredom – and these strategies become so hardwired
that they are difficult to change. Unfortunately, these strategies
aren’t always helpful and healthy.
Psychologists feel that
emotions should evolve for our benefit. The very fact that boredom
is so common suggests that it could be a signal for something else.
This raises the question: What does boredom achieve?
Perhaps
curiosity is one answer. Boredom usually appears as we are doing the
same old things, and maybe it is trying to push us to try new
things, seek new goals, explore new territories, or ponder new
ideas. Boredom can be a signal that it is time for innovation.
However, it is important that our search for an escape from
boredom doesn’t lead us to unhealthy behaviors as a solution to
break the tedium. Spiritually and emotionally, when we avoid boredom
instead of seeking to understand it, it is a type of fear. Fear is
detrimental to our spiritual journey in all of its forms, so this
becomes an opportunity to address the negative reason or belief that
is leading us to avoidance.
What if we embraced boredom to
see what happens? This path leads to learning more about our inner
selves, finding a new burst of creativity, and being at peace with
the message that boredom is trying to convey.
One thing is
certain, we should hesitate if we are looking for an immediate
escape from boredom. Instead, listen to the emotion or belief that
is driving these feelings and what they are trying to convey.
In our world of advanced technology - smart phones, tablets,
TVs, and computers – we further perpetrate the avoidance of boredom
both for ourselves and the next generation. This idea is introduced
to children when they are very young, as we have endless tools to
keep them occupied at a moment’s notice. This teaches that constant
stimulation is ‘normal’, and enforces the idea of avoiding boredom.
Even if these technologies came to us later in life, it is easy
to slowly let them become a problem – and a tool that lets us
brainlessly avoid boredom. Technology should be a helpful tool for
us stay connected and productive in our daily lives – it shouldn’t
always be the first thing we reach for when feelings of boredom
begin to set in.
When we don’t explore feelings of boredom,
we are doing a disservice to our personal and spiritual growth.
Feeling bored here and there as you meet life’s obligations is
normal, but when feelings of boredom become more prevalent - it
might be a symptom of a bigger issue. If questions like ‘Why am I
really here?’ and ‘Do I belong?’, are paired with your feelings of
boredom, this is an expression of a deep hole within you that yearns
for fulfillment. This is a much deeper issue than a few fleeting
moments of boredom and the surface activities we seek to escape it.
When boredom appears, take a few minutes to be introspective:
What does it actually mean when I feel bored? What does this energy
represent? What needs to be transformed to assist me in finding the
balance point in my life regardless of what goes on around me? What
is boredom pushing me to change, to become, or to evolve into?
The answers may surprise you, and can lead you to new paths and
new answers. Simply, it is important not to fall into the habit of
masking boredom. Instead interact with it, so it becomes a powerful
tool for your personal growth!
Contact Alice
to learn how she can help you master this topic - or transform other
health, emotion, and spiritual issues.
Free consultations are offered to all new clients to learn how
Alice's work is directly tailored to address your areas of concern.
Don't wait - step onto your Healing Path today!
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