Let’s face it: most of us get bored from time to time and it’s not nice.
My grandmother used to tell me when I was a child: only stupid people get bored.
From that day forth I knew I was not to get bored ever again and it is amazing how quickly I would find things to do.
I have used this further to replace the state of boredom with forgetting what I need to do.
In other words when I feel boredom arising, I asked myself: what is it that I need to remember to do? And funny enough, something would always come up. There is always something to do. However I don’t always want to do it and therefore I developed the skill of creating overt business to never even get to the unwanted tasks.
I find this method to be rather common, how many don’t get round to fairly simple things because apparently we are too busy? There is always loads going on…
Alas boredom is a persistent trait and it will come back and knock at your door another time. For example when you finally start to relax. The activity bug catches you and off we go..and tell ourselves it’s so good to keep busy.
I know I have avoided boredom at all costs and become a very productive and slightly stressed individual in the meantime.
So what when boredom still returns? Sure you can change your relationship when it’s boring, you can change your wardrobe when it bores you, and you can change the job. Are we living our life to constantly change and run away from boredom? I have decided to take matters into my hand and explore what happens when boredom takes over:
First I get tired, unmotivated and sluggish I feel bigger and heavier than the scale would tell me. I feel like eating a great way to console boredom) and then start feeling blue. I would maybe fluff about starting bits and pieces but I wouldn’t get into anything really unless it caught my attention. Television and other passive modes of entertainment are the most convenient.
The self talk in my head will probably run along the lines of : I really can’t be bothered, I know I should do this and that but I really can’t be bothered right now. Don’t ask me how I am ever going to change but right now I just want to sleep. Anybody got some chocolate?
When there is nothing going on it’s hard to imagine that life would ever change, that something good would ever happen. Life seems to stand still in a slightly uncomfortable way.
How do we usually get out of this state of mind?
How do we shake off the lethargy? NLP teaches how to change states of mind and this comes in useful in this. Trigger a different state of mind by using anchors, reframing or wait until somebody shakes your energy.
But this doesn’t really get into what boredom is and what is would do for us. Why not be bored until we are bored of being bored? We change behaviour when we reach a threshold. It is not necessary to push ourselves. However many of us have learned to fight against the present states, deciding that they should be different. I feel down but I should feel up, after all it is Friday today. So not only do you feel down, you also get to feel bad about it. And when bored we feel we really shouldn’t be bored. I should be productive and energetic and this and that…anything but not what I am right now.
Life is much easier when we can accept where and who we are at every given moment. This doesn’t mean we can’t change who we are and what we do but there is a major difference in choosing a different state of mind or activity and defending ourselves against our reality.
Passive states as feeling blue and being bored are sometimes ways for us to express that we need to sit on a watch tower for a while. No one can run all the time. Sometimes you need to sit back and just watch the world go by. When we allow ourselves to do that, change of mood will occur naturally. Because it’s not about what mood or state of mind we are in and should be in, it’s about accepting it and going with the flow. Remember the more you go with your flow, the more the flow will be going with you. Many songs have been written in a blue mood, even depression; do you think the singer is always feeling bad when singing it?
When at work, we may feel highly inappropriate to feel like whaling a song instead of dealing with the administration. However it is amazing what deals one can make with oneself and how your creativity will flow if you allow yourself to feel the way you feel and yet get on with it. One can do admin well even when droopy. The pace may change but that may lead to other advantages. I can be in a business meeting without the super high energy level and strike a wonderful deal. Fake energy doesn’t come across as powerful anyway and your nonchalant dis-attachment can make you appear more confident and calm…
So here is my point about boredom: assume it has something to offer you and give it a try. You know you want to. Unless you just can’t be bothered.
The other solution fort his and any other issue is to listen to some of my music. Warning: may habe lasting uplifing effect.
www.myspace.com/divaevemusic www.divaeve.com
Music fort he open hearted.
Have an exciting life! Evelyne
