On boredom
“ ‘Boredom’ is essential. Staring into space. Staring at a tree. Sitting with yourself and seeing what comes up. It’s bloody uncomfortable. It’s damn painful. You come face to face with the mud in your life. You may be inspired toward action. You might be moved to jump into action immediately. Beware; another tactic. Doing nothing means just that - only that. Creating regular fertile time for newness to bloom is the point.” Yrsa Daley-Ward
Happy New Year! I hope this finds you recovered (or recovering) from what often happens around holidays - a lot of over-consumption, in many ways.
For me, it was alcohol - while I was never more than moderately tipsy, I definitely consumed more days in a row than normal. The cumulative effect is real. And I’m a person who could be said to “have an addictive personality.” When I start something, I reflexively keep reaching for it. All humans do, on some level - the dopamine circuit is designated to motivate us to do the things we need to do to keep us alive. Unfortunately, in today’s modern world, we don’t need to activate it for those critical activities - forage and hunt for food; find shelter and keep our communities safe from predators and enemies; seek out partnership and procreation - with the intensity we had to for thousands of years prior.
Many of us can order ready-made food to our doorstep, while we work from our desk, sitting next to our loved ones (human or furry).
There is less longing. Less absence. Less time from beginning of something to completion.
With the turnover of the new year, my news feed, social media, and email inbox is currently flooded with bright ads and marketing to sell the latest hack to become happier and healthier….to become better. The very designs are intended to stimulate.
Stimulation is wonderful - I am a self-proclaimed light seeker, coffee lover (hello, caffeine), and lover of all beautifully designed things.
But over the last few years I’ve learned the power of boredom. Boredom is the birthplace of new things. There is a reason that when you put a kid outside and gently redirect them every time they come back claiming to be bored, they inevitably find some new way to play.
When your brain is awash with stimulation - no matter your preferred source - it can’t generate new ideas. It’s simply trying to keep up with what is coming in. Over time, you need more of the thing to produce the same dopamine response.
This is my invitation to you to pursue some quiet heading into the weekend and next week. If it feels difficult, try not to fight it but observe how you feel, what thoughts come up, and what you find yourself wanting to do instead.
Until next week - be well, beautiful people.
