Hearing someone say I’m bored or My life is boring is like nails on a chalkboard.
It causes a visceral flinch.
Bored? Boring? Really?
In this day—at any age—is boredom even possible?
Well, apparently it is if you believe it is.
Our mindsets become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
If you believe your life is boring, it’s the lens through which you view what’s happening around you and what’s possible. A bored mindset is a filter keeping out curiosity, attention, and interest.
When you believe others are boring you don’t engage with them. When you believe yourself to be boring you don’t engage with life.
Make no mistake: Boredom is a choice.
A life is boring mindset cuts you off from gladness and gratitude. It cuts you off from enjoyment and enthusiasm.
Think about it: If you believe your life is boring, who does that mindset cause you to be? Probably not a very interested or interesting person.
bored |bôrd|adjective feeling weary because one is unoccupied or lacks interest in one’s current activity
Here’s the thing: If you’re bored, meaning you lack interest in your current activity, then either find a way to become interested or change your activity. It doesn’t need to be more complicated than that.
- If your job bores you, find a way to engage with your work or find a new career.
- If where you live bores you, become a tourist in your own town and find ways to be delighted or move somewhere that does delight.
One caveat: Often we think a new job or a new zip code will fix things. But then Wherever you go, there you are kicks in. So think twice about changing the external before you’ve done the work on the internal.
What if you’re bored with yourself?
Then it’s time for a sea change.
Make it a point to have a great relationship with yourself. Enjoy your own company. Be curious—about yourself and the world around you. Engage with your life and place a value on being interested and delighted.
More specifically? Read books you don’t usually read. Try new food. Wear different clothes. Pay attention. Ask questions. Listen more. Marvel daily. See another side to the story. Explore a different point of view. Take risks. Venture outside your comfort zone. Be surprised.
Life is too short to be bored. Will you embrace that you and the world are full of wonder?
