Boredom: The Enemy of Creativity and Personal Growth

I’ve got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom.  -Thomas Carlyle 

I cannot recall even being bored in my entire life.  I know that is a bold statement, but it’s true.  Somehow, I can always find something to do should some spare time appear in my daily schedule.  Life ought to be interesting, right?  Should we find that our day-to-day routines become dull and tiresome, there are a world of pursuits, hobbies, interests, places, and intriguing people to fill in the gaps.  Of course, everyone needs some down time, but even the down time doesn’t have to be boring.  Instead, those periods where we need to relax can be used to engage ourselves in some pursuit that is just that; relaxing to the point that we find relief from the stress of our usual routines.   

Boredom has ever been the enemy of creativity and personal growth.  When people get bored the results are usually negative.  Productivity at work suffers, relationships become strained, and personal growth is stymied.  We must resolve to see happiness as worth pursuing and life as worth living.  From this positive platform we can move forward to experience life in ways previously undiscovered.  Don’t settle for a mediocre approach to living.  Why would you be willing to sit and do nothing when a world of wonderful opportunities is waiting?  Could it be that you feel you lack the strength, motivation, ability, desire, or drive to get up and pursue those opportunities?  If so, take heart, for there is hope.  I have been where you are, and it wasn’t until I got up and got moving that I realized how much I was missing out.  Believe me when I say that if you will just give it a try you will be astounded at the results.

Consider these strategies for beating boredom and gaining motivation: 

• Get connected.  Start attending church, renew an old friendship, join a civic group, or start meeting with friends once a week for breakfast or just coffee.  No matter how difficult it seems, resolve to get out of the house and connect with other people.  Introduce yourself to your neighbor or try to chat more often with people at work.  Isolation leads to boredom, which can lead to depression.   

• Begin keeping a journal.  I know this may seem like a monumental task, but I am not talking about writing a book.  Rather, a journal is an opportunity to record your thoughts, ideas, and dreams on paper.  You can then go back and review them and over time you will see how you have grown. 
  

• Start volunteering.  One of the best ways to beat the winter blues is by helping others.  Hospitals, soup kitchens, food banks, and crisis centers are always in need.  They would be delighted to have your help.
  

• Keep moving.  Resolve not to surrender to the heaviness of sorrow that may be upon you.   

So, what do you have planned for today?  Grab pen and paper and start that list.  It’s going to be a great day!