"Life is okay, but I'm bored with it all. I get up, go through my morning habits, and generally keep going. During the day I smile, engage in friendly conversations, attend to the requirements of my work. After work, it's home to watch television, eat, and sleep. In between, there's the movies, gym, music, and shopping. My days are predictable and routine. What is joy? What is excitement? I think I'm missing the meaning of my life."
If you ever find yourself dealing with unbearable boredom, treat it not as an undesirable invader, but celebrate the arrival of an important messenger. Without boredom we'd comfortably vegetate in neutral, passing time by doing the same things in the same ways over and over again. Boredom's appearance is a glorious sign of impending growth. New interests, passions, talents, or strengths seek expression. It's a wake-up call indicating a readiness for more: more self-love, self-leadership, self-expression, pleasure, passion, and spontaneity.
Boredom is an invitation to allow an old self to fade away and a new potential self to emerge. Certain facets of self-control and repetitive behaviors are ready to be released in favor of expanded imagination, creativity, inspiration, and spontaneity. What was once an effective, useful routine has now become stagnant, stale, and passive. Boredom is the interim period; a place neither here nor there. On one side lies the safe, comfortable, and dependable, yet outgrown past. On the other side lies an intriguing, daring, more passionate future. Boredom identifies the natural resistance we all have toward letting go of the known and entering the unknown.
Once boredom reveals its presence, several options are available: we can sink deeper into passivity and dullness; the physical edginess can be temporarily concealed with greater levels of entertainment, distractions, and diversions; or the boredom can be sedated with food, drink or choice addictions.
Another alternative exists: embrace the message of boredom. Beneath the uncomfortable discontentment lies a natural, inherent call to the lifelong process of individuation. It is time to broaden personal horizons beyond past former levels of conformity and social adaptation. Greater individuality, power, love, and creation beckon from within. A readiness is brewing to connect more deeply with the heart of our existence.
The chains of boredom are more easily shed by allowing time to welcome ideas that spark the imagination and expand the heart. What is truly important; what fascinates and engages our spirit? We have the ability to go inside, sort through some ideas, and decide what an exciting life would look like. We feel good, and our bodies feel good, when we assume responsibility for choosing to focus on stimulating desires, personal interests, and inner passions. Only we know what feels good within, what excites, ignites, and enlivens. We gently allow for the emergence of new potentials and new possibilities--and decide to feel good in the process.
Instead of letting life just happen, we can go inside and ask, "What do I want?" Typically, the first answers are filled with details about what is not wanted. Accept this as an excellent starting point. But our responsibility is to make sure we take the extra step and actually find an exciting vision to focus on. We become what we think about, and it is up to us to determine what thoughts and visions dominate our mind. We take control of our lives as we spend more time with thoughts that increase excitement and less with those that decrease excitement.
Will an exciting life happen instantaneously just because we shift thoughts from boredom to more passionate visions? Obviously, the answer is no. Some individuals will wonder how in the world they can possibly imagine exciting outcomes when they are currently just barely getting through the day. They don't have a clue what to imagine; they are frustrated and mad at themselves for being in this position. For anyone, creating a larger life requires effort, patience, and time. Yet not much changes without first engaging imagination and intention. Excitement is the element that moves us toward unfinished business and unfolding potential. It is what we want to be doing right now, while providing the energy necessary to do it.
Who we are and what excites us matters. The irritation of boredom simply reminds us, in a very noticeable way, that energy is swirling about without passionate direction or purpose. Rather than permitting our lives to be blown about like leaves on the dirt, victims of circumstance, we allow imagination to set the foundation for direction and purpose in life. Boredom is an indication of a certain readiness to become increasingly loyal to internal passions, desires, and values. We can decide we are worthy of forming enthusiastic relationships with what we care about.
Feeling good, feeling alive, and being a radiant human is important for us and for the world. We consciously develop our divine natures through the joyful manifestation of dreams and desires. A loving community begins first with a party of one. It begins by forming excited relationships with our bodies, thoughts, emotions, and ideas. Our inner dreams are the joy of life, the salvation of earth, and the future of the people of this planet. Bringing paradise to earth is more than just a lofty concept; it is an individual endeavor, a personal responsibility. As human beings, we suffer when this physical connection between spirit and earth is no longer expanding and evolving as it is meant to. Our most important task is to first give permission to love, excite, and empower ourselves. We take the time to ensure we are the ones balanced, enlightened, and joyful.
To share and expand love with all life on this incredible earth, we begin with ourselves. We serve others when we become living, breathing, walking examples of inspired, excited lives. We inspire others to greatness when we ourselves have come to realize that happiness, success, abundance, empowerment, and joy are possible. The magic spreads as we become the magic. Personal success is allowed, so our beautiful concepts are no longer lofty spiritual abstractions, but tangible, physical manifestations.
The next time you are perpetually bored, realize the beautiful magic wishing to unfold. An invitation has been issued to venture beneath the surface and investigate new and exciting potentials and possibilities. Inspiration spreads as the success of one individual ignites the desires and dreams of another. It makes a difference that we, you and I, carry excitement once more. Boredom asks us to become the living, breathing embodiment of joy. Our joy brings light into the world.
About the Author:
This article was written by Dr. Annette Colby, RD., contributing author to "101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life: Volume 2." Dr. Colby is a leader in the field of personal growth and consciousness. As a nationally known consultant, educator, and author, she inspires people to believe in themselves and find themselves worthy of receiving their dreams. Visit http://www.LovingMiracles.com for a free, weekly, life-changing newsletter.
Her article above is one of 101 great chapters that can be found in "101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life: Volume 2." This powerful compilation book - with John Gray, Jack Canfield, Richard Carlson, Bob Proctor, Alan Cohen, and countless other experts - contains 101 chapters of proven advice on how to improve your life.
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