Power your Boredom

The Power of Boredom

Unleash Your Creativity and Discover Yourself!

Holidays are both great times to spend time with family and friends, but for some, it's a time of loneliness and negative emotions.  However, if we embrace these moments to reflect on the past year to plan the future, it can help us live a more fulfilled life.  Life has many challenges to deal with and we are constantly on the move and overloading our senses with daily life, but if we can find to do nothing, simply be bored, and have rest from being stimulated, we allow an empty mind to find ourselves.

Boredom, often seen as an empty feeling or a lack of stimulation, is a state that we have all experienced at some point in our lives. It arises when our minds are not engaged in any meaningful activities, and we find ourselves with nothing to do. But what if I told you that there is more to boredom than meets the eye?

Do you remember when you are well and truly bored, e.g. Reading a label on the food box/bottle, staring at the wall, or staring into the sky with a blank mind?

Did enjoy those moments or had negative thoughts emerge and felt guilty about wasting time? We all have had those moments!

If you are of a certain age, you will remember doing research in libraries, going out and listening to music on the radio or a gramophone, but the younger generation, have their devices to keep them distracted 24/7, they only find out about boredom, when there is power outage or unable to log on to their device.  It’s difficult to be bored nowadays, it is like an endangered species…

There is so much to learn from being bored or observing people, animals, and nature. Observing people, animals, and nature, delving deeper into ourselves and reflecting on our behaviour, and thought patterns can be catalysts for creativity.  When our minds are idle and free from distractions, we are allowed to daydream, rethink our lives, and tap into our deepest creative thinking.

Boredom can also serve as a valuable signal that something needs to change in our environment or daily routines. It may be a sign that we need to seek new experiences, connect with others, or find activities that truly inspire us. In moments of isolation and loneliness, boredom can push us to reach out and form meaningful connections with others.

When we allow ourselves to fully embrace moments of boredom without immediately seeking out distractions, we open ourselves up to the possibility of recuperation and self-discovery. By disconnecting from constant busyness and embracing stillness, we create space for introspection and reflection.

It is during these seemingly listless moments that some of history's greatest geniuses have had their breakthroughs - when they locked themselves up in solitude with nothing but their thoughts. So next time you find yourself bored or with nothing to do, don't shy away from it. Embrace it as an opportunity for your mind to wander freely and let your feelings of creativity take flight.

Boredom helps us to delve deeper into our psyche and improve our mental health, explore strategies for productively embracing boredom, and uncover how it can ultimately lead us towards greater self-discovery and fulfilment. Get ready to unlock the hidden potential of boredom and discover a world of endless possibilities.

Rather than viewing boredom as a listless state to be avoided at all costs, let us embrace it as an opportunity to recuperate and recharge. By disconnecting from external distractions and allowing ourselves time to simply be still, we open space for new ideas and perspectives to emerge.

It’s often a good idea to schedule ‘empty mind’ time once a week to recuperate the mind and body, allow new thoughts to emerge, and let go of thoughts that don’t serve your physical and mental health.

So next time you find yourself feeling bored or with nothing to do, remember that it is not a curse but rather an invitation. Embrace your boredom with open arms as a chance to tap into your creativity and explore the limitless possibilities within yourself.

In 2024, let us all learn to walk away from endless modern distractions and find a place to be bored and be creative. 

Rediscover your passion through boredom!

Wishing everyone a wonderful 2024.

Here is a meditation you can practice

I Am, I Am

The mantra “I Am I Am” connects the finite and Infinite identities. The first “I Am” emphasizes the “I” and is the personal and finite sense of self. The second “I Am” emphasizes slightly the “Am” and is the impersonal and transcendent sense of the Self.

All real mantras blend this polarity of the Infinite and finite in their internal structure and design. If you only say the first “I Am,” the mind will automatically try to answer, “I am what?” This sends the mind on a search through all the categories and roles that hold finite identities.

If you immediately say the second part of the mantra, “I Am,” the thought becomes, “I Am what I Am.” To be what you are is the essence of truth and will lead you to the nature of Reality.

The Practice

Posture: Sit in an Easy Pose, with a light Jalandhar bandh, or neck lock. Keep the spine straight.

Mudra: Place the right hand over the right knee. Keep the elbow straight and the hand relaxed in Gyan Mudra (the index fingertip on the tip of the thumb). Raise the left hand in front of the Heart Centre 6 inches (15 cm) from the chest. The palm is flat and faces toward the chest. The fingers point to the right.

Eyes: Eyes are 1/10th open

Mantra & Movement: Chant out loud "I Am" as you draw the left hand closer to the chest to about 4 inches (10 cm). Then chant "I Am" as you extend the palm straight away from the front of the chest to about 12 inches (30 cm).

Then take a short breath through the nose as you draw the hand back to the original position of 6 inches (15 cm) from the chest.

Create a steady rhythm with the mantra and the breath. The hand and the breath move in rhythm and strengthen your ability to maintain a sense of self as your awareness expands.

Tips: Practice daily for 40 days to find your true self.

Thank you for reading the blog!