The publisher, however, didn’t think that would be a good selling title. Who wants to self-identify as bored or boring?

Bored or not, we each have to find our way forward. Kind of like “biting the bullet,” if boredom appears, we can use it as a springboard.

Diana
http://www.DianaDaffner.com

Thank you for sharing! Knowing that there are other women out there that share the same feelings is an inspiration to make one self better!

Interesting article, I’m definitely a goal type of person, but it seems that I always get mixed up in too many projects (and not always my own, because I love to help others with theirs) at one time and then loose focus on what

I really enjoy when I come across an article that promotes happiness and well-being without any strings attached (As is so often when McDonald’s tells me to be well, and I scratch my head for a second … what?)

I just wanted to provide a counterpoint to this discussion. I like that the tone of the article suggests that we look deeper than what society, or the media, tells us will make us happy. However, I am not sure if a shift away from Group A (“get out of debt … buy a car”) to Group B (“skiing … tantra, etc.”) will achieve what you seek. This appears to be a shift from one group of ‘things’ to another. To imply that this shift will affect happiness in some positive way also implies that the removal of these possibilities will contribute to unhappiness. In the end we should all follow our own paths, but the concept that happiness may be accessed by some ‘outside thing’ no longer holds water for me. I struggle daily with this – a result of my upbringing and culture – but I can no longer see any other way toward happiness other than inwards. I feel happiness, like boredom, is created by our own minds and does not exist on its own. I believe that we are able to feel happy whether we are immersed in a pop culture nightmare, or a Zen retreat among cherry blossoms. Or I could be wrong. Anyone interested in these ideas should consult the works of Thich Nhat Hanh and Lama Surya Das.

I also like that you mentioned about the questions we pose to ourselves. I went through a Tony Robbins phase (I know, I know) a few years ago, but the only really valuable thing I took from it was the decision to take the word ‘problem’ out of my vocabulary. I have replaced it with ‘challenge’ and my stress levels have gone down in ways I never imagined. Just this one question, “how am I going to overcome this challange”, has transformed my life because it implies that there is a way to best it, I just need to choose the path. One of the primary definitions of ‘problem’ is “any question or matter involving doubt, uncertainty, or difficulty”. Consider this vs. one principal definitions of ‘challenge’: something that by its nature or character serves as a call to battle, contest, special effort, etc. It’s a small difference, but the questions we ask ourselves, and the words we choose, can make a significant positive impact on our daily lives.

Sorry to be so long-winded. I’ve got the coffee in me and these fingers are on fire!

Great insights here. I’m running over to your blog to check some more out.

Thanks for hosting this, Clay.

I think boredom (lack of fulfillment) hurts, but I also think it is the diving board to happiness and discovery. If you are bored, you should start getting really excited because you are on the verge of doing something crazy awesome.

I feel like I am something of an expert on boredom. I grew up in the country, 7 miles away from my school friends and during the summer I was often bored. To pass the time, I read a lot. Guess what? It became my best subject. I also played a little soccer in the spring and fall, so when I was bored, I

@ Barbara: That’s a nice quote. People are naturally drawn to those that are enthusiastic and positive. If we adopt this thinking, we can learn how to attract similar friends into our own lives.

@ Kelly: Goals are great, but we shouldn’t become goal-addicted either. Many people trade their former procrastinating selfs for goal-addiction. When you’re always chasing the next goal, you miss the point. Balance is the key, as always. =)

Nice article. Simple, insightful and to the point. If only more web content out there was like this.

I really love your suggestion to dig deeper than just your goals. I think we can become a little goal addicted and it’s good to stop, be still and ask yourself what really makes life worth living. Usually it’s the relationships and experiences we have, not the stuff.
Kelly

Years ago I heard a saying that goes something like this: “those who get bored are also boring to be around”. In a way it makes sense. If you aren’t passionate/excited about life, people aren’t going to enjoy spending time with you.