The single best line I’ve heard this week. Apparently originated from the Disney Film Alice in Wonderland (1951), uttered by White Rabbit when speaking with Alice. It reminds me of a term mentioned by Seth Godin on his podcast Akimbo. Intentional boredom. Two words you have no doubt heard individually many times. But how often have you heard them back to back?
This resonates so much with me, Arman. So much so that it's been the subject of one of my recent essays. Love the way you develop the idea here, though. Nicely written!
Ah yes I read that one and liked it a lot. I also really enjoy my alone time. I don't feel lonely at all. I think the only way to create anything worthy is by intentionally carving out bored time.
Great topic Arman. I'm curious about how you are defining boredom. Is boredom synonymous with doing nothing in your experience? There are times when I am doing nothing but very engaged and busy with my own thoughts, even delighted by them often, which is a state you seem also to be describing here. But at other times the reason I fill my life with activity is because there is an anxiety that arises when I stop. I've heard a few psychologists explain this in terms of "intrusive feelings" - that some of us have unresolved fears, perhaps even trauma, that are kept in the background of our daily experience by our active lives, but when we stop, that low-volume anxiety broadcast becomes much more audible, and therefore distressing. Boredom is hard for some of us to reach because of that anxiety layer. It takes some commitment and discipline to face the anxiety and demonstrate to oneself that inactivity is a "safe" choice - which is meditation in a nutshell.
I think boredom is only possible when you purposefully do nothing. But the term boredom has a negative connotation. Being with our thoughts can be extremely engaging which doesn't feel boring at all. That low level of anxiety seems to be programmed into us by society. I think moments of intentional boredom make it way easier to process those thoughts. With enough meditation practice, it seems possible to reach a point where we feel ok despite what's going on in our heads.
Great piece, Arman. I love how self-aware you are when it comes to things like "boredom avoidance tools." Inspires me to pay more attention in my daily life.
Do you schedule your times for boredom in advance, or let them occur naturally? I feel I am more likely to use the boredom avoidance tools listed if the practice isn't set in advance.
I would like to lie and say I plan it out but I dont. I just try to be more aware and notice when I feel bored and just sit with it for a bit instead of immediately jumping to the next thing.
This resonates so much with me, Arman. So much so that it's been the subject of one of my recent essays. Love the way you develop the idea here, though. Nicely written!
Glad you enjoyed it Silvio. Which essay was it? I would love to check it out.
This one https://open.substack.com/pub/silviocastelletti/p/solitude-and-idleness?r=1n8yk&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
Ah yes I read that one and liked it a lot. I also really enjoy my alone time. I don't feel lonely at all. I think the only way to create anything worthy is by intentionally carving out bored time.
100%
Great topic Arman. I'm curious about how you are defining boredom. Is boredom synonymous with doing nothing in your experience? There are times when I am doing nothing but very engaged and busy with my own thoughts, even delighted by them often, which is a state you seem also to be describing here. But at other times the reason I fill my life with activity is because there is an anxiety that arises when I stop. I've heard a few psychologists explain this in terms of "intrusive feelings" - that some of us have unresolved fears, perhaps even trauma, that are kept in the background of our daily experience by our active lives, but when we stop, that low-volume anxiety broadcast becomes much more audible, and therefore distressing. Boredom is hard for some of us to reach because of that anxiety layer. It takes some commitment and discipline to face the anxiety and demonstrate to oneself that inactivity is a "safe" choice - which is meditation in a nutshell.
I think boredom is only possible when you purposefully do nothing. But the term boredom has a negative connotation. Being with our thoughts can be extremely engaging which doesn't feel boring at all. That low level of anxiety seems to be programmed into us by society. I think moments of intentional boredom make it way easier to process those thoughts. With enough meditation practice, it seems possible to reach a point where we feel ok despite what's going on in our heads.
Great piece, Arman. I love how self-aware you are when it comes to things like "boredom avoidance tools." Inspires me to pay more attention in my daily life.
Thank you Grace. I think self-awareness is one of the few things I've got going for me so gotta embrace what I've got!
Do you schedule your times for boredom in advance, or let them occur naturally? I feel I am more likely to use the boredom avoidance tools listed if the practice isn't set in advance.
I would like to lie and say I plan it out but I dont. I just try to be more aware and notice when I feel bored and just sit with it for a bit instead of immediately jumping to the next thing.