boredom

Boredom is an often used word.

It's one of those funny words too- one that can mean things in addition, or even instead of what the literal meaning of the word is.

I looked boredom and bored up. here's what the dictionary said: boredom = the state of being bored. bored = feeling weary because one is unoccupied or lacks interest in one's current task.

Seems simple enough...

Think about the last time you said you were bored. Some people say more it more often than others. Some people feel bored more often than others. No biggie. This isn't a competition. What I've noticed is that people say they're bored when sometimes they mean other things. 

One of the really common things I've found they're saying is: "I can't figure out how to keep myself super busy and that's making me have to sit with myself. And sitting with myself is NOT something I'm particularly fond of because it's so darn uncomfortable/frightening/intimating/freaky/etc that I really, really feel I need to find something to get myself busy and preoccupied with..."

I can see how they'd come up with "I'm bored." It's shorter to say than that above thing I just wrote. It's also a LOT easier to deal with than the reality of "oh my gosh, sitting with myself and what I feel is so darn hard."

If you find yourself saying you're bored, give it a second glance, don't just accept it at face value. You may indeed be truly bored. You may, however, be something else :)

Comments

[Ann]

I've really been struggling lately with coping. Currently I'm struggling to handle one emotion especially, anger.

Johanna, do you have any advice on dealing with/ coping with anger? The way I'm dealing is totally not the way I should be, not the healthy way. I've been getting so angry about stupid things, I currently reside with my parents, hopefully for only a couple more months and they make me so so so angry. Just noise that they make, common noise like blowing ones nose, being in the house, pulling into the drive way while I'm still home, I mean absolutely ridiculous reasons to be mad. I hate this feeling, I dread coming home b/c I know if they're here then my blood boils and I feel like I'll explode. I hate feeling this emotion, I wish I could suppress it like I used to be able to, I wish I could numb out to some extent.

Or maybe just some way to deal with these emotions so they don't feel so intense, it just freaks me out right now. Could the fact that I'm feeling this emotion possibly be a sign of growth? Ugh, feeling defective once again.

And sorry for the off topic comment again.

[runforjoy]

Wow, that is exactly what is happening when I am less than completely busy! Reading the post, I wanted to laugh because it is so true! We don't use the word "bored", but I think my whole family uses busyness to avoid sitting with ourselves or actually feeling emotions. "Bored" might as well be a four-letter word because it signifies that you are not running around like a chicken with its head cut off and therefore must not be doing enough. It is very easy for me to lose track of myself and my emotions in the midst of busyness, as has always been the case whenever I am around my family. But now I am recognizing that I don't want to live that lifestyle-always waiting for the time when things will calm down a bit, but it never comes. Forcing myself to give up some of the busyness does force me to be more present with myself, which, honestly, is really hard sometimes.

[Courtney]

Man Johanna. I read this post yesterday when I was at work and I was SO bored. It was good to read this post because it made me rethink the boredom I was feeling. There was nothing going on at work (literally, nothing) and I felt like we were overstaffed. So I just had to sit there for 8 hours and it was horrible. So yeah, I guess I do feel bored when I need to just sit with myself. I hated it.

[leanonme]

So i really do try to recognize if bored is the authentic feeling when i put that discription on a feeling. i guess bored to me is generic for somthing more difficult to feel. Lonely, adgitated, unsure. I can usually get to the real meaning of that word to me.Not always what i want to feel but honest none the less.

So im not feeling bored right now( in fact i dont often feel bored) right now im feeling sad. Sad that i have to say goodbye to someone very dear to me on tuesday. Not sure how i will actually feel when the time actually comes when im face to face with this person. I could cry right now thinking about it ,but i am trying to prepare myself for the reality of the situation. I hate this "feeling "thing on so many levels. Its difficult, and pain- staking. On the other hand the good feelings of love and connection and joy somehow out weigh the difficult not so good feelings of loss and abandonment.I hope this person wont forget me but i cant have a guarantee;I know this.All i can do is try to get my needs met the best i can in this moment of loss. I hope this person knows how much they have meant to me and how much i really do love them.
Sorry for the rant, i will let you know how it goes on tuesday. Thanks for listening. :)

[Ann]

Good luck leanonme, you are in my thoughts and prayers! I'm sorry that you have to go through this sad time!

[leanonme]

Thank you so much Ann. That means alot and i will for sure stay in touch. Stay strong yourself im thinking of you. :)

[wendy]

I am sorry, too, Leanonme! Will be thinking and praying for you Tuesday! Goodbye's are hard!