Yes, boredom.

It is often explained as “An aversive state of wanting, but being unable, to engage in some satisfying activity”. The keyword to focus on here is satisfying. As in common terms, we can say that when we have no interesting or satisfying task to perform, either physically or mentally, that particular state is known as boredom.

And when it inevitably arrives, our brains quickly want to shift from this horrid state quickly as possible.

Our brains are ridiculously complex objects. They make split-second decisions every second since we are birthed into this world, and its understandable as to why they would absolutely hate to stay still, hate being the keyword here.

But all this is just what it seems like from the surface, because once we dive deeper into this peculiar state of boredom, we ultimately realize that our brains, now more than ever, are in dire need of being bored.

Let me explain why.

In a recent study performed (link at the end of this blog), several trials were prescribed involving students who were shut inside a small room with nothing, but plain walls on all four sides. They were further asked to sit alone, only use their self-thoughts to entertain themselves, and left for 15-30 minutes within this state.

The interesting fact was that a red button, which they were told would give a quick jolt, an electric shock mildly painful to their body, was kept well within their reach.

And surprisingly enough, the study showed that 25% of women, and up to 65% of men purposefully ended up choosing to press the red button and administer electric shocks to their bodies willingly. Some, even more than once, in fact. They all ultimately chose to inflict pain over experience pure boredom. How mind-boggling is that!?

Now, unsurprisingly, this clearly shows that boredom can be absolutely an unpleasant experience. Much so that one would rather induce pain than endure being bored.

But think of how a bitter medicine works, tastes horrible at first, rather be most effective in healing after.

And the same can be said for our minds experiencing boredom. Because only when we are in this particular state, our mind starts to wander, the bitterness feels to grow uncomfortable at first. But then it begins to really ponder upon things that it absolutely should. It begins questioning and digging itself, as to real meaning of its existence and purpose.

And only in this state one can realize what actually matters to them and what doesn’t. What actually gives happiness and what doesn’t.
Why are we doing?
What is the purpose of this?
Where is this leading me to?
And finding the answer to each one of these questions holds a crucial place in each of our lives. Every once in a while, our mind needs correcting, our lives need navigating.
Have we got down the wrong path?
Should I start pursuing what I love?
Am I proud of what I am doing with my life?
These questions can prove incredibly bitter like medicine and hit like lightning to our mind and soul. But sometimes, our lives are just in need of this lightning, so that it jolts us into doing things that we actually want to.

This encapsulation of mind within itself, of boredom, is undoubtedly necessary, as it can directly lead us into taking actions that might well turn out to be entirely positive for our livelihood, actions that one would never take without the existence of this state.

But now, more that ever, we have devised countless ways to avoid boredom, to distract our brains momentarily and evidently, like one would do to a mere child so they stop crying, so they stop thinking completely. Because doing that is incredibly easy, distracting our brain is surprisingly easy.

The moment our mind indicates “I am bored!”, out comes our phones and tablets, our mind-numbing devices, infinitely taming our brains from never reaching that crucial state of boredom, to never start questioning our thoughts, happiness and actions, to never ponder of our purpose and will, to not only ask “Who do I want to become?”, but also “What am I doing about it right now?”

In a way, we all are no different than those students who willingly administrated shocks to their own selves rather than being bored. Instead in our case, the pain is not being registered as physical, but mental in nature. It is our whole lives which are ending up damaged in the process.

By avoiding our state of boredom, we avoid the most important state of self-retrospect, of self-evaluation, and of our entire life’s judgement. We need to ask ourselves, “When was the last time I sat alone with just my thoughts?”

We probably might not remember. But it is time now to bring that back.

Remember when we were mere toddlers, we had no phones, no media, and yet we never once felt such unpleasantness of being bored. Our thoughts of vivid creativity occupied our whole brains. “I want to do this, I want to do that!” we shouted in our heads. We developed entire theme parks of happiness inside our little minds. We were never afraid of being bored. Throw us into fire and we would come out wielding it.

Let us try to bring some of that back. Let us try to not be sickened or un-pleasanted by boredom. Let us invite this state, its process of retrospect, and be no longer afraid of our very own thoughts. Because we are sentient beings. If we do not merely think, then who really are we?

So, the next time when we feel this familiar feeling of being bored, we would have a simple yet crucial and possibly life-altering choice to make.

Do we take out our phones, media, and distractions to avoid this state?

Or

Do we invite boredom seldom into our lives, and travel wherever our brooding thoughts might take?

The choice, as always, is ours.

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If you are further intrigued by the study on boredom as I am, click on the highlighted text: Study on Boredom to read more upon it.

As worded above, boredom is one of the many states that our mind has. But what actually defines our state of mind as a whole? To find that out, check out my another post State of Mind. Click on the red font and head there!

And if you found this post worth reading, do share your claps in appreciation!

Don’t forget to leave your thoughts in the comments below!

For my recent posts, do check them out below!

• Taking a Break
  by Haroon Qureshi
• Death of Criticism
  by Haroon Qureshi
• Why is Motivation a Big Struggle?
  by Haroon Qureshi
• What does Pain make you?
  by Haroon Qureshi
• A Look Back…
  by Haroon Qureshi

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