What is Boredom?
In my workshops and in my book ”Boredom to Brilliance” one of the first exercises is for people to define boredom. The usual reply is ”I’m never bored.” I usually have to remind them that I didn’t ask IF they were bored but what the definition of it is. It is interesting to me that people will do anything to avoid being seen as someone who is bored, and yet as I grew up boredom was a constant topic for me. My friends and I were always bored with where we lived, bored with school, bored with teachers, bored with church and basically made up stuff to do just to get out of being bored. So, the idea that people are never bored sort of surprised me when I heard it.
Boredom Is Not A Lack Of Busyness
So when they finally understand the question then they are quite able to define boredom. I go on to point out that boredom is not a lack of having a lot to do, but rather it is a lack of brilliance in what they do. People run around busy in their lives but most of what they do is not done with a sense of purpose. It is more out of a need to get something done or else…
Brilliance Is The Solution To The Problem Of Boredom
I didn’t know anything about marketing or titles when I went to write a title for my book. All I knew is it had to be a memorable and alluring title which describes what the book is about. The problem I decided to solve was boredom and I tried to come up with a proper word for it’s solution. It isn’t such an easy thing to do as I discovered in trying to find a proper translation for the title in German, because both boredom and brilliance are words that don’t translate well into German. When I present my book to distributors from english speaking countries their reaction to the title is very positive, but in German they get that strange look on their faces which accompanies confusion. It is really quite amusing to see.
At any rate, the point of my book is simply that our lives are boring unless we are driven by something which lights us up on the inside. For me and for many others that light was turned on when I started getting involved with music. So, the idea behind my book was to show people how being involved with the arts was a great way to end the grey existence of boredom. It isn’t the ONLY way, of course, but for many it could be A way. Specifically I was thinking of teens who had no inner drive or anyone who had lost their way in life.
Either your life is filled with passion or it isn’t. That is the point, and a life without passion is the definition of boredom. Self expression and a connection with others through the arts is a great way to fill your life with passion.
One of my passions is writing and making videos so blogging is also a great thing to do. When you do it and build a business from it, it becomes lucrative and the Empower Network is the place to do it. Click here and enter your email to watch the film and learn more! It’s easy, it’s fun and it can make you money.