Category: Transforming Pain

The modern day brain has been programmed (quite literally) to desperately avoid boredom.

I overheard a child say to their parent the other day, “Mom, I’m so bored” in a play area that had books, puzzles, coloring sheets, crayons, colored pencils, magna-tiles, blocks, and so on.

…And what was the child hoping they could get access to to cure their boredom? …That’s right—their parents’ phone.

And as sad as that might sound… what you should consider is whether or not you and your loved ones are any better off.

What do you do when you crash on the couch after a long day? Or when you’re stuck in line at a restaurant? Or when you’re waiting for your child to finish their club/ class/ activity?

Because I’ll tell you what the majority of parents do while they’re waiting for their son or daughter to finish martial arts class… as soon as even an inkling of boredom occurs… they open up their phone.

This is not meant to be a criticism. It’s simply meant to be an inner work prompt. What is your relationship with boredom? Do you and boredom ever sit with each other for any amount of time? Or do you avoid boredom like the plague? When’s the last time you did what you encourage your kids to do (if you have any) and use your imagination to build, draw, or create minus the screens?

I’ll tell you what… there’s a magic in boredom that no screen game can touch.

…Just look at how a bored child can turn three blocks into entire worlds that are travelled and explored for hours and hours and hours at a time.

Think of some of your favorite things you’ve ever created in life—the things people will remember you by.

How much would someone have to pay you to remove that creation from ever existing in your life?

…The thing is: many of us are doing this daily. And for A LOT less than we think.

Think about how many creations have been “taken away” because of extra work or from bringing work home or from being too exhausted to create after work…

Think, too, about how long some of those favorite creations took you to make? …And how much you get paid per hour in your job/career? …And if that creation is worth that price?

For many of us… the answer would be an unwavering, “No.”

And yet… many of us continue to work for that hourly rate at the expense of the things we might’ve been so proud to have created.

This isn’t a call to quit your job. It’s a call to renew your commitment towards creation—in the time you can afford to budget… just like you do so vigilantly for your job.

Nobody is going to make the time for you—especially not your boss.

But if you can be your own boss and learn how to make the time for yourself again… what you might end up with is something far more valuable than anything your boss ever gives you in a check.

Traveling with a bunch of luggage is taxing.

Living with a bunch of baggage is taxing.

Creation… it seems to me…

Is a process through which the items in your metaphorical bags are unpacked… alchemized into some expressive medium… and left there once finished.

As writing an idea frees your mind from holding it any longer… creating frees your metaphorical bags from having to carry them any longer.

…For lighter, further, freer life travel.

You can assemble a car, but you can’t assemble a flower.

A flower can only be grown.

And when you rush the creative process, you start to assemble instead of grow.

Any internet skimmer, quick-fixer side-hustler, AI app can assemble.

…But what we need now more than ever are people who can grow.