Boredom.

[paul1149]

Boredom is a very negative emotion, or even could be considered a non-emotion, and like other negative emotions I think we should view it as a warning light on our mental dashboard. We should examine what we're doing and see if it's what we should be doing. Then we should examine how or from what motivation we're doing what we're doing, to make sure that the Lord is at the heart of it and we're doing it His way. Because if we're doing the right thing for the right reasons we are not going to be bored, as boredom doesn't exist in the Lord.

So boredom, the warning light, can be an opportunity to make corrections and draw closer to the Lord.

 

[paul1149]

what do y'all do with yer mind that's "racing" when yer tryin' to sleep?

I had a long history of this. Now I will go into praise and worship, often, though not always unspoken, particularly I will sing songs to the Lord in my mind. It truly does wonders.

 

[musicalpilgrim]

can't be bored with a good book, Psalms are best tonight

 

[Occams Barber]

Boredom is one of life's great pleasures if you learn not to fear it and not to fight it. Unfortunately there is a tendency to see the act of doing nothing as somehow wrong. I suspect it's a protestant Work Ethic Thing. Boredom allows you to sit still, clear your mind, rest and meditate. I find that a small bout of boredom is often more useful than a continuous need for (often non productive) activity.

Sometimes doing nothing is more useful for your mental health than continually feeling the need to do something. Its a bit like forgiving yourself.
OB

 

[timewerx]

I seldom get bored. Always have something to do, but mostly in learning stuff. Computer programming atm.

Perhaps, if I get mastery of computer programming, God-willing, I'll learn different languages next like European languages.

 

[brinny]

can't sleep!

you got THAT right

 

[brinny]

Boredom is a very negative emotion, or even could be considered a non-emotion, and like other negative emotions I think we should view it as a warning light on our mental dashboard. We should examine what we're doing and see if it's what we should be doing. Then we should examine how or from what motivation we're doing what we're doing, to make sure that the Lord is at the heart of it and we're doing it His way. Because if we're doing the right thing for the right reasons we are not going to be bored, as boredom doesn't exist in the Lord.

So boredom, the warning light, can be an opportunity to make corrections and draw closer to the Lord.

Interestingly enough, these guys on the Ted Talks videos were linking a dependency on the internet and social media, etc. with boredom. One guy said he was terrified of it.

And you have a point in what you said about drawing closer to the Lord.

 

[brinny]

I had a long history of this. Now I will go into praise and worship, often, though not always unspoken, particularly I will sing songs to the Lord in my mind. It truly does wonders.

Hmmmmm......sing songs to the Lord in your mind....

reminds me of the verse in Psalms about meditating at night:

"When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the nightwatches." ~Psalm 63:6

Thanks!

 

[brinny]

Boredom is one of life's great pleasures if you learn not to fear it and not to fight it. Unfortunately there is a tendency to see the act of doing nothing as somehow wrong. I suspect it's a protestant Work Ethic Thing. Boredom allows you to sit still, clear your mind, rest and meditate. I find that a small bout of boredom is often more useful than a continuous need for (often non productive) activity.

Sometimes doing nothing is more useful for your mental health than continually feeling the need to do something. Its a bit like forgiving yourself.
OB

That's profound. One of the speakers was talking about the habits of highly boring people, and how in the down-time of rest, etc. it can be a time to rejuvenate as creativity is re-generated, etc.

Its a bit like forgiving yourself.

never thought of that.

What you posted reminds me of what was posted earlier about "embracing the boredom"

I'm learning to embrace it.....

it's gonna take some time

 

[com7fy8]

I think boredom can be a form of complaining, and the Bible says,

"Do all things without complaining and disputing," (in Philippians 2:13-16)

It can be dangerous, because it drives people to do things which hurt themselves and others.

Instead, we can be prayerful with God, and God is not boring

We can imagine, maybe a little bit at least, what it was like for the disciples to walk with Jesus. There was never a boring moment, always they were seeing what He would do next or say next. Like this, with God in His love and God keeping us busy with loving, there is always His creating with us.

 

[brinny]

I think boredom can be a form of complaining, and the Bible says,

"Do all things without complaining and disputing," (in Philippians 2:13-16)

It can be dangerous, because it drives people to do things which hurt themselves and others.

Instead, we can be prayerful with God, and God is not boring

We can imagine, maybe a little bit at least, what it was like for the disciples to walk with Jesus. There was never a boring moment, always they were seeing what He would do next or say next. Like this, with God in His love and God keeping us busy with loving, there is always His creating with us.

Interesting, yes i suspect that being in the presence of our Savior is anything but boring.

What was interesting to me is that one of the speakers brought up a point that being on the internet frequently can be a symptom of boredom.

 

[com7fy8]

What was interesting to me is that one of the speakers brought up a point that being on the internet frequently can be a symptom of boredom.

It can be a symptom, but also it can be because the person fears boredom and is trying to prevent it from coming, in the first place.

So, possibly there are other things we do because we do not want to get bored; we may do this automatically, without even thinking we are trying to avoid boredom. But we are not first seeking to please God and submit to Him in His peace (Colossians 3:15).

 

[brinny]

It can be a symptom, but also it can be because the person fears boredom and is trying to prevent it from coming, in the first place.

So, possibly there are other things we do because we do not want to get bored; we may do this automatically, without even thinking we are trying to avoid boredom. But we are not first seeking to please God and submit to Him in His peace (Colossians 3:15).

Apparently there are many who are terrified of boredom, meaning they are face to face with their own emptiness, if they are not distracted by the internet and/or social media, like facebook, etc. Sometimes they're even addicted to the internet for that very reason.

 

[Ahermit]

For unbelievers, it's the void at the heart of boredom that is the deeper issue, I think.

Interesting.
I am a believer, yet I was not always. For me, and what I hear from non-believers who are in crisis saying "God help me", I think it's not a void, but the fear that they may have fooled themselves all along.

 

[CoolDude68]

Boredom is procrastination, unless you're physically unable to do anything. There's always something one can do. My daughter use to mumble "I'm bored". I'd often say, "Fantastic! Then you won't mind emptying the dish washer for me!"

 

[Halbhh]

....i dunno if it's boredom or not, but what do y'all do with yer mind that's "racing" when yer tryin' to sleep?

Being in bed in the dark and awake is one of the best times there is for picking up the kindle and reading in the bible, because of how the brain is less pulled than usual towards the trivial, letting you instead focus on the profound. One of the most amazing things is to read in the gospels at night like that, because of how Christ's words have layers of meaning and depth.

The Kindle tablets have a "Blue Shade" setting now, so that at night, the light can be automatically displayed without blue, and that's better for sleeping. Sometimes I can read many passages, but sometimes even just a few verses, and I'm overwhelmed, and transported.

 

[brinny]

Being in bed in the dark and awake is one of the best times there is for picking up the kindle and reading in the bible, because of how the brain is less pulled than usual towards the trivial, letting you instead focus on the profound. One of the most amazing things is to read in the gospels at night like that, because of how Christ's words have layers of meaning and depth.

The Kindle tablets have a "Blue Shade" setting now, so that at night, the light can be automatically displayed without blue, and that's better for sleeping. Sometimes I can read many passages, but sometimes even just a few verses, and I'm overwhelmed, and transported.

Thank you.

 

[Anguspure]

LOL!

I just read this from a mailer I was sent:
1. Boredom. Pascal once said, “All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” Feeling bored isn’t just a result of having nothing to do; we are afraid to face the silence both within ourselves and the world. The silence that asks us to face ourselves and the hard questions that life raises. Instead of struggling with the answers we turn on Netflix or our ever-present phones and fill the silence with noise and distraction.
Spiritual Deficiency Syndrome and What You Can Do About It

 

[Anguspure]

What was interesting to me is that one of the speakers brought up a point that being on the internet frequently can be a symptom of boredom.

Can be but is also a sign of isolation from local, neighborly human relationship.

 

[brinny]

Can be but is also a sign of isolation from local, neighborly human relationship.

Good point.

Thank you.