ARE YOU BORED WITH LIFE?

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BEFORE PICTURE

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The “CURE” to boredom isn’t LOOKING FOR YOU!

YOU have to determine the path you’re following isn’t going to magically alter on its own. We all feel sorry for ourselves at some point in time. Self lamenting is part of human behavior and necessary TO A POINT. Once that point is exceeded, our emotions begin controlling  our behaviors often resulting in episodes of depression. Whether depression triggers changes in hormones, or vice versa, changes in stress hormones, metabolic hormones and sex hormones are typically affected. These changes add to the difficulty in overriding our emotions.

To get ourselves out from this vicious circle, the individual must force the “RATIONAL MIND” to take over for a brief period. It must create a change in ACTIVITY and SURROUNDINGS. Can you imagine feeling this lethargic and making yourself go for a walk, sit in a park with a good book, or go to a museum to experience a new exhibit? These are just three examples of ACTIVITIES and different SURROUNDINGS that positively change emotional feelings by altering levels of hormone production.

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This means the individual must OVERRIDE a lacking sense of desire to CREATE a sense of SATISFACTION.

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This is certainly a challenge, however, understanding one’s emotions helps an individual recognize when these IMBALANCES occur. This recognition creates greater clarity for the need of POSITIVE ACTIVITY REINFORCEMENT. As we see the benefits in these behaviors, we detect these imbalances earlier and correct them more easily. This adds confidence in our ability to CONTROL our negative emotions.

If you’re tired of boredom, DO SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE to change your emotional view. It’s very much like getting out of a warm bed on a cold morning. That warm bed offers a comfortable supportive environment, but it also obstructs ALL EXPERIENCES and ENJOYMENTS IN LIFE outside its boundaries. This means the RATIONAL MIND must tell the body it’s OK to “suffer” a moment of discomfort (coldness getting out of the bed) in order to experience a day filled with potential positive outcomes. The better we feel about successfully “pushing” ourselves beyond our limited comfort zone, the easier it becomes to reinforce this learned behavior.

It takes practice, so don’t expect  to master this learned skill in ONE ATTEMPT. It likely took years to reach the point in life you currently find yourself. Take EACH EXPERIENCE and ENJOY THE EMOTIONS that accompany it. This approach will ultimately help you:

  1. eat healthier

  2. exercise more regularly

  3. strengthen immune function

  4. increase energy

  5. improve sleep

  6. CREATE A BETTER QUALITY OF LIVING!

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IS BOREDOM THE POSSIBLE ROOT CAUSE FOR YOUR DISSATISFACTION WITH LIFE?

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AFTER PICTURE

JOIN TUCKER!

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SHED BOREDOM IN FAVOR OF EXPERIENCING WHAT LIFE REALLY HAS TO OFFER!

33 comments

  1. Although I can’t imagine being bored, there are times (as you said) when all of us get down. I find something else that is helpful is to get the focus off of “me” and try to think of a way I could help someone else or just do something to make someone else feel special. Sometimes we have to will ourselves to be outwardly focused.

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  2. I know which road I want to take, but my other half won’t make the turn. So, I get into a lot of projects, dream a lot and hope for the best.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Discovering what “blocks” a person from opening up in order to experience life and all its blessings is a difficult task. Making sure the person is aware of the limitations they impose on themselves (as well as their significant others) is a good starting place. As long as quality communication isn’t replaced with defensive banter new positive ground can be gained.

      Liked by 2 people

  3. Good points. You are right depression can be the result of a real physiological imbalance and it can also be due to excessive boredom, self deprivation and other factors. For the second reason for depression, it really does take a rational mind to override how we feel and decide to act differently. I also think this marks the beginning of being a responsible adult.Getting to that point where you don’t let your feeling determine your day. It might be doing a job you don’t like. Saving for retirement or working out. For those in which depression is not due to a genetic irregularity, we have the ability to put ourselves in a better mood. If you act happy long enough and you believe, soon your brain will too. Good post!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Feeling of entitlement seem to get in many people’s way. When people learn to become HUMBLE, they begin appreciating and respecting life from a new perspective. This might be that first step you were refering to when mentioning “becoming a responsible adult.” Once achieved, new doors of opportunity become visible all around you.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Humility goes a long way.

        Liked by 1 person

  4. Prajakta · · Reply

    Nice post 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Always appreciate your willingness to share your opinion.

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Sometimes when I’m down, I wash dishes or clean. At least I feel productive and usually it’s the bounce that gets me going again. Great post, thank you.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Finding an activity or environment that redirects the mind is usually enough to overcome boredom, lethargy and episodic depression. We all need to determine our own unique “healthy natural stimulant” that aides us with this process.

      Liked by 1 person

  6. I am joining Tucker 🙂 🙂 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. He is a very comical boy full of personality and love. He is WORTH joining!! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Very good list of things that help keep us happy and healthy

    Liked by 1 person

  8. While we may not have complete control over the circumstances in our lives we do get to chose whether we will stay in ‘the tomb’ or roll away the stone to walk in the light!
    PS- TUCKER FOR PRESIDENT!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Well said! With the number of people that have mentioned Tucker for President, I believe he has a chance of causing an upset. At least the country would not have to worry about his INTEGRITY or Wikileak issues. Tucker asked me to find out if your pup was interested in being his running mate. He can use a strong ally and knowing your dog doubles as a lion qualifies him as a good running mate! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Helen must know the answer to one simple question: Only REAL ingredients in the dog food? If yes, then She’d be happy to be Tucker’s VP!

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Tucker is given ORIJEN REGIONAL RED (featuring Ranch-Raised Angus Beef, Wild Boar, Lamb, Heritage Pork and Bison along with fruits and vegetables), ACANA WILD ATLANTIC (featuring wild caught mackeral, herring redfish, silver hake, and yellowtail flounder), and SOJOS RAW FOOD. I hope these meet Helen’s standards. 🙂

          Liked by 1 person

          1. They will make an excellent Canine Ticket! Hugs!🐶

            Liked by 1 person

  9. maureenrose7 · · Reply

    What an excellent post! I honestly can not remember the last time I even felt bored, It was like 100 years ago! haha! Tucker looks like such a happiee boy I love him! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. He’s a character full of personality. I rescued him from a shelter called “recycled pets”. He makes me laugh every day.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. maureenrose7 · · Reply

        Aw you are a dog lover of course you are! That is super sweet! 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  10. Love the photos of Tucker!!! Your post here reaffirms the power of neuroplasticity. We certainly can reorganize ourselves! Great post, Jonathan, as always. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Couldn’t agree with you more. Thank you for always being so supportive. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. It’s my pleasure, Jonathan, wish I could be around more. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  11. Funny how your post hit the nail on the head sometimes in my life….just yesterday I found myself dealing with boredom…LOL I tired to take a nap, didn’t work, I watered the few flowers that needed watering…I cleaned the house, still bored…LOL I ended up in the pool and that helped…love your post…..kat

    Liked by 1 person

  12. If we combine activity ACTION PLANS with QUIET TIME to relax the body and mind we get bored significantly less often. Just think about it, the person who says, “there just aren’t enough hours in the day” is rarely bored. The retired person who says, “I need to find a job because I had more time to do things WHILE I WAS WORKING,” rarely is ever bored. Boredom tends to come from IMBALANCE!

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  13. Never bored, but I do have to find creative ways for down time. Being responsible makes sitting in one place almost not possible. Balancing my go-go-go with slow isn’t easy for me. Shutting the door to do yoga helps and writing I find soothes my over worked mind. Working on it! Tucker looks so happy. Is he ever bored? 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Learning to enjoy quiet/down time can actually be stressful to some people. It is important to learn to appreciate and enjoy this quality time. It is all part of a HEALTHY BALANCE in LIFE.
      As far as Tucker is concerned, I try to keep him busy almost every day. Put him in a trail/woods environment and he thinks he’s in heaven! 😀

      Liked by 1 person

      1. My bunch love a good walk too! It keeps their minds busy and focused. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Creates some nice family time as well.

          Liked by 1 person

  14. Love Tucker’s smile! :o)

    Also appreciate the message in this post. Oddly enough, I am almost never bored. How about you, Dr. J? Do you ever get bored?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tucker says, “thank you!” He is a real ham; loves the camera!

      Bored? Never! I have my previous patients to thank for this. I learned from them the potential “pitfalls” of retirement. Many believed they simply wanted “MORE TIME” and they got more than they were able to handle. Boredom caused many to seek employment.

      I started making a list of “MEANINGFUL” things I WANTED to do in retirement 5 years before retiring. I didn’t simply want to do “things” to take up time. This has made my retirement incredibly pleasurable.

      I live life at the pace I choose to and look forward to learning and experiencing new things EVERYDAY! Growth and development keeps life exciting.

      Liked by 1 person

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