One simple question that cuts through all the noise: “What are you BORED of?”

 

Like most human beings, I forget my own priorities, on a regular basis.

I fuzzify who I am. I mislabel my magic.

I get distracted by the latest vampire-penguin-narwhal-post-apocalyptic-teen-archery trilogy.

I stop asking myself the questions that matter.

Like this one:
 

“What are you BORED of?”

 
It’s deceptively simple.
But don’t brush it off.
What I mean is:
 

“What are you tired of explaining?”

“What are you ‘done’ being / doing / writing / teaching / selling?”

“What are you not-so-stoked to be known for?”

 
Here’s what I know: when you admit what’s booooooring you, you tend to unveil the opposite, too.
The stuff you’re NOT bored of. The stuff that’s compelling & urgent, exciting & new.

Of course, it takes some guts & grit to admit what you’re bored of, and WHY — especially if it’s (gasp!) central to your identity, your livelihood, your mission, the quest you’ve slaved over, et al.

I’ll be brave. I’ll start:
 

I’m bored of . . .

 
: Talking about copywriting, marketing, branding, business, blah-ba-dee-bloo . . . UNLESS it’s woven into a bigger conversation about self-discovery, self-expression, and remembering who you are (see below).
: Elucidating how I created a $1,500 offering and got it booked up till the end of the year. (It’s a good story, but . . . I’m done tellin’ it. For now.)
: My compulsion to capture-wittify-tweet! every ding-dong-dang thing that happens to me.
: Pretending that I want to write a memoir. I just remembered. I don’t. (Right now.)
: Recreational Internet usage.
 

I’m NOT bored of . . .

 
: Helping people remember who they are.
: And then, helping people articulate (in words!) what makes them UN-FUCKING-BELIEVABLE (valuable, necessary, marvelous & more.)
: That lightning bolt feeling that arrives just before an effortlessly uh-mazing piece of writing.
: Sex.
: Vampire-penguin-narwhal-post-apocalyptic-teen-archery trilogies.
: Doing yoga like it’s my JOB.
: Getting surprise parcels in the mail.
: Geeking out over the healing properties of crystals.
: Being entrusted with secrets.
: Being me, in general.
 

So that’s me.

And you?

 
What’s making you feel apathetic, incurious, jaded, tiresome, world-weary, flaccid & pococurante?

I’d really like to know.
Go ahead — BORE me.

xo.

creativity // inspiration devotion // liberty
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Comments

Full disclosure: I am bored of teaching yoga like everybody else in this town (Brussels, Belgium) does it.
What I am not bored of: thinking I will teach less classes and more full 8-limbs-of-yoga kickasana workshops.
I am not bored of my left brain which is my true asset.
I am not bored of leading my Personal (R)Evolution to help others lead their own, and thinking of the new ways I could do this.
I am not bored of thinking about how I could help new yoga teachers be the best teachers they can be.
Yeah, I am not bored about thinking I could take everything up a notch.
Oopla!

Emmanuelle on Jul 8, 2012 — Reply

had a good think about this one!

I am bored of explaining my sexuality to people
in fact, I am bored of defining it and putting labels on it in the first place
I’m not bored of the fact that I may never run out of fantastic books to read or new projects to start
I’m bored of explaining my course and what I want to do with myself in life ‘career’-wise
I’m not bored of learning to love myself more and more every day
I’m bored of making excuses for being lazy or not doing things etc (this one is my own fault but still!)

Georgia on Jul 8, 2012 — Reply

I’m bored of having to phrase my answer to this question very carefully because I’m not supposed to refer to my work in a public forum. Hmm…

Sarah Rooftops on Jul 8, 2012 — Reply

Crazy divine timing, because I just decided yesterday that I am super super bored of being poor.

Scraping and saving to pay the bills is boooooooring.

I want to be able to easily, radiantly pay my bills doing what I do. I’m bored of getting nothing back from my work, of operating out of burnout and my own dwindling energy stores.

I am not at all bored of MINDFUL SEXUALITY and deep yummy being-in-your-body-ness. Watching people light up as they get that this can be for them too.

And I’m not bored of blowing people’s minds with dancing epiphanies, popping them out of ruts and stuck patterns by teaching them the dance. The dance is anything but boring. Scary, sometimes, but always fascinating.

Rhiannon on Jul 8, 2012 — Reply

After 20 years of naturopathic pracice I’m bored of listening to all the reasons why people can’t cook/eat well. How much effort does it take to start your day with a bowl of porridge/oatmeal?

I’m not bored with turning my irritations into a reminder to practice compassion. After all, we teach best what we need to learn.

Gill on Jul 8, 2012 — Reply

You know what I never get bored of? Learning new words! I have never heard the word pococurante! Absolutely love that word and a tad shocked that I’ve never heard it!

Thank you for that!

Jill Rowe on Jul 8, 2012 — Reply

I am bored of soda pop. Or as we call it in Michigan pop. I have had countless health problems that I wouldn’t have if I didn’t drink pop all the time.
I am bored of sitting around and pretending to get stuff done.
I am bored of the people that i am learning my career from not having an ounce of enthusiasm about what they do. (huge opportunity for me) kinda excited that I am bored by it.
Healthy food being more expensive than unhealthy food.
I am sooo bored of being told that everyone starts off this way: scared and unsure. Great. I get it. But I don’t want to be in this place.
I am bored with grudges. I’ve had quite a few grudges in my past and now that I am in sales. I don’t have those amazing people in my life.

Thats it for now!

Katie on Jul 8, 2012 — Reply

I am bored of being sad about the same man time and time again. I am bored of thinking he’ll change. I’m bored of waitressing. I’m bored of this city. I’m bored of my friends. I’m bored of this routine. I’m bored with my whole life.

What I’m not bored of… well… right now, I don’t know.

I’m bored of waiting to find out what I’m suppose to do next.

J on Jul 8, 2012 — Reply

A timely question (your questions always are!).

I am over making money for other people. I am all about financial stability.
I am over negative obligations. I am all about nurturing and giving to others and myself too.
I am SOOOO over wishing. I am about doing, big and full and all the way and NOW.
I am over being a walking telenova. I am all about being known for being effing fabulous broke-the-mold successful.
I am over vainly searching for direction. I am all about finding I am already on the path.
I am over being the person I am supposed to be. I am all about being who I am.

…and also, I am all about gratitude. A zillion thanks for your blog and yourself, Alex.

-Karen

Karen on Jul 8, 2012 — Reply

I am bored of television.
I am bored of traditional job hunting – the bane of my very existence at the moment. I desperately want to work remotely as a writer but scouring the virtual earth is b-o-r-i-n-g!

Rachael on Jul 9, 2012 — Reply

I am bored of only being able to come up with answers that don’t feel true when people ask what I do or what I’m up to. I’m bored of d.r.e.a.d.i.n.g the question.
I am bored of not feeling made for things like dating, self-sufficiency, independence…
I am bored of expecting way too little in terms of respect from so many of the people around me.
I am bored of seeing this town and the people in it in the same way that I always have.
I am bored of too much freedom and the bad habits that it encourages.

I am not bored of drawing.
I am not bored of hugging my super-soft, super sweet and quirky dog.
I am not bored of being inspired just when I’m wondering why I’m so bored!
I am not bored of dreaming of future travels.
I am not bored of naps.

Amy on Jul 9, 2012 — Reply

I am bored of:

- People assuming that I’m stupid because I work as a receptionist. (Actually, I work here to fund my PhD…)
- Always being tactful.
- Of being so reserved, and not often saying what I’m feeling to the person/people I’m feeling it for.
- Procrastinating.
- Negative obligations that suck my energy.
- Of ‘keeping calm and carrying on’.
- My lack of impulsivity.
- Being broke.
- Feeling like I’m in a kind of ‘limbo’ stage, and something’s going to happen but I’m not sure what, and not sure how to get there.
- Peoples’ unnecessary rudeness, when they don’t know me, and don’t make any effort to get to know me.

I am not bored of:

- Shakespeare
- Thinking about how great my life will be when I get to where I want to be.
- Poetry.
- Writing.
- Getting that shock of inspiration that propells me into writing and writing.
- Getting that ‘stomach’s jumping’ feeling when I think about someone I like.
- The mini break-through moments in day-to-day life.
- Shocking people by telling them I’m doing a PhD. (Particularly after they’ve just been condescending and rude).
- Being able to giggle about peoples’ pointed rudeness.

Anna on Jul 9, 2012 — Reply

Loved this- fabulously brilliant as always.

I’m bored of
-people living unhappy, unfulfilled lives
-the idea I need to keep pushing forward in my career & making more money
-an uninspiring yoga class that’s never fun or playful or challenging

I’m not bored of
-traveling the world, planning new adventures, taking millions of photos
-launching my dream project to help people connect to their inner beauty though yoga
-learning about anything & everything, but especially meditation, self-love, and creativity

THANKS!

Amanda @ Click. The Good News on Jul 9, 2012 — Reply

I’m bored of listening to myself talk about things that are wrong with my life but are entirely under my control to change. Enough!

Marci on Jul 9, 2012 — Reply

Let’s see…

I’m bored of telling the story of how I became a video editor (since I’m not one anymore)
I’m bored of bagels – they’re not even that good and I always gain a pound or two when I over-indulge. Really, I’m bored of feeling guilty!!!
I’m bored of interacting with skeptics – specifically people who ask me about life coaching, but are looking to disagree with anything I say, no matter what. SNORE.

I’m not bored of hearing people get totally psyched about the possibilities in their lives
I’m not bored of digging deeper and remembering more and more about who I really am
I’m not bored of open-minded people with big ideas and lofty goals
I’m not bored of improving my relationships, however difficult it may be.

I’m not now nor will I ever be bored of french fries.

I think that’s a god place to end :)

Michelle Vargas on Jul 9, 2012 — Reply

Yes, yes, a brilliant question that can’t help but unstick things!

I am bored of:
– comparing myself to others and coming up short
– wasting time on unproductive distractions (Facebook, beer, ruminating)
– trying to make myself do stuff I don’t really want to do because I feel like I have to
– worrying about money and the future
– thinking about myself so much instead of somehow serving others and the world

I am not bored of:
– being inspired by words
– thinking and reading about non-duality and inside-out thinking
– being kind and giving others compassion and the benefit of the doubt
– peace, quiet, and alone time
– emotionally supporting others and emotionally being supported by others

Lynn Hess on Jul 9, 2012 — Reply

Hm. Way to make me think on this manic Monday.

I’m bored of … + trying so hard to “not give into the man” (right now, i need the man to give me the security i need to pursue my other interests) + spending all my time with my boyfriend and not enough with my girlfriends + trying to learn everything about copywriting by reading, instead of doing + eating unhealthy meals & feeling crappily full all the time + feeling socially anxious & intimidated + endless phonecalls and meetings i keep having to reschedule + doing dishes.

I’m NOT bored of … + my grad school classes/friends + zumba! + writing creatively, just for me + learning all about how a website is put together at my new job + brainstorming a million new ways to describe anti-bacterial soap, fragrance, etc. for said new job + meditation + re-connecting with old friends + digging deeper into my emotional scars

Erica Lee on Jul 9, 2012 — Reply

I wanna join the gang
cos I’m not bored of you :)
and provocative questions
even squirming in the answers

I’m bored of answering ‘how big was your biggest wave?’ about my x pro surfer days
but I’m never bored of a metaphor of how it feels to play with the sea
and how that helps me endlessly
to find the flow and how much fun it is to help others to find theirs too

I’m bored of how I get sidetracked my fingers on the keyboard
but I’m never bored when they find a pencil, paintbrush, crayon, texta
and the colors!

xxxx

Kaye on Jul 10, 2012 — Reply

Wowza-powza! You guys are thoroughly un-boring.

Love these honest statements of ennui — and the opposite.

Keep ‘em coming.

xo.

:: A

Alexandra Franzen on Jul 10, 2012 — Reply

Fantastic questions, A!
Got me thinking… over here: http://isawyoudancing.blogspot.com.au/2012/07/what-am-i-bored-of.html

Kat on Jul 10, 2012 — Reply

Hey Alexandra

For a thoroughly unboring new geek out over the healing properties of crystals!!

http://www.amazon.com/Crystal-Alchemy-Michael-George-King/dp/1922022446/ref=cm_cmu_pg__header

+ mineral kingdom hellos to you

:)

Kaye on Jul 17, 2012 — Reply

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