Boredom: The Portal We Keep Ignoring

Boredom is an uncomfortable state to exist in. Especially when not only don’t you know what will help you feel better but literally every other alternative, including sleep, eludes you. You are stuck in a quiet misery, the type that cannot be satisfied with external activities or conversations. One that is asking you to sit in it until it decides it’s ready to move on its own.

In truth, boredom is a threshold space that sits on the edge of what was and what is becoming. It surfaces when you are under-engaged with your current reality or disconnected from the present moment. Contrary to what you’ve been taught, boredom is not the absence of stimulation; It is the presence of misalignment.

As children, many of us were conditioned to see boredom as a problem. The moment we said, “I’m bored,” we were handed a distraction, a toy, a chore, a screen. Anything to keep us busy and quiet. Somewhere along the way, parents have taken the responsibility of entertaining their children.

As if boredom meant they were failing somehow instead of recognizing boredom as a necessary part of development. Boredom is where creativity begins. It is how we discover what it is we actually like to do. Staring at electronic devices all day is a distraction, not a cure.

The Resistance to Boredom

Overtime, boredom became associated with laziness, ingratitude, and lack of productivity rather than being honored as a natural part of the creative and spiritual cycle. This avoidance of stillness leads to a fear of emptiness, a compulsive need to stay busy, and a tendency to bypass the quiet moments where true insight and guidance often arise.

In some cases, constant stimulation becomes a way for parents to avoid deeper emotional connection with their children, whether consciously or not.  Where the only communication is transactional, to direct them to do something or reprimand them for not doing something. Children need space to express themselves, to form their own opinions, to feel seen and heard. They need time with their parents’ presence and undivided attention to build their confidence and emotional integrity.

Had more of us received that kind of presence as children, the emotional landscape of the world would look very different. We’d have fewer reactive, wounded adults and more emotionally grounded and spiritually mature individuals. People who understood that no one else is responsible for how they feel but them. People who valued authentic connection over surface-level performance. People who understood the importance of presence, not just productivity.

In my life boredom, while frustrating to experience sometimes, has been a surprising gift. It  has led me to create new recipes, explore completely new and sometimes scary experiences, and discover what truly resonates with my soul. In many ways, it has been the catalyst for some of the most beautiful changes in my life.

Now, I meet boredom with curiosity. Rather than trying to escape it, I lean in.  Boredom tells the story that there is nothing here. Curiosity asks us to look beyond the surface. Sometimes, the answer may come as a whisper, a thought or sensation, that isn’t always visible on the surface, especially when distracted.

Boredom: The Portal Revealed

Boredom allows the world to become quiet. That’s where the magic lives. When it’s finally quiet enough, we can hear what our soul has been trying to say all along. But if we rush to suppress boredom, we miss the message.

In truth, boredom is not something to be feared or avoided. It’s a sacred invitation, a portal, to the next version of ourselves. For some, that may look like trying a new restaurant, taking a different route on a walk, or starting a new hobby. For others, it’s might mean a new job, a move, or an entire life shift.

As always, courage is required. You can distract yourself and wonder why your life never changes, or you can be brave enough to listen. Because boredom, in its quiet way, is trying to show you what comes next.