Hopeful Thinking - Saturday, May 13, 2023 - Go For a Little Boredom

Our culture has a huge issue with boredom and laziness. Of course, there are good reasons for that, some of which, however, no longer apply to modern culture.

In the past, idleness could be dangerous. It could mean starvation in the winter, for example, if not enough food was properly grown, harvested, stored, and prepared. It could mean that repairs go unmade, clothes unsewn, shelters unbuilt. There was no time to sit around contemplating one’s navel.

Many have heard of the “seven deadly sins.” Sloth, a.k.a. laziness, is one among them. In Christianity, though, cloistered monks and nuns were historically advised of an eighth deadly sin as well. That known as acedia.

Acedia comes from a Greek word that means “a lack of care.” It wasn’t so much a sin as a warning, however. Because the word was used to describe the types of despondency and dejection which are the hallmarks of despair. Something to which those who have shut themselves away from society in favor of a life of contemplation and prayer were often vulnerable. That despair was, and still is for many, seen as an act of faithlessness. Despair is a state of mind in which there is no hope nor anything for which to be grateful. For that monastic world, it was equivalent to atheism.

So it’s no wonder that laziness or boredom would still manage to infect our society as a character flaw. Especially in our accomplishment-driven modern world. But like everything else, boredom has its place.

In my late childhood, I came across a saying that has stuck with me for decades. “Only boring people get bored.“ In my mind, repeating this aphorism to myself was how I battled the idea of boredom whenever I felt it rise within me. Since I didn’t want to be considered a boring person, I would strive to never be bored myself. It has mostly worked. But at what cost?

Now I know differently. Because boredom is not a sin. Laziness has its place. Idleness is good for the soul.

In an effort to explain why, I will refer to another word of Greek origin: Kenosis. It comes from a word meaning “to empty out.” Theologically, it describes the deliberate “emptying out” of Christ’s own desires in favor of God’s will. It also is used to explain his human mortality by emptying out a portion of his divinity in order to walk among us.

Yes, these concepts do all tie in together. And there is a point to why they ultimately have benefits for us in their deliberate practice. But society has become even more resistant to them in direct proportion to the advance of the internet and our addiction to electronic devices.

A study conducted by Harvard and the University of Virginia found that a majority of people would rather give themselves an electric shock rather than sit alone in a room for 15 minutes with no technology or books. What does that say about society today?

I know myself of this addiction. I can barely go a minute without reflexively reaching for my phone and perusing social media or the news before I’ve even realized I’ve done it. I turn on the radio in my car immediately when I get it in, lest I go a minute without feeding my mind something to occupy it.

But science knows this isn’t healthy for us. It enhances anxiety, depression, and ironically, makes us feel the very same things the monks were being warned against for centuries. The only thing that makes us feel worse than using these devices so constantly is not using them. That’s a problem.

I don’t want to be owned by the vices of my devices. They do not own me, I own them.

So if I wish to unshackel myself from technology, which admittedly, are still highly useful tools, I need to consider breaking the habits I’ve formed around them.

Because we all need a little bit more boredom and idleness in our lives. When we do nothing but constantly feed our need to be distracted from our concerns, unnaturally assisted by the design of such programs and apps that deliberately enhance dopamine production in our brains, we are beholden to them. We are chained to them. They own us.

Our brains and our emotional health require downtime. A chance to reflect and make ourselves available for creative inspiration. It’s difficult, believe me. I’ve been trying it out this week as I’ve been researching this topic and I’ve found myself cringing. But a few minutes here and there avoiding the impulse to peruse the internet for a dopamine rush hasn’t been so bad. I’ll get used to it. And both my brain and emotional health will thank me for it.