The Benefits of Boredom 

When I stayed a few days in the woods with a woodsman friend of mine, I was surprised that I didn't need to do anything. I couldn't believe how satisfying it was just to sit in front of the fire, how good it felt boil the water for coffee over that fire, to wander around or just in the forest all day. I didn't feel like I needed anything else, and it surprised me that it was that simple. --- Now a greater challenge is learning how keep that state of mind in a busy world, indoors. I try to visit the forest more often now. :)

Hey Kenton! I'm checking just now this nearly 5 year old video, and this was right on time to me. Recently, my intestines and stomach have rioted on me. Turned out it is "Irritable intestine syndrome", and this is a completely psychologically caused condition, due to heavy stress and anxiety I've been living in the recent years (as a teacher in Brazil and then job seeking, again, with a marriage on the way). Well, now I can say my dear lower organs are the best. They're teaching me to eat slowly, talk slowly, think in peace. Sitting in the dark, hearing the rain, as I used to as a kid (and with my renewed inner life I don't think I can call anything ever boring again). It was a very painful last week but it is being worthy. But getting to the point... I don't think we, when in touch with nature and ourselves can ever get bored. We can meditate, sleep, relax, snooze, imagine, have ideas. I prefer to call "bore" the thing that happens with the caged (human) animal. Out of touch with its inner rich nature and out of touch with the magnificent Earth around, those get bored easily. Me in a forest like that? Never bored. Look how many friends to harmonize with! (Meaning the trees, wind, insects, soil...)

Hi PineMountainVentures, your comment doesn't allow responses, so I hope you get this. Very interesting question. I'm not big on conspiracy theories, but consciously or not, I think this is what is going on. It might just be that there is an unconscious reward system in place, but we've definitely forged this link in our culture. Mentally, emotionally, and physically, our culture degrades us until we are dependent upon prescription drugs, entertainment, and media. I don't think there is a great benefit in getting angry about this, but instead, each of us as individuals can break free of the system and help others to break free, thereby crumbling the consumer-feedback system from within. If we were all purchasing things that increase our health, our emotional resilience, and our mental state, then that is what people will try to sell us. But when we are unconscious of what effects things have on us, we are at the mercy of a system that is all too happy to sell us fast food, televisions, and endless diversions to keep us from seeing what is going on. =) Kenton

this is sort of like why I encourage people to study philosophy. we are constantly being programmed by our society and culture. if we allow the world around us to keep us stressed then eventually we will start to believe that is the norm. when we calm our minds we begin to realize the way the system works and we can begin to break down the way everything works. I think that is at least part of the reason mindfulness and philosophy aren't taught much anymore. if we had a society of calm, thoughtful individuals then the world would be a very different place. Love your videos. keep up the good work.

Oh my this is a blessing, last week I watched a movie from the 90s, lol it was so calming, there was no fast and loud noise, yes this is so much needed, about twice a week I go out in the woods, and just sit there for a couple of hours and just listen to the fire cracking and birds, it renews my body if that makes any sense, I truly truly appreciate everything

I really appreciate your wisdom. Funny thing I always end up watching a random video of you but they always have the right message to make me feel better about myself and to transform my life.

Yes. 100% agree with every word This year I took a 4 month holiday that cost me £400. I took a backpack with a tent in and went for a big walk from monastery to spiritual place. I quickly lost the ability to feel bored. Many a day was spent just sitting in the woods perfectly content. The result was the highest level of consciousness that I've ever experienced

This video is exactly what I needed right now. The struggles of the having that revved up mind are difficult to overcome! Feeling like I am going to miss something in today's world seriously has me on edge constantly. This video snapped me back in to reality! Thank you so much!

My mind is highly-revved. That is an excellent descriptor. Thank you for pointing this out, and encouraging me to be mindful of that fact. This video reminds me of some of the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. Every few years I will come back to his audio books, many of which were recorded by him. I always say to myself 'this person is teaching me the most meaningful lessons in life', and yet somehow I always spiral back into my highly-revved existence. As you said, living this way is very much a practice, and good habits must be cultivated consistently. Thank you again!

This actually makes sense. Despite of the progress i've been making with my health this is something that is really hard to work. I'm a chronic fast thinker, and I haven't really evolved in this matter. I've tried meditation but there is always setbacks, I need a more constant, permanent 'tool'. Maybe this is it.. Thank you for your vid. A subscriber.

Love it, thank you Kenton for this link you gave me. I absolutely understand what you are talking about. I experienced it myself. Last time it happened 3years ago. I was doing some painting and fixing job in my friend's cabin which is located on a shore of a small but beautiful lake. I was there absolutely alone. There was no communication there, even no mobile signal. It took a week for me to have my thoughts slow down. In the end of the week I took my friend's canoe and went to the middle of the lake, and had a nap there, in the canoe.... It was fantastic. Unfortunately I can't afford the same luxury of being alone for a prolonged time now.

You nailed it again Kenton! I tossed my phone three months ago just for this reason! I also only check my emails once ever couple days now. Boredom is defiantly hard at first but once you get over the hill it is awesome...I find that my mind stops the non since chatter and gives me a true feeling of inner peace. Thanks, as always for your words of wisdom my friend. Pura Vida!!!!!!!!!!

Your opening says I have to be dedicated to watch this video... Nope I'm just bored! LOL! ❤☀🌵

Thank you for the kind words. My wife is a mental health therapist. She tells me that she envies the way I can always BE PRESENT in the moment. I just thought that I was just enjoying the journey. God bless you, your family, and your business. John I hope to take a course from you some day.

really liked the video, I know some of the happiest times in my life have been during a backpacking trip, just sitting around at the campsite, "bored"

Very Interesting video, I was saying this to myself for quite some times now, the world " the society"run at an incredibly fast pace ,computer, robots in industry, internet,Facebook............our mind doesn't have any quiet time to rest, appreciate things, everything now is made to overthrow our mind with constant solicitation.I choose 8 years ago to disconnect my TV "to much crap" and it's a feeling of freedom now to not pollute myself with all the garbage they broadcast.Slowing our mind and get rid of constant entertainment actually help us to lower the stress factor which is way too high in our modern society , and that benefit to our health too and happiness.

Every time I choose something quiet, I experience a strange sensation in my brain. It's like a physical centering. I can't explain it. They say you can't have any sensations in your brain. But I swear it feels like there's muscles in my brain relaxing.

Great video Kenton. I really needed this today. I couldn’t agree more about our highly rev’d society weakening our minds. Embrace the boredom :)

I had a long driving trip on the way home from northern Washington state down to the central coast of California, about 15 hours drive. This was my trip home from visiting my brother. Within the first 10 minutes, when I was about to get on Interstate Hwy-5, I stopped to fill up my gas tank. It was at this time that my car stereo died. 15 hours of silence lay in front of me. It was a long drive, but what else was I to do? It ended up being a powerful experience. I admit the first hour was rough, but in the end it taught me to appreciate the quite while driving. Like you say, my brain slowed down and was better able to focus. When I got home, I never got my stereo fixed. If I could stand 15 hours of straight silent driving, I could definitely handle my commute to and from work right? That trip was back in 2004. I did end up installing a stereo in 2012, but only because it had a auxiliary input so I could listen to limited favorite music and audio books I keep on my phone. This memory resonated with me as I watched your video. Come to think of it, it also reminds me of the time back in 1998 when my watch band broke.........and I have never worn a watch since. Its like mental freedom in ways that you would never expect at the time. Your videos are awesome Kenton, I plan to become a Patron in the next week.

Totally agree, boredom is an entryway into our innerselves. Slowing down clarifies things and leads the way toward objectivity and alternate approaches. But unfortunately, through boredom, as you wonder upon prolonged periods, bad moments, memories will prevail...embrace these moments, give yourself time, think, analyse and use the time to try and come at ease, find innerpeace. Allow yourself to feel, expereince and confront sometimes overwhelming thoughts and feelings. Usually you'll find comfort, if not you'll know where you stand...ATB ps:french is my first language so please excuse my possible lack of clarity.

So true!!!💯

It truly is incredible, you put into words so many things that I always kind of "knew" or "felt" were true.

Talk about something like this keep it up and I will give this a try

Fabulous Kenton. A mind capable of slowing is a strong mind. I love that. THANKS!

Thank you for some true inspiration. This was actually the 2nd video of yours I watched. First one was recommended and I picked this one first after viewing your video list. I recognized wisdom in the title.

Love the energy conveyed in ALL your vids! Really refreshing to watch :)

You're great! I Love your ideas...

This is some great information you are providing. Just stumbled across your channel and got so freaking much out of it. Thanks alot my man. Much love sent your way.

I have been struggling with this while in school because every moment of my day is packed and then on the weekends I am not camping or doing homework I tend to fall into other bad habits just to stay "not bored".

Thanks! This is a valuable life lesson.

Watched this video when my cousin shared it, and I really enjoyed it. My mind is always in that high-revved state where I feel like I need to stay busy and do constructive things, whether it's reading, volunteering, working or socializing with my friends, family and sometimes strangers too. I do enjoy my alone time but that consists of activities like guitar, piano or the gym, activities where I wouldn't consider myself bored. This great video really inspires me to adapt this type of mentality. I really appreciate your insight and I sense that you have a genuine soul. Thanks for sharing. I signed in to subscribe and look forward to watching more of your uplifting videos.

Thank you Kenton, you're video inspired me to get off the laptop and meditate for an hour, which felt great. I look at you're lifestyle and you look so content with what you have. I live in London and it's so separated from our natural humanity. I want to become a monk of some kind to just contemplate the nature of self and get away from the chaos of the modern world.

Great job!!!! Both of you.

You rock. How could I not be devoted!

What an interesting concept.

I think you're right about entertainment revs our minds. Boredom is some kind of mental freedom. And the best ideas comes to head when we're bored.

Enjoyable video. This validates what I have instinctionaly known for a number of years. To me understanding the benefits of boredom/not constantly thinking unleashes creative, analytical, and critical thinking which is something we as a nation lacks. Also I made my 2nd barefoot 1.68 mile hike yesterday. Starting to enjoy no shoe workout. Long way to go. Take care WJ from MD

Right on man, what a great message for all of us to embrace. I wonder how much distraction from our own selves, our own reality, factors into that discomfort of not always having something going to keep us entertained.

i really enjoyed this vid. my results have been sort of meditative. while driving to work i would think about a lot of my human flaws and how i react to certain situations. its made me more aware :)

I don't enjoy many things in life, the God of my understanding, my family, and the outdoors are my likes. I like your calmness, your soft spoken words, and your open mind. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences with me, I appreciate it sir.

great and powerful knowledge as awlays

I’m the most boring guy in the world to other people, but I’m never bored. I can just sit and stare into a campfire or my open woodstove by the hour. But that don’t mean my mind is shut off. By the way i just joined the ranks of my wife and others into the exclusive club of those who can burn water on the stove while cooking my breakfast. Oh…the excitement caused by being distracted by your video: The powers of being bored! I need to pay attention to what i am doing!

I can feel my awareness improving. While hiking now I will notice movement from my peripherals. Also I turn off and unplug all my electronics and clear my mind for 20-30 mins before bed. I get maybe 5-6 hours a sleep now and I am energized the entire day. Also eating healthy ads in that. I want to test out taking cold showers in the morning. Great insight. Going to share this video on my page. -Eric

I love your sense of peace. I couldn't help but laugh at 2:56 when nature seemed to respond to you right after you gave the example of highly active mind being set off by the tiniest things.

There's a formula for solving difficult problems requiring creativity. First, you study and research the problem six ways to Sunday and take several stabs at it and fail repeatedly. Then, you do the opposite, that is, you slow down and don't even think of the problem. This may last for days. Then, when you least expect it, while sitting in a bath tub, walking through the woods, or staring at the ceiling early in the morning, the eureka moment arrives.

This really resonated with me. I'm finding as I get older that so many things that culture teaches us to fear, or at least shy aware from, would actually be healthy to face and soak in. Boredom, for example. So many people know meditation would be great for them, but they don't understand it or get frustrated and just give up. I like how you put it. Relish in the stillness. But, also hunger. I'm realizing that I fear hunger, to the point of eating when I'm not hungry so I don't get hungry. Clearly that triggers over eating. And, a little hunger isn't even that unpleasant. I enjoyed the video a lot. Thank you.

I began doing parts of this before even seeing this video. For example, I never listen to music in the car, and hardly ever anyway. I rarely play games on my phone when waiting for something, and if I do they are mind games like minesweeper and sudoku. I make an effort to only do one thing at a time, and not have too much going on at once. Most importantly, I have never partied or done drugs or drank like many people my age. By putting the benefits into words, this video reinforced my mindset and gave me the desire to continue on the path I have chosen. Thanks for another great video.

I've been today with my friend in the woods near my house because I was bored at home. I'm a teenager who was raised in a city. I fell in love with nature when I moved to the suburbs of a small town about 3 years ago. Then I started making small trips to discover a new area. And step by step I noticed that forest - this quiet an peaceful place where the only music is a birds' songs - is all I need. I can't even describe how I feel when I'm there. It's like I'm able to feel all the splendor of world. But today I've realised one thing. I had to cross the river to continue a walk. There were stones which were a safe way to do this (my friend did it). But I was so scared and I was sure I can't do it. I imagined myself falling of the stones into the water. My hands were sweaty and legs were shaking. I was really panicked and close to cry. But I knew I have to overcome the fear - and I did it. I was surprised because it was easy. Only beginning was hard. The point is that I've realised that I grew up in a city with fear, stress and without conciousness that I can do everything. They've been inside myself for so many years and now I'm afraid to do a lot of simple things. I wanted to have adventures I was reading about in books but I was too scared to leave my comfort zone But I started to overcome my fears just because of the boredom. So, this is definitely a benefit of it :) And I want to thank you soo much. Your videos and website showed me what to do to live a life I've always wanted. I'm really happy that there are people who feel the same :))

I don't feel boredom and I think it's silly when people say "I am bored". There are memories to reflect upon, thoughts of up coming events. Or simply taking in your surroundings, observing, investigating, listening. I almost feel sorry for people who say they are bored. I wonder what goes on in their mind or what is not going on in their mind that makes them feel that way. Your video helped answer some of that question. It makes sense that our minds can get so ramped up and accustomed to that we feel the need to stimulate it rather than letting it slow down. Thank you for the enlightenment.

And by the way. A really good channel, you seem like that kind of human kind/friend you want in your life :)

Your opening was hilarious!

This is very interesting Kenton, I will certainly try it sometime. :)

very enlightening :)

i never grew up with tv or game boy all that stuff ...boredness as a youngster got me into trouble bored ness also can awake depression and lonelieness...its those things and feelings i needed toconquer and spend time through prayer and a new life stayl in the forres by practising aware ness of the one i really am my idantaty thats what boredness did to me sometimes istill struggle ....but it all has its purpose to accomplish new things create new things explore new things and engage with ppl thanks for the vidio

such a perfect sitting place...in the tree's embrace.fascinating musings, as with all of your videosthank you.

I'm going to give it a try. I could really use some decompression. Thanks.

Hi,I respect your videos because they are True. Relaxed mind also take better desicions.I am van driver but I feel annoyed when the radio is on,so I keep it off,that is strange to the others.But they do not understand. It is very nice I drive in countryside. I even preffer listening to the nature or reading a book instead of using the tablet.I think you are a pioneer in what you do,my best regards and all the best!

VERY interesting video my friend. It's weird, but I can't even remember the last time I was bored. I almost never turn on the radio, because I enjoy listening to the subtle noises of the engine. I can sit in the woods for hours listening to the sounds of the forest. Try lying in a hammock and staring up into the trees. I really enjoy your intellect. You are a very gifted and blessed man. John

I’m the most boring guy in the world to other people… but I’m never bored.

This was awesome I really love when u at

I don't really know why, but I really love this video. I've been in a very stressful time lately,i'm about to be a god father and I'm a little worried, and this was honestly really needed thank you my friend :)

Great video Kenton, Too much of society is run by cult ure...kept so busy that you will never learn yourself, kept stressed so you will be dependent upon outside entertainment, pharma, and leisure... all of which cost you much of your life working for the money to bring all of this happiness to you... however when you enter into your inner engineering....and realizing you control you... and that every second bliss is possible. Watch animals to learn how easy bliss is to accomplish. Keep the good thoughts that make you feel love and lose the negative that holds you back.

every year from sept to dec 31 is the archery deer season here, so i get alot of down time sitting in a tree stand. I understand the slow down part but anytime outside I really cant get bored always something to see or hear, and you only see the good stuff when your quiet

That is about the craziest thing I've ever heard, that might be a good reason to try this idea. I did go on the front porch this evening for about 15 minutes and just watch it rain, that was peaceful.

This is true, Kenton. When I drink too much coffee, my brain starts to run too fast, and it enters in a mode that is totally the opposite of that boredom state, and when my brain is in that mode, I tend to jump to conclusions, and I get frustrated more often, because my mind is too fast and demands quick results. Maybe, accepting boredom is a good way of developing patience.

For me, allowing myself to be bored was very similar to quitting tobacco at first. When you kill the constant artificial stimulation, your mind goes through withdrawals like a smoker would experience without their fix. Once I accepted boredom for what it is (a quiet mind) I found myself rarely getting "bored". I admit, I'm not exactly a Shaolin Monk. I live a very rushed lifestyle like most Americans. However, your videos are definitely onto something special. It has reminded me to stop and smell the roses, every day of my life. To enjoy the experience for what it is, rather than revel in a mental fantasy foisted upon me by capitalist propaganda. Thank you for posting.

Very late comment here. I have recently been looking a little bit into what dopamine (the hormone that make us want or crave) does to our brain and to our behaviour. As far as I can tell what you call revving up, is the brain having dopamine kicks - for example from media stimuli (especially computer games) or novelty (the internet is a novelty machine). The problem with this is that the dopamine acts as a marker in the brain for what we should seek out more of. Because there is an endless and unatural high level stimuli we keep increasing dopamine and come back for more, more, more. Even worse - over time our brain will respond by decreasing the number of dopamine receptors in the brain so as not to be overwhelmed. This means that it is only high level stimuli that gets above the threshold and even registers as significant to us. Normal level stimuli like eating a nice meal or spending time with friends and family loose their significance to us. This behaviour is very visible with drug addicts who only go for the really big dopamine rushes (drugs) and loose interest in everything else. It is, however, also visible with the rest of us wanting to watch TV, can't stop checking the phone etc. Your little video brings a very nice first person perspectve to this. You need to revv down, handle the dopamine cravings and reset at a level where you can appreciate all the small things in life. Thanks for that. ... in my own life I have recently stopped playing computer games (which is really hard) and will eventually give myself very limited access to the internet (also going to be hard) and I think I am already starting to feel the benefits. - Feeling a bit bored sometimes though ;)

Some days, it's frustrating. Others it's welcomed. Partly because I feel that I should be doing something physical. Working with my hands. Something. Then there are the days I wander about the house and yard aimlessly. These are the days that I have found to be most interesting. That is when I (re)discover nature, creativity and a hush inside my head. That is where the fun begins.

Your videos on this topic hit the nail on the head. I am in my mid twenties and I grew up very much surrounded my the media and the constant entertainment. It took me quite some time to actually realize, how certain patterns in my mind determine my behaviour. Patterns, created by the entertainment industry. One big issue for me, and apparently many other young people is pornography. This is quite a textbook way of hijacking young brains. Using young peoples inexperience in how to deal with developing instinct. Still everytime I get bored, or have to face a little bit unpleasant tasks, I'm prone to try to escape and watch pornography. Still, the basis underlying pattern is the mind's constant need for external excitement and the easy avoiding of strain and pain. Your videos help me in understanding my mind better. To remove obstacles and freely develop and progress. Thank you for sharing your insights on youtube.

Hi Kenton, hope you're doing good. :) This reminds me of a personal challenge that I failed, around one year ago in the Andalusian Mountains, in southern Spain. I was in a community of people, traveling or just setting down a while in some kind of a half-wild place, a couple kilometers from a little village. Not so far from that community, after wandering around, I've come across a really nice place on a forgotten path, flanking a mountain, it had a large pine (with related natural mattress under it ;) ), a strange cave-like hole in the mountain, not livable but when the wind passed through it it made such a sound, like if somebody was singing a deep sound from the hearth of the earth, then the path would eventually stops, facing the mountain. The place was amazing and there were an inhabited cave nearby, near ground level where I could have gone if the weather would have been bad. My biggest mistake I believe was to be too far from that community, I knew all I needed was to be alone for a while, in the wild, listening to the night but I couldn't stand the boredom and didn't last one night ! I definitely wasn't ready for that much at once, hope to surpass that in the future. Thanks for the good meditations and for bringing back good memories. Much Love !

Nature does something to your mind, when im in a forest," not a park with trees" and away from people. I feel relaxed, no need for sensations and not stressed, no need to look at my watch. No need for money. Try doing that in the middle of a city. You cant, i only get stressed. Cant sit in the same spot for to long. I believe city life makes people a little wicked :)

I climb so much my hands are so calloused from climbing your advice is amazing I bet you’re a great climber of the current bare feet because Barefeet helps you to climb better that’s what I think just helps you grow more and I was just telling you that you do just make great videos I wanna see more of this is tons of them and I haven’t seen all of them yet but I’m gonna try to Make more of these videos please

You're great! You make me laugh!

Hi there! I've tried that during a meditation practice. It was a week without media, books, talks, without everything. So I can tell it was great! Exactly like it has been said in the video. Now i again spend all free time doing something because of mind weakness, may be. I wanna to "slow down" again!

i been doing this a long time lol good vid sir thank you for me i fined peace with the boredom it has helped me to keep my temper in check i now defuse confrontations with out the use of violence long term i see things different more laid back i fill far more chilled out but alive like the cold showers but longer lasting atb rob

How can I get bored from watching your youtube channel...?? 😀😀😀 LOL!! Just kidding Kenton. This awesome, you have explained clearly to me of mind consciousness. For this while, I heard about this mind consciousness, take control of mind but unfortunately nobody explain how to get there. And therefore I should really say a big THANK YOU very much for explaining this. "Slowing down of your mind" is the answer and boredom is one of the method. I thank you Kenton. Really appreciate it very much.

When you’re climbing you have to be really smart for what you’re doing like what trees you need to climb what branches you need to hang on all that stuff you know that stuff

wise man

Perhaps the first misconception fed to us by “culture” is the concept of “boredom”!When I opt to whitle or debark a twig for and hour in my terrace I’m neither bored nor I get bored! It is soothing and entertaining, it calms me down, it let’s my mind work at its own pace, it sharpens my attention and polish my skills…! It’s hard for people to understand this… this weekend we had a meeting from the local national bushcraft shool… I liked to meet with the lads… but I left earlier because they were all very drunk… If I wanted to mingle with drunk people I would go to a bar (which I don’t)… If they can only relax by getting drunk then I think the bushcraft meeting is the wrong place to go… Perhaps I am the “alien” in the wrong place at the wrong time…

your videos are never borring. I will have to watch something else to get borred. :)

I'm involved with sound arts, ambient and hypnotic textures and drones, etc. This after - and along with - very engaging and aggressive hardcore types of music that is my preferred active listening. Even so I'm increasingly comfortable with long periods of relative silence to a point of fault that in my workplace (I'm the boss) I will rarely initiate music in the shop and I think I see it working well as far as productivity goes. It creates a tension in the crew but I think the lack of enforced ambiance creates a focus to the present and they have the freedom to put on the music when it's time to get into the production groove -- which they seem to do appropriately. Yeah it's an unusual crew for sure. Even in intimate company I don't feel compelled to speak. Even on a lone road trip I'm pretty comfortable in the present with the drones of the tires on the road or the wind through cracked windows for hours. It seems that I intuitively understand the value of "empty space". It's even a basic construct of graphic design (that is another aspect of my life). The empty and still spaces create a context of the movement and presentation of information -- the "dark matter" of the universe might do the same -- indicating itself only by the force of it's gravity. The concept is real but abstracts itself very well. So in those rare moment when I've been in the wild and have my needs met and a stillness overcomes. Precious and challenging moments arise.

Will be trying this on my daily hour fix of music a day see what happens after a week thanks :) will let you know what happens

I’m just a young kid and I love to climb finding is one of my favorite things to do

I've given most of my life away to boredom. You make it seem romantic...a new perspective. Thanks

I'm dedicated! =) I struggle with this being ADD if you want to give it a name. I think ADD stems from a result of over stimulation of the mind. In fact, my mind races so fast that sometimes I can't even complete my thoughts verbally. I've tried meditating but I just don't know how. lol I gave up video games 6 months ago, and I'm struggling trying to find things to do all night. I work nights so it's difficult to fill in time. Oh, I wish I was more of a reader rather than a visual person. lol Anyway, Amen Kenton! Thumbs up!

3:38...slowing down your mind is actually strengthening your mind... 3:50...A highly revved mind is:..... 4:00...if we don't take control of our mind's speed our cultures default is highly revved. 4:34...when you start to harness boredom and seek boredom out....your mind will set its revved base line a little bit lower (slower). 5:40...intentionally seek out some quietness, (e.g.. hearing protection, ear plugs) 6:17...or consciously choose nothing or not engaging with the media ..being mindful, being present, and engage it with that feeling of boredom....as soon as some feel bored, that resistance comes up... 7:39...keep up the practice (a week, or month) see what you notice, in your short and long term results of making this a practice?...when you feel your mind slow down, how does it change your relationships to other people, 8:00..your day to day, moment to moment experience of life. 8:17...I love my commenters out there, all who are engaged with this channel, the comments are better than the videos, and much appreciated.

Have you read the power of now by Eckhart Tolle? It could seem like. I can highly recommend his books or his videos here on youtube. He will maybe deepen your already deep peace/presence. :)

You have such inspiring ideas that in some way align with me and what my beliefs are even though I haven't thought of them yet, does that make sense? Heh.. Anyways, greetings from Sweden!

Hahaha, awesome video

First of all, let me compliment you on the worst title since David Michie named his book 'Why Mindfulness is Better than Chocolate". :p I've been avoiding meditation for decades, and after reading the aforementioned book, I have tried to start taming my mind. I find that it's like riding a bronco with a wasp nest under the saddle. My chattering monkey mind WANTS TO BE FED!! I've decided to take it in small baby steps. Right now, I am shooting for ten minutes of time where I am not interrupted by the many subtle and sly strategies my mind comes up with. It tells me stories and says "you could write about this" and I say, "later." and let the thought just dissolve, rather than doing battle with it. I'm still working at it and it's still rough going. The good new is, I'm still working at it. :)

I love and seek solitude on a regular basis, but I have an issue with forced boredom. what I mean by that is, I continuously feel trapped, I try to change it to my advantage, but my anxiousness gets the best of me.

Great video! I'm going to go and have my dinner now without watching youtube this time :-)

A couple of questions, I listen to a LOT of music, but i tend to listen to more complex forms of it and I try to be actively listening (listening instead of hearing). I have often felt a peace and many of the emotions you describe meditation to feel like when listening to my favourite pieces. ---Do you think that all kind of music and all music listening experiences are negative, or do you think that unconscious music listening is bad? I also feel like I want to keep on listening to music and I aspire to become a musician and a singer. ---How can I maintain a balance between peacefulness/mindfulness and music, because I have tried both and I tend to only be able to do one or the other; that is listen to a lot of music or have a very revved down mind. Thanks! --- Ellert =)

People who get bored easily seem to be the sort who have an additude problem. Its only when your doing nothing that you can really pay attention to details and when you pay attention to details then things are not as boring as they seem. Especially in a forest.

If you can't be in the woods or someplace natural (although that is most preferable), the road is a good place to think. Especially at night when the Earth is quieter and traffic-makers are tucked away in their beddings. Flying amidst the paved lands is as close akin to sky gliding as I found for travel in this life, but it can have its own peacefulness. Of course, if you want to drive and avoid media, I'd suggest anybody try Utah, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho; there are several stretches where you won't have radio even if tempted, as towns are small and far apart. I've seen many folks offering means to avoid boredom; this has got to be the first to promote it. Of course, it's 1:48, so curling up and pondering nothing is a brilliant idea... but if you ponder nothing, are you actually not pondering or yet pondering the not pondering? >>:=p Perhaps that I'm even pondering whether or not pondering nothing IS pondering might be a hint it's time for nestingplace for the night. Good talk as always Kenton; we need to EACH day find time to put everything aside and have a little "sanity break"

I have a unique boredom experience. It's a little funny to me, as I was sitting in South Korea listening to an Asian man talk about Typhoon Boloven back in 2012 I believe it was. The video had such a relaxing feeling to it while I could hear the wind and rain coming down outside of my window. My room at the time was set up beautifully. I literally had 30 plants in pots all around. The very large window helped with this. But anyways, I think at this moment I transcended boredom. Nothing had a meaning anymore, it just was. Or being up on Apsan, which is translated as Front Mountain, during the beginning of the typhoon. The trees, the wind, the rain, it all just felt perfect, even during a storm. I've had different experiences, not all the time though. It would be wonderful to have tranquil experiences frequently though! I don't believe in boredom. There is just a moment when a forked path is in front us. "Boredom" is the unknown path that is associated as being dangerous. We never know what we will find when we travel down the path of our own mind. The "entertainment" path is the fun one. It's easy. It's already known. haha Take care! Thank you for this video!

imagine if lack of boredom would be the cause to the end of humanity

Do you think that over stimulation can lead to boredom then depression? Is this brought on by drug companies that want to sell drugs?

All my éducation makes me feel guillty when i'm doing nothing,and now a man tell me that this is something good, how cool is that, because i loooove to do nothing (sorry for my poor english i'm french)

I am a painter, my studio is the engine that excites me and the boring place that rest me. Nothing compares ... You agree?