What to do about boredom?

[EvolvingPhoenix]

I would just suggest that everything in the universe has both good and bad qualities to it. Desirable, and undesirable.

So for example, TV, movies, YouTube, and social media all has both good and bad to it, positive and negative. It can be used to help and also used to hurt oneself, or an other self.

So really, if those are what you enjoy, then I don't see why you should cut them out of your life. They don't have to be mindless activities. YouTube is a fantastic educational resource if used in such a way. There are tons of incredible documentaries and personal accounts. And a good movie can really touch your soul. They can also be very bad for your soul. It is all about the judicious use of whatever you are using. The tools are the tools. You can use them to hurt or to heal. The choice is yours.

One thing that helped me, was "looking for the good in things". For example, there are menial tasks that every human being has to do (well almost everyone), like cleaning for example. I hate doing menial tasks, or I did until I learned to focus on the desirable qualities inherent therein. For example, while cleaning, I would focus on how comfortable, clean, and inviting the space would be once I was finished with my work. Focusing on this good aspect, made the unpleasant aspects far less unpleasant. This is just one small example. But you will find that your mind can be quite plastic with the right attitude. There are always things we need to do, try to find the most positive focus for each of those activities, and you will do them with far more efficiency and joy.

And as far as boredom, one thing Ra recommended is visualization, in meditation, as a powerful way to learn how to transcend boredom and discomfort. You can get so good at visualizing in deep meditation, than you can enter conscious dream states at will. It takes an enormous amount of time to develop that kind of ability (for most people) but you can make the practice extremely entertaining. Rather than visualizing simple shapes and colors (like most magical traditions start you off with). You can try to walk the border between sleep and wakefulness, and then just watch what your subconscious brings to your mind, visually. Try to maintain a state of "casual interest" in what is appearing. With practice, you can generate imagery that is extremely vivid and real. It is better than any virtual reality experience, I assure you.

For example, I will sit down in a recliner and close my eyes. I concentrate on my breath. With every breath out, I relax deeper. It is common to 'space out' at first. You will forget what you were doing. At this point, it is important to go back to the breathing and relaxation. Eventually that state will become stable. And then you just watch your minds eye. Random things will come up, sometimes I will get snippets of different environments. I might see some rocks near a beach, I become interested in the content of the environment and simply watch. It gets more and more vivid until you are consciously entering a life like dream. It can really be quite incredible, and even startling sometimes. You can learn to talk with different parts of your mind. You can learn to walk hand in hand with the magician (conscious mind) and the high priestess (a portion of the unconscious mind) to produce catalyst (empress archetype) of far more exquisite variety. These are the beginnings of the magical circumstance as you learn to gradually learn the art of directing the imagery without breaking the trance.

Sounds interesting. I'll see if I can do that.

As for seeing the best in things, I guess I could watch education YT vids, but it still feels like distraction to watch them. But what am I distracting myself from when I don't do anything in my day? I need to find a way to enjoy guitar practice... I'll also see if I can learn to enjoy chores, like you recommend. I think I can learn how to enjoy meditative and spiritual practices, chores will be more difficult to appreciate. Once I can do that, my day will be much more enjoyable.

Anyway, thanks for the advice.