Boredom is not the problem…

A few weeks ago, I was listening to a conversation between neuroscientist Dr. Richard Davidson and mindfulness teacher Cortland Dahl about boredom. Their discussion sparked an idea that stayed with me.

Afterward, I created this simple graph below exploring the relationship between two things: our comfort with our own minds and our capacity to be with boredom. The more comfortable we are with ourselves, the more space we may have for curiosity, creativity, and exploration when boredom arises.

That reflection inspired the short video above.

As parents, it's easy to feel pressure to fix boredom by providing entertainment or stimulation. But what if boredom isn't always a problem to solve? What if it's an opportunity for creativity, resilience, and self-discovery?

In this video, I share a different way of thinking about boredom and how we might respond when a child says, "I'm bored."

As you watch, I invite you to consider:

What might emerge if we stayed with boredom just a little longer?

This graph explores a simple idea: the more comfortable we become with our own thoughts, feelings, and inner experience, the more space we may have for boredom, curiosity, creativity, and exploration. The less comfortable we are with ourselves, the more likely boredom may feel uncomfortable or distressing.