Are you bored with your life?
Is every day the same? Has your life turned gray with each one blending into the next? A gray life can make our lives feel joyless. With nothing new to look forward to, getting out of bed in the morning may be difficult. We may be uninteresting to ourselves or others. There are different reasons why our lives turn gray including overreliance on daily routine, self-belief, and fear of mediocrity.
It is easy to get stuck in a routine. Routine is comfortable, we know what to expect. Sometimes life is so busy with work, family, and home responsibilities, it is necessary to have a routine. Truly, sometimes the routine is what keeps us sane. Our daily routine may include many really good habits. Reading, exercise, meditation, prayer, and family dinners to name a few. But life can become rigid. Even the best of habits become stale. But what to do when the routine takes over? Disrupt the routine! If you always bring lunch and eat at your desk, join a friend for lunch at a local restaurant. If the kids always have a bath before bed, let them spend another 30 minutes in the pool and skip the bath. If your exercise routine is 45 minutes on the treadmill, replace that with a leisurely walk outside in the sunshine. A few small departures from daily routine can reinvigorate our lives.
Sometimes our self-belief can turn our lives gray. “I am not an outdoors person.” “I am not the crafty type.” “I am not (fill in the blank).” These limiting thoughts can keep us from exploring new things. I can truly testify to this. I have always been a self-described “city person.” Other than the once-a-year beach vacation, I would head to a city for vacation. Then I set a goal of being an outdoors person. I wanted to stretch my experiences. I bought hiking boots and researched local trails. I planned a vacation in a part of the country I had never visited which included hiking in a national park. I came to appreciate the beauty and stillness of nature and the variety of activities in my life. This action had the added benefit of changing my self-perception.
We might not want to try something new for fear of mediocrity. We might want to try a new activity but fear that we will not be great or look funny doing it. As an example, if you were an accomplished athlete in high school or college you might not want to try something completely outside of your comfort zone concerned you will not be as successful. And here is the thing, you might not be great, but does that really matter? You might be average and have the time of your life while doing it!
Routine, limiting self-belief, and fear of mediocrity can all lead to a gray life. Embracing change by disrupting routine, changing our self-perception, and being average can lead to new practices and activities that bring joy back into our lives and turn our lives bright yellow.