Good afternoon everyone! Lately I have been experiencing a bit of a lull in my everyday life and routines, can anyone relate? It’s at that point in the semester where I don’t necessarily have to start studying for finals, so there isn’t a lot to do. I have learned to embrace my boredom instead of being afraid or annoyed by it. Boredom can actually be a really good and healthy emotion. It all has to do with how you view boredom and its purpose. Speaking of defining emotions, today I want to shift our focus back on “90 seconds to a Life You Love” by Dr. Joan I. Rosenberg. This week I want to round out our discussion on Chapter One by highlighting the section “Emotional Strength Redefined.” Definitions shape our society, and they shape us as individuals as well. Having a strong, healthy relationship with your emotions is vital in our life’s journey, and imperative in the process of building a life we love. Rosenberg states: “[w]hen you distract yourself by shutting out what you experience, you can no longer use the emotional reactions that evolved to protect you or help you connect with others” (21). Society and media often propagate the idea that emotions are weak and not to be shown or that you may express them freely, without regulating your delivery. Rosenberg directly contradicts these views and explains that we actually will struggle to connect with others and fail to protect ourselves if we lean into a skewed view of emotions. Let the message to you this week be short and sweet: in this journey of living a life you love, you must redefine emotional strength, so that you can embrace your emotions and sit with them. It is also important to note that as an ambitious person myself, it can often feel like a chore to relax. If boredom arrives and you feel a surge of anxiety creep in, feelings of lethargy, or feeling guilty for taking the time to recharge, just remind yourself that boredom often comes to remind us to give our bodies a break so we can continue our activities later. As Rosenberg states: “when someone stays aware of and attuned to their experience (“know what you know”), they consistently feel more empowered and more willing to take risks in all areas of their life” (21). These past couple of weeks I have really wanted to highlight the importance of facing emotions, the strength this reflects, and with a promise that it leads to protection or connection, depending on what the situation calls for. This analysis of the first chapter was so insightful to my own journey of creating a life I love and I truly hope it can help you too. As always, I will see you all next week for a deep dive into chapter two: “The Rosenberg Reset.” Have a great rest of your week and remember to be kind to yourself as you possibly round out the semester, assist your children in making the transition back to school after spring break, or head back to work and face some boredom in the office! Emotions are crucial messengers and should be treated as such.

Action Step: I want to invite readers to challenge their boredom this week. Think about the following: Do you find yourself getting worn-out easily? Do you find yourself continually needing to be active or stimulated? This week, I challenge you to enjoy your boredom rather than feeling threatened or uneasy by its arrival.

Madison is a Psychology Assistant & Digital Marketing Assistant at Eckert Centre. She is a university student majoring in psychology at the University of British Columbia. She is our blogger in residence, and we are grateful she is sharing her writing skills along with her mental health journey. May her young wisdom help all of us grow our “Wise Self.” For more information visit www.eckertcentre.com or email our team at info@eckert-psychology.com

Works Cited

Rosenberg, Joan I. 90 Seconds to a Life You Love: How to Master Your Difficult Feelings to Cultivate Lasting... Confidence, Resilience, and Authenticity. Little Brown Spark, 2020. Apple Books, https://books.apple.com/us/book/90-seconds-to-a-life-you-love/id1466751090.