“I’m Bored!”
“Only Boring People Get Bored!”
I respond immediately!
(Offering up chores if they can’t find anything more interesting to do!)
That said, some people are bored. But here’s the thing. No one is really boring (shhhh, don’t tell my kids)!! The truth is that we are all original, quirky and interesting in our own unique way. We just don’t always show it.
Do you ever feel in a rut, looking around envious of those people who appear to be constantly creative, adventurous, and interesting?… it isn’t because they are more interesting than you, but because you aren’t allowing your true self to shine through! Let’s get to the bottom of that…
I’m here to encourage you to be bold, not boring!
Check out these 5 Tricks to become the most interesting person on earth…
STEP #1: Know Yourself
“To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom.” ~ Socrates.
Another one of my favorite quotes is “Comparison is the thief of joy.” ~ Theodore Roosevelt.
Reminding us that order to truly know yourself, you need to look inward, not outward.
Who are you? What makes you unique? How will you want to make the world around you a more beautiful & inspiring place?
Ask yourself the following questions:
- What 5-10 traits do I feel define me?
- What 5-10 words would others choose to describe me? (ask others!)
- Which role do I play in my group of friends?
- How would a stranger see me?
- What do I want others to think about me?
Do you have a life’s mission? Keep in mind that your mission doesn’t need to be something dramatic, or world-changing. Think of your mission as being defined by what makes you feel happy, excited and passionate. Meanwhile, give some thought to how this mission might help others, even on a small scale.
STEP #2: Show Yourself
Now that you know who you are, and who you want to be… don’t be afraid to show it! A great way to figure out if you are “showing up as yourself” is to simply look around you.
Walk into your home. What do you see? The art & design in your house should not look like someone else’s instagram feed. What in your home is uniquely you? If you don’t see YOU… you’re not home yet… both literally and figuratively!
The fact is that walls DO talk! So today, as we all start spring cleaning and feel the first new buds blossom… let yourself bloom! I challenge you to walk into your home, look around, and ask “what are my walls saying about me?” What do I want them to say about me? How can I boldly show off my uniqueness to everyone who walks through my door?
Remember, this life is your blank canvas! It is your freedom to shine. When guests come over, don’t bore them, wow them! The art on your wall should not look like the art in your doctor’s office because you don’t have to play it safe! Be bold, be beautiful and find art that is original as YOU!
They call them conversation pieces for a reason! (Need help? Get in touch. No matter your budget, we can find the perfect piece of art that truly represents you!)
STEP #3: Take Risks
America’s 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, lost eight elections, failed twice in business, and suffered a nervous breakdown all before becoming one the greatest American presidents. In short, he didn’t become the man he was by playing it safe.
Stepping out of your comfort zone into uncertainty can be scary, I know! But you will never realize how amazing you are until you take the risk. Do you have a passion? A dream? An idea that you keep putting aside because of fear and uncertainty? It can be all too easy to clock in and out of that office job that you secretly hate because the money is “safe.” Or maybe you fear that people won’t understand your passion. Or that you will try something new and fail. All the while, you are sitting at your desk, secretly resenting those around you who are fulfilling their life’s dreams while you are still trying to find that perfect moment to start trying.
I have some news… there is no perfect time. My husband and I got married without a dime or a plan. We unexpectantly got pregnant with our first child while touring the U.S. with a museum exhibit. We put an offer in on a house before even seeing it in the daylight because it just “felt right,” and I got a book deal with a huge publishing house after not following any of their submissions policy. In short, we wouldn’t have accomplished 90% of the things we have without taking huge risks!
The most important take away is that money is a renewable resource, but time is not. Stop saying “someday” and just make today the day. Yes, taking a risk to achieve a goal requires courage to face the fear of uncertainty… but no matter the outcome, we grow through the process and become more resilient and confident. Better yet, building those skills helps in taking more risks and improves the chances of achieving our future goals.
STEP #4: Channel Positivity
I always envision Debbie Downer from the SNL skit when I think of this step because no one likes being around someone who is constantly seeing the worst case scenario. So take time to evaluate your “automatic thought.”
Many individuals have a tendency to experience automatic thoughts that are pessimistic, self-undermining and irrational. You may just accept these cognitive distortions at face value, but the reality is that your own thoughts may be blocking opportunity from happening by not seeing that it is sitting right in front of you.
When you have higher levels of self-awareness you can “catch” these distortions as they come up, redirecting your mind to more optimistic thoughts.
Whenever you notice yourself catastrophizing, making negative assumptions about your worth, opportunity or discounting positive feedback, take a breath and challenge these thoughts.
For example, turn “I’ll never get this project done” into “I’m struggling with this project right now, but growth comes through challenge and I am capable of finishing it.” Meanwhile, spin “I’m not good enough to do X” into “I feel insecure about X, but it’s worth trying to do it because this is something I really care about”.
The best part is that positivity can be taught. So in time, the more positive thoughts should become automatic.
STEP #5: Never Stop Learning
There is no better way to become more interesting than to be constantly open and curious about new viewpoints, discoveries, and possibilities! Becoming a lifelong learner ensures that you will never get dull or boring because you are never bored.
Your expanding education will serve as a constant state of interest and passion for both you and those who meet you. Ever meet someone who just knows seemingly random facts about the most obscure things? Its a no-brainer to respond with “That’s so interesting,” or “I had no idea!”
My husband is this person. I swear he has read the internet from start to finish. Out of the blue, he will just spout off a completely odd fact. It always makes me interested and I’m often asking “how do you even know that?”
The reason he knows all this information is because he never stops learning! So in theory, he will always have some new and random piece of information to share with me. He will never be boring!
So what do you think? Are you ready to pursue life-long passion, take risks, and find the silver-lining in every situation? What do you see in your future?
All great points to ponder. Thanks for sharing them.
wow! It looks unique & impressive. I really want to have one of these pictures in my house.