The Second Obstacle—Boredom and Apathy

The second obstacle is what the Buddhists and Yogis call "sunyata," meaning empty and void. This also means to have apathy and boredom. Boredom and apathy can appear in many ways, but these are a few common experiences: lack of interest in activities, inability to stay interested in anything for more than brief periods, inability to rest and relax, no feeling of excitement, and difficulty staying motivated. When we experience any or all of these, we feel unfulfilled and unable to connect to our surroundings. Boredom can appear in two ways: lethargic (feeling tired) or agitated (feeling irritated). Neither of these leads to happiness, fulfillment, or success. Boredom is an emotion or signal that lets you know you are doing something that doesn’t satisfy you. Boredom could tell you two things: that you are not fully present and engaged in your current task or that your task is not meaningful. Quite prevalent in our modern world is the constant stimulation and searching for the next big thing and new experiences. These often get replaced with dull ambivalence. We get tired of pursuing our goals as they fall into overstimulation or become routine. In yoga, "tamas" is mind energy that arises from ignorance and prevents a person from finding their soulful path. Tamasic qualities are laziness, anger, attachment, depression, dependency, self-doubt, guilt, boredom, irritation, addiction, apathy, confusion, grief, and ignorance. When we replace them with enthusiasm and joy, we find satisfaction, happiness, and success. This is why yoga makes it the first order of business to tame the mind of its "chitta" (fluctuations) and find peace; to tame the mind, one must be enthusiastic, focused, aware, and kind. END: The first two obstacles The first two obstacles to overcome to find soulful happiness and success are ill health and boredom. Neither of these will give you the vitality and enthusiasm for life. We are here to work our karma; part of that work is striving to overcome life's obstacles. It is impossible to work your karma if you are ill and apathetic about life. But if you are healthy, energetic, and enthusiastic about your life, you will always find that success and happiness are with you. Appreciate life, and you will live a satisfying and enriched life. That is why we are here: to find happiness and joy. EGO: Flip your palms up and extend out your index finger—the symbol of the ego. The ego wants satisfaction, but it is never satisfied. It always wants more. When you give the ego what it wants, it’s only satisfied for a fraction of the time before it starts to want more again. This causes us to get bored and apathetic. Pull your index finger in and place your thumb on top—the symbol of your soul. Take a breath and surrender to your soul. There is no right or wrong way to control your ego. Find what works for you. When you find what works, the key is consistency. When conflicts arise, take a moment to get quiet and listen to your inner voice. Be aware of what you are trying to achieve in your life. If it's joy, act accordingly. To overcome the obstacles of life, be healthy, and be enthusiastic Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace Doctor Lynn For books, classes, consultations, and more http://www.doctorlynn.com