Inside Yoga 192 (30/1/2017)

I was sitting at my computer ready to write something for this week’s blog, but could not find a theme to write about, but then I thought: why am I trying to fill this space with anything when perhaps the best thing to do is to leave the space free?

This is what we do with our lives: we fill them up with activities, stuff, chatter, just anything so that we can feel busy and occupied and above all avoid the sensation called quietness and space; or as some would call this experience – boredom.

Why are we so against having nothing to do? Why are some of us so afraid of boredom? As a father I watch my restless six-year-old go from one activity to another, and especially exciting is the chance to gaze at the shiny computer screen or TV screen which provides so much fun, but when taken away the cry can be ”what am I going to, there is nothing for me to do?”

Lacking stimulation is now for many of us akin to a junky withdrawing from heroin. Our cravings are taking over and dominating the way we behave.

I have been told as a parent, that it is better to let the child become bored because then they have to dig deep into themselves to find something to do, in other words, boredom can promote creativity and imagination.

We might be adults but we are just kids with bigger clothes when it comes to this approach to our lives. We are so used to being busy and stimulated by work, leisure or family that we don’t know what to do when presented (or rather for some confronted) by nothing, space and silence.

So this is the theme today: embrace nothing, cherish the moment when you have nothing to do, enjoy the silence when there is silence.

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