Keith JonesFebruary 27, 2016

When I was a kid, I thought if it didn’t include visual action or external excitement, then it had to be boring. I just couldn’t see any value in being quiet, sitting in silence or doing the same thing over and over again. Watching Lawrence Welk and 60 minutes on television was lame. Taking a quiet walk in the neighborhood was unexciting. And eating the same meal over and over again was a complete lack of imagination and creativity. This changed when I got older and began seeing the awesome value in routine.

My great aunt, Carrie, was the nicest person you’d ever meet. She worked hard and enjoyed fishing in her free time. She had a reputation for out-fishing any man in our family or any other. They would meet her at the lake with their fancy fishing rods to show her up. She would return home with her twenty year old fishing pole and four times as many fish. She loved everything about fishing; especially the quiet, repetitive routine of casting your rod, sitting in silence with your thoughts and waiting for a bite. She found bliss in this practice. By watching her, I was learning that committing to seemingly boring activities provides an opportunity for mastery of a skill and oneself.

I now practice and appreciate things that are boring. The benefits of this shift are huge. I eat the same healthy foods, day in and day out. They nourish my body and enable me to have optimal health and feel and look my best. I do the same core workout of squats, lunges, pull-ups, spin and abs every week. The payoffs are a stronger core, washboard abs and great fitness. I practice sending love, grace and compassion to everyone I meet, regardless of how they treat me. This loving process keeps me peaceful, focused and free of negativity. This list goes on and on.

I encourage you to rethink boring. Does your variety produce better results than those produced by someone committed to mastering a skill and themselves through repetition? There’s no right or wrong answer. And you don’t have to choose. If you redefine what’s boring, you can have both. Add in a little variety and then life will be really sweet. Experience the joy of mastery by doing the same thing over and over and the awesome results that come with it. I love boring!

Keith