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In an interview with the site Today.comArthur Brooks, an American writer and professor at the Harvard Kennedy School of Business, cites an all-too-common behavior that undermines our pursuit of personal fulfillment.
How to be happy? What are the keys to peace and what habits harm happiness? American writer, lecturer and Harvard Kennedy School professor Arthur Brooks has his own idea on the subject. And it is a reflex that we refuse if we want to move towards realization. in an interview given to the website Today.com on November 1, the specialist advises to sharply limit the use of smartphones.
Boredom, the key to happiness
The reason is simple: the tool prevents us from getting bored, says Arthur Brooks. However, according to an expert whose research focuses on happiness, leadership and social entrepreneurship, boredom is essential to being happy. It offers a time of deep reflection, an opportunity to let your mind wander and ask yourself existential questions; What is the meaning of my life? Why am I willing to sacrifice everything? the way
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In a negative sense, boredom is actually good for our mental health. It “calms” the brain and can also stimulate creativity. Le Figaro was mentioned by psychiatrist Patrick Lemoine, the author of which.A Glorification of Boredom: Our Brief History (Editor: Guy Tredaniel.) Odile Chabrillac, psychoanalytic therapist and author, in turn, a A small compliment to boredom (Ed. Juvens) added: boredom would make it possible to “take a step back from our life”, “conquer another truth” and even become “a condition for any real awakening of consciousness”.
To understand its importance in the pursuit of personal fulfillment, Arthur Brooks says: happiness is not a feeling or a state of mind, but a direction. And “the best way to not make progress in finding meaning,” he concludes. Without demonizing the tool, the expert insists: “If you’re never bored, you’ll never access the parts of your brain that you need to answer these questions.”
Embrace the discomfort
In addition to the phone, avoid sources of distraction that prevent us from facing ourselves, such as hard work or excessive entertainment, says Arthur Brooks he We all understand that pain in the gym is actually helpful, but we think that emotional, mental, or spiritual discomfort is indicative of mental illness.” However, it would be appropriate to accept discomfort and feel discomfort in order to— after all – tends to the performance. And Arthur Brooks concludes. “Take your time, sit quietly, then start asking yourself questions, the rest will take care of itself.”
Source: Le Figaro
