What Does Boredom Tell You?

Discover the power of the zone where personal growth thrives. Avoid wasting your potential by being true to yourself and pushing beyond your comfort zone

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Boredom is a bit of an oddity. Technically, it’s the body’s response to being underchallenged as well as overchallenged. The Russian neuroscientist Sokolov found that between these two versions of boredom was the sweet spot of personal growth where we thrive. Or, as he called it, the zone of proximal development. Too much of a challenge and the body shuts down. Too little and we end up day dreaming. Either way, when outside the zone is when our individual potential is wasted.

What keeps you outside the zone? A number of things but right up their on the list is not being honest with yourself. Too often you’re trying to satisfy someone else’s definition of what’s good for you. This can be good if the people pushing you forward have your best interests at heart and represent an ideal to live up to. Things get sticky, though, when you’re acting out someone else’s dream. First, know your zone and only then push to expand it.

Yonasan Bender, SW graduated from Hebrew University’s School of Social Work. He has his psychotherapy practice at The Place: The Jerusalem Centre for Emotional Wellbeing. To share your thoughts, experiences, questions, or a different perspective, you can reach Yonasan Bender at 053-808-0435 or email him by clicking HERE. To learn more about him and his work, click HERE.

The Place

The Place is where therapists, individuals and the community connect to create safety, strength and success. At The Place, men and women discover the freedom and safety to move past those issues which are preventing them from living life to its fullest. Our goal is to help each of our clients discover his or her own strengths as powerful tools in the healing process.

The Place is a multi-faceted clinic offering both individual and group therapy, support groups, interactive evenings and lectures, educational classes, and drop-in hours. Our comfortable, confidential, relaxed environment allows clients and their families to explore sensitive issues and create positive change. We believe that the key to mental health and emotional well-being is inside you.

At The Place, male and female therapists work independently or as a team to explore sensitive issues and facilitate positive change for individuals, couples and families from all sectors of the community. Some of our specialties include emotional eating, grief counseling, internet addiction, phobias, anxiety & OCD, childhood challenges, premarital counseling, couples therapy and intimacy issues, postpartum support, personality disorders, psychiatric care, and more. Connect with a caring professional in person at our comfortable Jerusalem offices, or by video, phone, and text. We’re here for you.