“I’m tired of being bored.” It’s been a while since you’ve said that. I’m guessing not too recently. Give me four minutes, and I’ll explain why that indicates a negative frame of mind. In the past, I’ve relied on other people to provide me with guidance. Children are routinely subjected to daily directives from their teachers. That’s how it works in elementary, middle, and high school, as well as in college and universities.
In every group, there is always one leader who sets the agenda. What kind of impact does that have on the people who are subjected to it? We’re taught to be passive in school. And nothing really changes once we leave school. I followed my boss’s advice when I started my first job. When I started my first company with my father, I turned to him for answers. Now, you might think that this is an issue of personal preference. What a no-brainer that is. What we conclude is this. “When I’m a kid, I follow directions. In my position of authority, I am able to command others. That’s a terrible mindset because it’s too passive. A more proactive attitude is far more beneficial for our careers.
A passive mindset is one in which one does not actively participate in one’s life. And how do we even begin to cultivate an active mindset? I’ve used a three-step process to transform my own mentality. ” It’s yours to use.
Step 1: Recognize the dangers of adopting a passive mentality
So, when I talk about boredom, I’m not talking about boredom in a positive light. When we’re in a relaxed state, we can often come up with the best ideas. That’s a good thing to know. With regard to the topic of this article, I’m referring to the feeling of being bored in the sense of “having no idea what the hell I am doing. “. Is it familiar to you? It’s a feeling of being without a purpose. Nobody knows what they’re doing anymore. In contrast, when you’re constantly bored, you’re not even trying. A person is a loser if they don’t even try. Why is that? Amazing things can happen if you just try them out. You can’t just sit back and enjoy the ride. Take control of the wheel at some point and decide where you want to go next. Those with an active mindset versus those with a passive mindset can tell the difference. The former is in control of his future. The second option simply defers to others.
Step 2: Make a promise to yourself to learn
In on the Shortness of Life, the Stoic philosopher Seneca put it best, “As a result of your dedication to learning in school, you will avoid all boredom with life, you will not long for the night because your body is so sick of daylight, you will be neither a burden to yourself nor a useless person, you will attract many to become your friends and the finest people will flock around you.”
That’s why I believe an active mindset has nothing to do with previous experience. I’ve worked with interns who are more eager to learn than their bosses. It doesn’t matter how old you are or how much time you’ve spent in the workforce. An insurance consultant in his sixties, for example, is as curious as an intern. The more you talk to him, the more enthusiastic he becomes.
My brother and I went to a printing shop the other day. As a third-generation family business owner, he’s been in charge of the company for many years. Our guide took us on a tour of the building and showed us the old printing presses that were still in use there. It piqued the curiosity of both my brother and me. One of the most significant contributions to human progress was made by Johannes Gutenberg’s printing press. We wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for books. That intrigues me. As the proprietor put it, “I’ve never met anyone who asked about how we print our books, magazines, flyers etc.”
Nobody wants to put their all into learning. The reason so many people are perpetually bored is this fact. By now, you shouldn’t be surprised by this.
Step 3: Add value to the product.
Adding value is a breeze if you follow step 2. The more you inquire, the more you learn. In addition, you will be armed with more knowledge and new ideas when you learn. You can use your ideas to improve your life, work, business, and so on. That’s the logical conclusion that can be drawn. However, this does not imply that you should be forthcoming with your thoughts and suggestions to anyone and everyone. Why is that? Having a good idea or suggestion doesn’t obligate you to share it with the other person. People are quick to take offence. In part, it’s because advice can be misconstrued as an attack.
Fortunately, Dale Carnegie’s book How to Win Friends and Influence People is chock full of advice on the subject. When you’re trying to add value, you need to be subtle. “Casey Carnegie “Keep your opinions to yourself.
Appreciate others in a genuine and heartfelt way.
Arouse the other person’s desire—Rather than attempting to impose your will on them, allow them to discover something for themselves.
The active mindset is all about taking action, not just thinking about it. Occasionally, people email me and tell me that my blog needs to be improved. “Your articles are way too long,” a reader once complained. As a recent utterance has it, He clearly hasn’t read Carnegie’s work. The only thing that will help you develop an active mindset is taking action, not just acquiring more information. Passive thinkers take this as common sense. As soon as they’ve learned something, they think they know everything. However, as you and I both know, it’s not about what you know, but what you do that matters most.
The most important thing is that we’re willing to put in the time and effort to learn. You’ll never be bored if you remain confident and help others in your personal and professional life. In addition, you’ll continue to make progress. You’ve got an active mindset if you’re making progress, no matter how small it may be.
A must-read for personal growth enthusiasts. I’ve recommended this blog to everyone I know