Why Your Boredom Is Actually Your Breakthrough: Trying to Break Through

This is something personal.

Sometimes God sends us signals in the most unexpected ways. Mine came through a broken YouTube algorithm.

For years, YouTube served as my digital sanctuary, a place where educational videos queued endlessly, each one more captivating than the last. I would lose myself in long-form content that both entertained and enlightened me. Then, almost overnight, everything changed. Within just two or three days, my carefully curated algorithm became a wasteland of uninteresting suggestions. Videos I once devoured now felt stale. Content that previously held my attention for hours suddenly made me click away within minutes.

At first, I felt disappointed. YouTube was my equivalent of social media, my preferred escape from the world. But as the days passed, I began to recognise this disruption for what it truly was: a wake-up call.

Recognising the Pattern of Avoidance

I've learned to read the signs my mind sends me. When my usual sources of entertainment and distraction suddenly lose their appeal, it's rarely about the content itself. Instead, it signals that my brain has shifted into a different mode, one that refuses to be pacified by mindless consumption because it knows I have important work to do.

This pattern emerges whenever I've been stuck in one place for too long. This time, I had been spinning my wheels for an entire year, slowly reevaluating my life, exploring new possibilities, and trying different ventures, such as starting this newsletter. But deep down, I knew I was stalling.

The uncomfortable truth? I wasn't uninspired because I lacked direction. I felt uninspired because I had found my path and was avoiding it.

Understanding True Inspiration vs. Procrastination

There's a crucial distinction between feeling genuinely stuck and feeling uninspired while knowing exactly what you need to do. When you're truly stuck, you hunger for new information, fresh perspectives, and different approaches. You actively seek out content that might spark an idea or provide a breakthrough.

But when you're avoiding something you know you need to do, your mind plays a different game. It rejects the very sources of distraction you once relied upon. Your entertainment algorithms fail you not because they've changed, but because your subconscious has already committed to a course of action, and it won't let you hide anymore.

The Five-Step Process to Get Unstuck

When I recognise this pattern in myself, I follow a specific process to move from avoidance to action. These five questions help me cut through the mental fog and gain clarity:

What Projects Do I Want to Start?

Begin by honestly identifying what's calling to you. Don't overthink this step. Write down whatever projects, goals, or changes keep surfacing in your thoughts. Your persistent ideas often contain the seeds of your next breakthrough.

Define Your Why

Ask yourself why these particular projects matter to you. Your "why" becomes your anchor when motivation wanes and obstacles arise. Dig deeper than surface-level reasons. What fundamental need or value does this project serve in your life?

How Does This Benefit Me?

Map out the concrete benefits you'll gain from completing this work. Consider both immediate and long-term advantages. This step transforms abstract goals into tangible outcomes you can visualise and work toward.

How Can I Think Bigger?

Challenge yourself to expand beyond your initial vision. What would this project look like if you removed all limitations? How could you scale your impact? Thinking bigger doesn't mean biting off more than you can chew. It means refusing to settle for less than your potential.

How Badly Do I Want This?

Honestly assess your commitment level. This question separates genuine aspirations from passing interests. The projects that survive this scrutiny are the ones worth pursuing with full dedication.

Embracing the Signal

When your usual sources of inspiration dry up, don't fight the feeling or try to force your old patterns to work. Instead, you should recognise this shift as your internal compass pointing toward meaningful work that is waiting for your attention.

Your uninspired moments often mark the beginning of your most important chapters. The very discomfort you feel signals that growth lies ahead, if you have the courage to stop stalling and start moving.

Sometimes the best thing that can happen to us is losing interest in our distractions. It means we're ready to get serious about our dreams.

Here is a free guide for the 5 step action plan. Enjoy 😸