ManageYourEmotionsBook8.5x5.5_RevJULY.indd

Such lack of commitment leads to absence of vision, which ushers in boredom and disregard. Years ago, when a hydroelectric dam was to be built across a valley in Maine, the people in a certain community were relocated because their town was going to be submerged. During the time be- tween the decision and actual evacuation, the town, which had once been well-kept, severely deteriorated.The people saw no reason to maintain a place that would soon be under water.As one resident said, “Where there is no faith in the future, there is no work in the present.” 69 This often happens with those who are bored. Sensing no purpose in life and having nothing to look forward to, they get trapped in a web of self-centeredness. Once that becomes a matter of lifestyle, they’ll likely encounter these risks of boredom. Declining health. As has been the case with certain previ- ously addressed emotions, poor health is associated with boredom. In fact, “a study from University College London researchers found that people who were bored were 2.5 times more likely to die of a heart problem than those who were not.” 70 It begins with poor choices and bad habits, as those bored of- ten resort to drugs, smoking, drinking, and junk food consumption as a coping mechanism. Simply stated, “Experts say there’s a pos- sibility that the more bored you are, the more likely you are to die early.” 71 Bored people have a stronger risk of experiencing anxiety, depression, and addiction. Defective attitudes. Even if those bored manage to escape physiological problems, it’s almost certain they’ll encounter psy- chological issues. Psychologist StephenVodanovic of the University ofWest Florida did research that shows, among other problems, boredom led to the lack of interpersonal skills, along with anger and aggressive behavior. 72 This brings to mind the Israelites and their wilderness wan- derings.Though the Bible never says they were bored, it clearly

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