Is Boredom Our Greatest Challenge?

Remember Maslow’s hierarchy of needs?

Photo by Debashis RC Biswas on Unsplash

Imagine a life where you have everything – food, drink, shelter – all your basic needs met without any struggle. Remember Maslow’s hierarchy of needs? The foundational layer of that pyramid – those primal instincts for food, safety, and shelter – are already fulfilled for a vast majority in the Western world, and increasingly in Eastern economies too.

But is this abundance our problem?

Humanity’s primal motivation has always been to secure these basics. Despite our cultural evolution, we are still biologically driven apes. Our ancestors fought tooth and nail for these essentials. It’s what got us out of bed every morning. But now, with these needs readily met, what do we do with all this pent-up energy, genetics, and skills?

The next logical step might be to focus on the softer things – love, family, legacy. But even these can sometimes come handed down, inherited, or easily acquired. So what’s left?

Self-actualization, that true connection to purpose and productivity, sits at the top of the pyramid. It’s the ultimate goal, the peak of human potential. But to reach it, you need the right motivation, hunger, and discipline, all while juggling personal and familial responsibilities. It’s a lofty ambition, but boredom poses…