Dear “bored soul,”
I hear your struggle. You’re busy on the outside, but you feel hollow and empty on the inside. Nothing sparks joy or interest, and in fact, you end up feeling overwhelmed and drained.
This feeling in itself speaks volumes and can be a signal for a variety of things. Let’s explore some of them.
1. Stress or Burnout: When our nervous system has been in overdrive for too long, it can lead to burnout. Activities that once felt engaging may now seem monotonous because your body might be showing signs of exhaustion.
2. Depression: Depression doesn’t always present as constant sadness. You could be functioning on the outside while feeling depressed on the inside. It’s that sense of life happening around you without you truly feeling anything. It could also be years of unprocessed emotions that have been repressed and never dealt with. To have this formally ruled out, I would suggest seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist.
3. Lack of Meaning or Alignment: Sometimes we live a certain kind of life, doing things on autopilot, but those activities and that way of living don’t feel meaningful or aligned with our values, passions, or sense of purpose. There is a disconnect and dissatisfaction between what we are doing and what we truly long for.
How to Understand Your Feelings
To begin, I would first and foremost ask you to take the observer’s seat in your own life. Get to know yourself better. Observe the following:
- When do these feelings get the strongest? What are you doing in that moment? Start taking notes.
- Are there any moments when you feel any kind of joy or connection? Even a brief spark? What are you doing in those moments? Who are you with?
- Think back to a time when you truly enjoyed what you were doing or felt engaged. What were you doing then?
- What happens in your body when this heaviness sets in?
These cues can help you get a better picture of what is going on.
Seeing a therapist is a great way to understand your inner world. It’s a safe space to unpack whether it’s depression, burnout, unprocessed emotions, or a lack of alignment and purpose.
In the meantime, start by slowing down, being observant, revisiting what mattered to you, and being compassionate with yourself—not in a way to fix yourself, but to get to know yourself better.
What you have expressed is not unusual, and there is nothing wrong with you. Your inner world is simply letting you know that something needs your attention. With the right support, it is absolutely possible to feel more alive again.
I hope this helps!
