There are five basic triggers to acting out: boredom, loneliness, anger, stress, and tiredness. Let’s talk about the first one – boredom.
Soren Kierkegaard said, “Boredom is the root of all evil.”
Scripture weighs in: “The backslider gets bored with himself; the godly man’s life is exciting.”
Boredom comes at a price. A study of 7,500 British adults found that people who were often bored at work were more likely to die earlier and 2.5 times more likely to die of heart disease.
Psychologist John D. Eastwood says the issue runs deep. He writes, “Boredom is a sensation that something is missing.”
The answer to beating boredom is to fill your life with purpose.
Recovery Step: If you struggle with boredom, I suggest two things. First, ask God to fill your life with purpose. Second, put down your stupid video games!
Mark and Beth Denison, married for 36 years, launched There’s Still Hope as a national movement to call men and women into lives of sexual integrity. Their ministry offers 90-day recovery plans for addicts and one-on-one and group coaching for addicts and their spouses. TSH also produces resources for pastors and churches to confront the porn epidemic that is destroying so many lives.
Dr. Denison was a senior pastor for over 30 years, NBA chaplain, and board chairman at Houston Baptist University three times. With a Master’s Degree in Addiction Recovery, Mark is a certified PSAP and active member of the American Association of Christian Counselors.
Mark has written four books on recovery: Porn in the Pew, 365 Days to Sexual Integrity, A 90-Day Recovery Guide, and 40 Days to Porn-Free Living. His latest book, Jesus on the 12 Steps, will be released later this year.
