Boring facts
Fewer things stress me out more than a “Two-Truths-and-a-Lie” icebreaker. I’d rather drive in a harrowing thunderstorm on an interstate highway full of semi-trucks than participate in this icebreaker.
Whenever we’re asked to share a “fun fact,” it inherently creates pressure to unearth something impressive, unique or outlandish.
We rummage through our personal histories to find a shiny gem and inevitably feel like we come up short in comparison to other people’s flashy facts.
I don’t want your gem. I want your dusty piece of gravel.
I’m more interested in everyday things like what you typically eat for breakfast. Or what song is stuck in your head today. Or how you always watch “Friends” re-runs although you’ve seen them a dozen times.
We think these things don’t matter, so we don’t talk about them. I believe there’s more connection and communion in sharing boring facts than sharing how you met a celebrity or got arrested or <insert your go-to fun fact>.
Fun facts make us say, “Omg, wow! That’s so cool! YOU’RE so cool!”
Boring facts make us say, “Omg, me too. It feels so good to know I’m not alone.”
Boring facts also make us say, “Whoa, I love how random that is. Please tell me more about how you eat 500 bananas a year.” (I seriously heard this boring fact recently.)
Our ego wants us to protect us and position us.
Every day we battle our ego telling us we “should” be a certain way. (I should be further along in my career/finances; I should want a more conventional and secure life; etc)
As a result, we feel torn between being an authentic self that may appear “average,” or a version that might look cool to other people, but feels unnatural.
Here’s the thing - even when we show up as “boring,” we’re pretty amazing.
Fun facts force us to show up as impressive.
Boring facts allow us to show up just as we are.
We crave people who can show us it’s ok to be who we are. When we’re regularly bombarded by stories of people doing impressive stuff, it makes sense that we feel like we don’t stack up. Fun facts exacerbate our feelings of “not-enoughness.” When we allow ourselves to be boring, it gives people permission to embrace THEIR boring selves.
Listen, I’m not saying we need to stop sharing fun facts. I’m totally down for a good story. But the everyday things we think are “boring” are actually quite cool (reminder: 500 bananas)
When we shed the urge to be impressive, we get to simply relax into our authentic selves. When we stop letting our ego try to tell us what we “should” be doing, we get to claim who we were truly meant to be.
Let’s embrace our boring!
What are three boring facts about you? What do these “boring” facts say about the type of person you are?
When no one is looking, how do you behave? What are the “average” or quirky things you do?
If someone was watching, what would you change? What do you prefer they don’t see? Why does this matter to you?
