The Astonishing Power of Being Boring: Why We Fear Our Own Simplicity

Updated: January 24, 2026

Reviewed by Mateo Sol

Written by Aletheia Luna

How often have you felt addicted to being, doing, and having “more”? To fill the need to be worthy, successful, or more awakened? All fuelled by the feeling that deep down, what you do, what you say, and who you are is “not good enough”?

This pressure to be “more” is only made worse by social media. It’s amplified 1,000-fold by the hyperconnectivity we experience day and night: notifications, pings, follows, likes, follows, comments, and the endless stream of filler content cluttering our screens and lives.

Before we know it, we’re stuck on the self-improvement treadmill fueled by FOMO (fear of missing out) and toxic comparison (“I suck compared to them”). All of this creates deep self-alienation and disconnection from ourselves.

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4 of cups – the inner part of us that symbolizes disinterest and dissatisfaction, but also the hidden gifts and opportunities within boredom and simplicity

I feel this almost every time I go on social media. And it’s so automatic and subtle.

I recently entered the social media arena again after a 4-month hiatus as a way of finding more readers to support this work. Let me tell you, it’s chaos out there.

Within the space of 30 seconds, it’s not uncommon to see 7-8 ads, aspirational quotes, rage bait, beautiful people doing perfect yoga, dancing cats, aspirational memes, mala bead-wearing men making green smoothies, videos of people in exotic destinations … the list goes on.

The lesson here? Novelty sells. Negativity sells. “Be more than what you are” sells.

Simplicity and plainness don’t. It’s uncool, daggy, boring. This, in part, is why I believe we fear our own simplicity. We want to be loved and validated and interesting.

But what if we do a 360-degree turn and look at this differently?

What if living a “boring” and “simple” life is the antidote to a lot of our suffering and self-alienation?

In Nietzsche’s Zarathustra: Notes of the Seminar Given in 1934–1939, renowned psychiatrist (and let’s face it, mystic) Carl Jung says something powerful,

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Most people cannot bear simplicity. There are many simple and modest individuals who would be fine if they could be who they are, but they believe they should be something better, that they are not quite good enough; and so they begin to deck themselves out with feathers and whatnot to be great and astonishing. But they are only astonishing when they are simple.

Sounds like a scathing commentary and diagnosis of today’s social landscape, eh?

What I find particularly deep is the last line: they are only astonishing when they are simple.

We’re biologically wired to imitate each other to belong. Hence why places like social media are so addictive. Why “keeping up with the Joneses” is a thing.

But the one who chooses to stay simple, to be okay with their plainness, with their unadorned and bare self, is a true gem. That is what’s astonishing.

Simplicity is honesty. It is the most truthful way to be because you’re not adding anything to yourself. You’re defying society’s message to “do, be, and have more.” You’re defending your right to be your imperfect, flawed, sometimes boring, you.

It’s pretty damn punk if you ask me.

So this is a gentle message today, reminding you (and reminding myself), that it’s okay to be plain and simple. You don’t need to add anything to yourself to be lovable.

You are worthy just as you are.

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Article by Aletheia Luna

Aletheia Luna is a prolific psychospiritual writer, author, educator, and intuitive guide whose work has touched the lives of millions worldwide since 2012. As a neurodivergent survivor of fundamentalist religious abuse, her mission is to help others find love, strength, and inner light in even the darkest places. She is the author of hundreds of popular articles, as well as numerous books and journals on the topics of Self-Love, Spiritual Awakening, and more. You can connect with Aletheia on Facebook or learn more about her.

I would say: “Be annoying to others, but be the most amazing person you’ve ever met to yourself!”

I’ve never understood this obsession with following trends, rigid social roles, or chasing power. Why? Just to gain social approval from people who, in many cases, don’t truly care about us?

Nowadays, I see countless coaches and gurus trying to teach “how to be the most badass person in the world.” But what’s the real need for that? On the other hand, there are also those who sell another kind of approval: the one who swims completely against the current, seeking attention by being “the different one.”

The truth is, when you are yourself—without masks—you naturally draw attention in some way. But it’s not forced; it’s simply you being yourself among the crowd. As Aristotle once said: “Man is a social animal.” Yes, we are social beings; we don’t live entirely isolated from one another, because in some way we depend on others to know ourselves and to survive.

The problem is that the system we live in, exploiting this inherently human need within a mass-society context, has created mechanisms where approval from large numbers of people is seen as a sign of well-being. Thus, the culture of accumulation was born: likes, knowledge, consumption, personal stories, travels, and so on.

For those who just want to be themselves—especially introverts like me, who don’t crave the stage or the spotlight—you end up being labeled boring or uninteresting. Trivial questions like “Why don’t you do what everyone else is doing?”, “How come you’re not up to date with the latest news?”, “Didn’t you see what so-and-so posted on social media?” become more common than you’d expect. But what’s the real importance of that?

You become a junkie—yes, a social junkie. Perhaps that’s why, so often, being authentic and not chasing validation creates a paradox: you actually stand out more, you’re criticized more, you become the target of gossip and even envy, because you become scarce. Like gold: its value lies not in abundance, but in rarity.

That’s why both spiritual and energetic thieves want to strip away your value, your peace, your satisfaction, and your inner light.

“(…) As if I were walking slowly down the mountain, imagining I was climbing it. That’s exactly how it was. According to public opinion, I was ascending the mountain, while in reality life was leaving me (…)” — The Death of Ivan Ilyich, Tolstoy.

1 thought on “The Astonishing Power of Being Boring: Why We Fear Our Own Simplicity”

Hans

January 24, 2026 at 6:02 pm

I would say: “Be annoying to others, but be the most amazing person you’ve ever met to yourself!”

I’ve never understood this obsession with following trends, rigid social roles, or chasing power. Why? Just to gain social approval from people who, in many cases, don’t truly care about us?

Nowadays, I see countless coaches and gurus trying to teach “how to be the most badass person in the world.” But what’s the real need for that? On the other hand, there are also those who sell another kind of approval: the one who swims completely against the current, seeking attention by being “the different one.”

The truth is, when you are yourself—without masks—you naturally draw attention in some way. But it’s not forced; it’s simply you being yourself among the crowd. As Aristotle once said: “Man is a social animal.” Yes, we are social beings; we don’t live entirely isolated from one another, because in some way we depend on others to know ourselves and to survive.

The problem is that the system we live in, exploiting this inherently human need within a mass-society context, has created mechanisms where approval from large numbers of people is seen as a sign of well-being. Thus, the culture of accumulation was born: likes, knowledge, consumption, personal stories, travels, and so on.

For those who just want to be themselves—especially introverts like me, who don’t crave the stage or the spotlight—you end up being labeled boring or uninteresting. Trivial questions like “Why don’t you do what everyone else is doing?”, “How come you’re not up to date with the latest news?”, “Didn’t you see what so-and-so posted on social media?” become more common than you’d expect. But what’s the real importance of that?

You become a junkie—yes, a social junkie. Perhaps that’s why, so often, being authentic and not chasing validation creates a paradox: you actually stand out more, you’re criticized more, you become the target of gossip and even envy, because you become scarce. Like gold: its value lies not in abundance, but in rarity.

That’s why both spiritual and energetic thieves want to strip away your value, your peace, your satisfaction, and your inner light.

“(…) As if I were walking slowly down the mountain, imagining I was climbing it. That’s exactly how it was. According to public opinion, I was ascending the mountain, while in reality life was leaving me (…)” — The Death of Ivan Ilyich, Tolstoy.