Ignoring the Noise

Everyday, we are all bombarded by advertisements and information. We cannot do many things for the sanctity of doing something without trying to be sold or told something. I have to admit, I am guilty of the same as I promote products through affiliate links and advertisements. I have tried minimalizing that aspect as much as possible, but even I am not the perfect influence. With that, I want to stress the action of Ignoring the Noise.

What is the noise? The noise is everything that is trying to communicate with you by way of media, technology, or salesman. The noise is that which is interacting for the outside cause and effect purpose that doesn’t necessarily benefit your life goals. The noise is that which prevents you from living a simple and peaceful life. The noise is something we all need to have power and control over because without doing so makes us all slaves to its message.

Noise is definitely a positive in some ways. A positive example is that I would not have the opportunity to share my thoughts with all of you without the noise. What I am stressing here is to find time in your life to be without noise. Put yourself in a position that does not allow unnatural outside forces to negatively affect your life.

For example, I usually run with an iPod. Frequently, I will take one of my shorter runs of 3-5 miles without any music player and focus on my body and my surroundings. This tends to help me realize my body’s reactions and how I can modify my running style all while being away from the outside information overload of society which in my running case is music.

I suggest you try this out right now. Find a place within your home or outdoors that does not have any source of information. One great place is your backyard. Take this time to listen to your body. Even if it is for 5 minutes, that time will allow you to refocus your thoughts on your goals and minimalize the outside force pushing you in whatever direction it chooses.

Minimalizing and ignoring the noise is extremely difficult these days. Make the effort to reconnect with the world without technology to develop a more simplistic, focused life.

David Damron
The Minimalist Path

Click here to get a copy of PROJECT M-31: Simply Your Life in 31 Days

jimpdx

I do a lot of walking. I like to leave my ipod and cell phone at home when doing these things. I would much rather take in my surroundings when walking rather than listen to music or talk on the phone. I see too many people that are "connected" all the time to the noise.
Emmy

I have been a minimalist since I was a small child but I cannot seem to find anyone else around me that is the same way. The older I get and the more frustrated I get with all of the drama and pointless things that are going on in my life I realize that the only thing I really want is a simple, relaxing and happy life. Of course I am a single mom of an eleven month old and a nine year old so go figure! I agree the noise that you refer to really takes up valuable and productive time and can fill your life with information that is unproductive and useless. I think I will start today not only limiting my children's time with their television and internet but mine as well.
Living Remarkably

You have definitely touched a nerve with me here. I, too, NEED to have the noise to make a living, but what ever happened to solitude and reflection?

Sometimes I get exhausted from all the "input." Remember the movie "Short Circuit" where the little robot went bonkers asking for "input! more input!"?? That's how I feel we get sometimes - demanding more input until we go a bit batty and we have to short circuit in order to save ourselves.

I remember a time when we didn't have so much noise. I'm empathizing with my Mom and Dad more and more these days. But, you're right... if we just shut off the noise once in a while we'll be better off mentally and physically, and we'll maybe have a few moments of peaceful reflection. Joy of joys! I'm looking for a quiet corner right now.

:D Thank you.
.-= Living Remarkably´s last blog ..Piano Stairs – Will We Get Off Our Butt If Exercise Is Fun? =-.
Jonathan Frei

The 'noise' is an important part of our lives in the information age. However, I liked what you said about being able to take breaks from it. Whether that turning off the computer and tv for a few hours a day, or, like you said, taking that run without your music.
.-= Jonathan Frei´s last blog ..Big change can be easy if the change happens over night =-.