Thanks Andrew for your question prompts. How do you quieten the noise around you? Similar to your earlier 'dark sky' metaphor. Making time to discover 'what is important' amongst the noise.
And your addition, what is enough, amongst our striving? I notice that 'being sated' is a somatic experience rather than a cognitive concept. Our minds go on and on, but our bodies tell us when we have enough (or we need more).
Quietening the noise, reminded me of the proverb, Silence is golden. So I took the time to look up the story behind that one and found an engaging story from Thomas Carlyle, to slow our 'babbling' thinking and I come away with an old/refreshed proverb, that "speech is silver; silence is golden". https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/silence-is-golden.html
I agree Mark. We live in a noisy world, increasingly so. Many people, even in short moments of 'downtime', choose to consume social media which is often video / audio based. Our bodies, therefore, don't recognise silence as golden and, instead, try to fill it with stimulation.
I realise, for me, noise is a particular attribute of the world of gadgets, urban machines and apps. The unnecessary chain of bulk emails, the pointless lengthy blog essays, the meeting that could have been avoided, the books I run behind. Some that I can change, some that I can't. And for me, the way beyond is care, noticing the connections of contexts and quality of relationships.
I love the book, "The Road Less Stupid" and the main premise of incorporating 1 hour of pure thinking time into your daily routine. Usually, my thinking time is on my walk or run.
I was setting up a hall last night for a 70 person event and adding in lighting with fans that hummed, people were telling me how no one cared and it was unnoticeable and I was adamant we were lifting the noise floor and it would add to the challenge of conversation, so I was going to move / baffle them. Thanks for the validation! :)
Once again you have encouraged me to pause and reflect Andrew. I often take your words and apply them to my current context. Right now I’ve got lots of thinking time and I’m enjoying the difference it’s making to the quality of work I’m producing. How it should be….
1/ I never walk (the dog) with any device going, means I hear the world and have the ability to think of other things.
2/ The cafe at Berwick/Casey Hospital has noise dampeners on the roof, it is a pleasure to meet someone in as you can actually have a deeper conversation.
3/ A former boss of mine (known to you Andrew) said "get your work all done by Thursday so there is time on Friday to explore what is next". I still try and live by this.
Andrew your email makes my day of a Friday, sets up the thoughts for the next walk :)
Thanks Andrew for your question prompts. How do you quieten the noise around you? Similar to your earlier 'dark sky' metaphor. Making time to discover 'what is important' amongst the noise.
And your addition, what is enough, amongst our striving? I notice that 'being sated' is a somatic experience rather than a cognitive concept. Our minds go on and on, but our bodies tell us when we have enough (or we need more).
Quietening the noise, reminded me of the proverb, Silence is golden. So I took the time to look up the story behind that one and found an engaging story from Thomas Carlyle, to slow our 'babbling' thinking and I come away with an old/refreshed proverb, that "speech is silver; silence is golden". https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/silence-is-golden.html
I agree Mark. We live in a noisy world, increasingly so. Many people, even in short moments of 'downtime', choose to consume social media which is often video / audio based. Our bodies, therefore, don't recognise silence as golden and, instead, try to fill it with stimulation.
I realise, for me, noise is a particular attribute of the world of gadgets, urban machines and apps. The unnecessary chain of bulk emails, the pointless lengthy blog essays, the meeting that could have been avoided, the books I run behind. Some that I can change, some that I can't. And for me, the way beyond is care, noticing the connections of contexts and quality of relationships.
And I must say your newsletter is sans noise.
I love the book, "The Road Less Stupid" and the main premise of incorporating 1 hour of pure thinking time into your daily routine. Usually, my thinking time is on my walk or run.
Always a pleasure read your thoughts Andrew and then contemplate.
I was setting up a hall last night for a 70 person event and adding in lighting with fans that hummed, people were telling me how no one cared and it was unnoticeable and I was adamant we were lifting the noise floor and it would add to the challenge of conversation, so I was going to move / baffle them. Thanks for the validation! :)
Once again you have encouraged me to pause and reflect Andrew. I often take your words and apply them to my current context. Right now I’ve got lots of thinking time and I’m enjoying the difference it’s making to the quality of work I’m producing. How it should be….
Thanks Jenny, I hope the consulting world is treating you very well. And, yes, we need lots of contemplative time to do our best work.
1/ I never walk (the dog) with any device going, means I hear the world and have the ability to think of other things.
2/ The cafe at Berwick/Casey Hospital has noise dampeners on the roof, it is a pleasure to meet someone in as you can actually have a deeper conversation.
3/ A former boss of mine (known to you Andrew) said "get your work all done by Thursday so there is time on Friday to explore what is next". I still try and live by this.
Andrew your email makes my day of a Friday, sets up the thoughts for the next walk :)
"Get your work done by Thursday . . ." Now, there's an idea, Ross.
I look forward to Friday and reading your thought provoking words of wisdom. Thank you.