Do you hear it?

Sirens. Car horns, Dog barking. A distant train whistle. Kids laughing. An airplane overhead. Talking, Music.

Life.

Do you even think about the noise any more?

Most of us are numbed to it. Self-conditioned to ignore the din and move through it.

Now, consider a time when you were in some place or environment that all but completely eliminated that noise. For me, it was while on a hike at Mt. Rainier National Park.

Did you stop and take in the silence? I let the cool wave of serenity wash over me, making me feel embraced by the regenerative powers of the mountain. At that moment, I was reminded that I also had to listen to not hear something. To put it more simply – silence has power.

Lately, I find myself seeking that feeling of peace more and more. And it’s becoming more difficult to find, thanks (in no small part to the new “noise” that has rocketed into the picture –

Social media.

• I’m right and you’re wrong.
• My opinion counts and yours doesn’t
• I win and you lose.

It has crept into our lives on a whole other level that we’ve paid little attention to. While it does keep us informed, it also has significantly altered our interactions with each other. We have seen diminishing interpersonal skills and isolationism grow at an alarming rate.

Why am I telling you this?

Because it has revealed to me a new demon to battle in my own world – my own self-critic.

The saturation in immediate information, opinions, news, etc. has provided ammunition to those parts of my soul that are already in pain – creating a new level of self-talk that does nothing but interrupt my peaceful existence. The impacts are killing me.

• I’m constantly questioning my own efforts and intelligence;
• I’m quicker to judgmental outbursts;
• I’m operating on a much higher level of stress than I want;
• The constant “chatter” in my head makes it nearly impossible to focus on what I’m doing;
• I’m more “angry” than I am used to; and
• I’m in physical pain more often than not.

I want to stop.

I’m trying to stop.

I need all the help I can get.

I just want peace and quiet.