It is amazing to consider the amount of information we have at our disposal and the ease in which we can access it. Last week, I was on a dirt road in the middle of nowhere and I was able to pull up a map that helped me find our way. I could not believe that we had access to the network in such a remote place. While I was thankful for the information, I also became hopeful that we would lose our connection as we forged deeper into the mountain range. I wanted to get away from the noise that such easy access provides.
The technological advancements of the past 20 years make it nearly impossible to escape the bombardment of up-to-the-minute information. Downtime from the grid is now only a momentary inconvenience as our hand-held devices, computers and televisions are constantly connected. Being out-of-the-loop now requires us to shut down our points of connection. As a result, we are expected to be connected.
Too Much Information
Our connectability is becoming an addiction. I observed my own behavior this week in my hotel room in Buenos Aires.
As soon as I arrived, I connected to the internet. I then turned on my SKYPE connection and began receiving instant messages from friends and family. I updated my Twitter account and then checked to see what was new on Facebook. I saw that I had a few connection requests on LinkedIn and a couple of interesting questions to answer. I used my SKYPE connection to let Stacy know that I arrived safely. Before I knew it, I was lost in the sea of information. My room was full of noise without any sound so I turned on the TV to find out what was going on locally.
I went to my first scheduled meeting and began observing the behavior of others. During our conversation I heard a buzzing sound. My client could not avoid the urge to check the message. It was unimportant, but he felt compelled to see what it was. His phone rang and he stepped out of our meeting to answer another demand. I lost track of how many text messages and emails he handled in our brief moments together. When his battery lost its charge, he plugged it in to a nearby outlet to renew its power. When he heard the alerts of a neighbor's phone he went to his own to see if there was anything important that he was missing. I found it comical to watch his attachment.
Silent Moments
Disconnecting from the information super highway is a difficult task. I don't want to miss anything. I need to know what is happening with the Lakers and Lamar Odom. I want to know what is going on right now in the Michael Jackson story. I want to know how my stock positions are performing. There are so many things I want to know. I must stay connected.
I reality, none of this information is important at all. It only prevents me from hearing my own voice. It hinders my ability to make sense of the world. It diminishes my ability to make timely decisions.
The most important voice we have is our own. Our technology is crowding out the moments to hear that voice. I recognize a need to escape from the clutches of technology. The only way to make it happen is to schedule down time. The world will be there when I return. I just need to program some time when I can listen to myself. Time when I can meditate and reflect on what is going on around me. Sometimes I get that time when I am exercising, but other times I just need a complete break.
Reflection
I tried something last night to prepare me for my silent moments. I spent a few moments listening to some inspiring music and then I turned off all of my forms of communicating with the outside world. I even took the phone off the hook in my room. Then I just sat and pondered what is going on in my life. I thought about important decisions I need to make and how alternate choices would impact my existence. I thought about my family members and how I can be a better husband, father, brother and son. I find it hard to describe the peace I felt as I took this personal time-out. The pressure that I felt disappeared and I began to see things as they really are.
I invite you to give yourself a similar break. Just sit quietly and allow your mind to wonder. Its Ok to disconnect. Just take a couple of hours and listen to yourself. You will be amazed at what you hear.
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