Dealing with noise in life
Noise is the one thing in life that we often can’t do much about. I discovered this recently when I was doing some workshops in several different locations. The noise created by the air and heating system in many places makes it hard to hear what others are saying.
This noise is annoying for several reasons.
First, you can’t do a thing about it. The noise was built into the building by the engineers who designed it. The fans that make the noise supply air to the entire building, and it is rare that you can shut down part of the system. And nothing in life is more frustrating than knowing something is bothering you, and not being able to do anything about it.
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Second, the noise is constant. It tends to mask whatever other people are saying, especially if they are in an informal group situation. The more personal the issue, the softer a person often speaks. So when you are trying to do a support group or a healing group, it can be difficult to hear what the other person is saying.
If you ask them to repeat themselves or speak louder, they often tend to become even quieter.
Third, this noise is usually at a low level. The noise doesn’t yell out at you. You may not realize what the problem is. The noise is a nuisance, like a pesky fly that keeps bothering you and you have no way to get rid of it.
The only thing to do in this situation is to follow the rule of living from the 12-step programs: Accept what you cannot change, change what you can change, and know the difference between the two.
Props I have used to hear better include moving my chair closer to the person when possible, leaning toward them and even cupping my ears with my hands. I have found when my mind is focused entirely on listening to them, rather than paying attention to the noise of the air system, I actually improve my listening. But I must focus on what I want to hear, not what I don’t want to hear.
The noise that will get your attention is the one you choose to focus on. That is one thing you are completely in charge of, not the engineers who built the building.
