Most of us would consider our daily lives to be quite noisy, both outwardly and inwardly. Whether it’s actual sounds in our environment from other people, traffic, televisions, computers, and telephones, or even inner sources of noise, like the mental static caused by confused thoughts, fears and worries, self-doubt and insecurity.
If you have ever experienced this type of inner static, you probably know how easily it can take over your mind and body. It can create intense feelings of fatigue, burnout, irritability, and over-stimulation. Because it’s so overwhelming at times, it may even cause you to withdraw from social interaction, just because you feel a deep yearning for peace and quiet. But since you take your thoughts with you wherever you go, there is no escape unless you find ways to actually quiet that inner noise.
You may think that this would require quitting your job, moving to the country, and avoiding contact with other humans whenever possible, but you’ll be relieved to know that you can begin leading a quieter life right where you are now.
There are a few key things to consider:
The first change you may want to make is creating more meaning in your life wherever you can. Have you ever noticed that people who live meaningful lives seem calmer, more grounded and balanced, and even happier? In contrast, people who are not living meaningful lives usually feel depressed, unhappy, and restless.
You may wonder then, what makes a meaningful life? This will vary greatly from person to person, but generally it means expending most of your time and energy on things that really matter to you. Having a career that reflects your core values and passions in life, spending time with people that you genuinely like and admire, and even doing things you enjoy in your free time.
Beyond meaning, it’s also important to be more deliberate about living your life with purpose, rather than drifting aimlessly. This means finding ways to serve humanity in your own unique way, which can be as simple as volunteering your time to an organization that’s doing important work in your community, or signing up to be a student mentor, or even reaching out to elderly neighbors to see if you can help with simple chores or errands.
Another key component of a quiet life is a pervasive air of peacefulness, both within you and outside of you. By regularly engaging in nurturing activities like daily meditation, deep breathing, stress management, and self-care, you will feel calmer and more balanced emotionally, which will help you to avoid getting drawn into pointless arguments and conflicts. And the more peaceful you feel inside, you will notice that that peaceful inner state begins to be reflected in your outer environment more of the time too.
Ultimately, a quiet life does not need to be a boring or bland life. In fact, some noises can be joyful and exhilarating, such as laughter between friends, good music, and celebrations. But if you will be mindful about minimizing the more destructive and stressful sources of noise in your life and within yourself, it can go a long way in helping you to feel much more balanced and happy on all levels.
