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Each of us goes through our day dealing with a lot of things that seem critical, but aren’t actually that important in the long run. The same can be said of our inner world.
Signal-to-noise ratio
When you are communicating, an important thing to consider is how much of what is being received is signal, and how much is noise or static. While this is used mainly for telecommunications (dialup modems slow down and stop if there’s too much noise and not enough signal), it also applies to interpersonal communications, and to communicating with yourself. One challenge that I, and many others, have faced is the problem of too much noise in our minds when we are trying to get a clear answer to a question or even just meditating.
Noise in your world
If you have tried meditating or deep relaxation techniques, you’ve probably run into this. Some call this the “monkey mind” because the mind goes on and on like a little monkey. This is why some chant during meditation; They are giving the monkey a banana to keep quiet.
That’s not to say that the only time you encounter noise is when you are meditating. Everyone has had times where the nonstop chatter of their thoughts gets in the way.
Going a step further, I’d go so far as to say that “noise” is anything that disconnects you from your true (inner) self. Anything that takes you away from the voice of your own soul is noise, and must be dealt with if you do want to get to that signal.
Ways to adjust the ratio
When it comes to adjusting the ratio, there are two basic methods: You boost one side or you reduce the other side. Let’s start with boosting the signal.
If you already have a relationship formed with your inner self, you are a step ahead, as you’ve already got some signal going. If you are still trying to establish such a relationship try asking for a sign that you’re on the right track. Then keep your eyes open. You’ll find yourself drawn towards something or someone and find your little sign. From there, just keep working.
There are also other ways to boost the signal. Dr. Win Wenger has produced interesting works on techs to get to the signal. One is called image streaming which works by describing (to a recording device or other person) the images in your mind in as much detail as possible. As you do this the signal starts becoming evident. Another method, called freenoting, simply dumps from the mind as fast as you can, noise and all, to get it out of the way so eventually all that is left is the signal.
Reducing the noise is a byproduct of boosting the signal, but it can be worked on directly. Regular meditation and other methods to learn one’s own mind will help there. In my experience it’s best to boost the signal and let the noise go away on its own.
Do you have any methods for boosting the signal and reducing the noise in your life? If so, please share it in the comments.
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