Here we are discussing item number three “Information Overload” from our series on “Is Your Receiver On”.
What is “Information Overload”? That may seem like a “no brainer” to you, but I can assure you that most of us do not even know when this exact moment arrives, and we become paralyzed.
I want to tell you when I knew I had “Information Overload”. Now I can assure you that you will snicker or laugh about this one, however, take it to the next level in your own life and it will not be so funny.
As the daughter of a military officer, I grew up all but 3 years of my life in another country. I even graduated from High School overseas. I came back to the US and was carted across country and deposited in college and my family drove on to their next duty station. So there I am in a “for real drug store” in search of some basic toiletries. I was used to two choices of shampoo; one for regular hair and one for someone with dandruff (although I didn’t know what that was). Now here I am standing in front of a long isle of shampoos with so many names, and special features that I am in: “Information Overload”! Maybe something is wrong with my hair and I don’t even know that I have split ends, frizz, no body, no curl etc.
That may seem corny to you but that is what happens to each of us when we go to pick out a new cell phone. How many special features do you actually need, use much less want? How many of us even look or read the manual that comes with the phone? Don’t we just try to learn by trial and error?
I know every time I go to get my “FREE UPGRADE”, I truly dread it. I just want a phone for emergencies. I don’t want all the bells and whistles.
What happens when you open your email in the morning and there are 10 messages from every member of your team telling you to make changes in a document that is needed by 11 am for a presentation. What message do you read first? Are you in overload? I know you are even if it is only briefly.
So what can we do?
First each of us must decide how “connected” do we want to be?
Before you and I were so “available and connected” did we really miss out on something vital?
How much private, quiet living do you actually have? You know there is a reason that we pass out every night and sleep. It is a law of physics. Even when we manipulate it to any degree, we mess up the natural rhythm of life. Our bodies are so perfect that if we do not take care of them, they have a habit of “shutting us down” and then we have to pay attention.
Turn off all your electronic stuff for a period of time to refresh and reboot your own light speed living.
Today, most of the “Gen “X” and Gen “”Y”” have only their one piece of electronics and it functions just like their brain and heart. It is on them 24-7-365. They no longer have a land line, or anything else. They are hands free and living totally electronically. This will probably be found to be detrimental to the well being and health of several generations well into the next 100 years.
Next time we will talk about number four on our list which is: “Neglect of Self”.
