RORY KELLY CONNOR: "What? I can't hear you! There's too much noise around here! I can't focus! How am I supposed to hear myself think?"

Do you ever find yourself saying or thinking these words? What are you feeling? Frustrated? Stressed? Angry? Overwhelmed?

Whether you live or work in a metropolitan city or in a quiet suburban neighbourhood, you are surrounded by noise. You are exposed to physical noise in your environment, from the people and things all around you, as well as the psychic noise in your mind, both conscious and unconscious, chattering away constantly about this and that.

Some of the noise in your life is consciously chosen to block out other noises or to mute the blaring roar of being alone, with yourself. How? You tune out by tuning in to technology, music, phone calls, social networking, video games, television... anything to avoid the sound of silence.

Noise, whether booming or quietly humming away, is persistent. Unchecked, it can become a deafening clamour causing havoc on your emotions, undermining your life force and muting your ability to connect with who you really are. Only when you make this connection can you find your inner rhythm, that vibrant life energy that feeds your personal power and allows you to achieve harmony within and without. Does any of this ring a bell for you?

If it does, my recommendation is to schedule a Rhythm Day. Using a simple four-step approach for your Rhythm Day, you will experience a peaceful haven in time in which you will find balance. And you don't even need to leave home to get there. You'll need these directions AND persistence, because the noise will revolt, try to interrupt and mischievously intrude. Guaranteed. But you can do this, and you will feel amazing afterwards, every visit.

SLOW DOWN

The first step is to deliberately set aside time to slow down. Not just an hour or a morning, or an evening, but a day or two. If you can get away to a quiet place, plan it in advance. You may choose to share these days with your children or partner, or you may choose to be totally alone. The night before your scheduled Rhythm Day, make sure to alert the important people in your life that you are taking a Noise Vacation and to please respect your need for peace and quiet. This allows them not to worry when you seem to be missing in action and allows you to begin setting the boundaries necessary for a new paradigm -- respecting your peace of mind.

Then hide the remotes, put the iPods in the closet, turn on the answering machine, unplug the computers, don't set an alarm, then get into bed and have a good night's sleep. Important note of direction: when you awaken at your body's pre-programmed time, the time it has become 'alarmed' to awaken, take a moment to take your first rhythm reading of the day. If you are still tired, turn over and go back to sleep. If your body needs to sleep until noon, let it. (I know, I know, this is hard. I told you you'd need to be persistent.)

When you finally awaken and feel fully rested, let your first thoughts be beautiful thoughts about yourself. Take a few minutes to meditate or pray, or simply state peaceful intentions for your day. Become aware of your breath, Stretch out your limbs and get attuned to your body through consciously paying attention to its energy. Then arise and attend to your needs. You have made a good start and are well rested for the next step in the journey.

SILENCE

Silence is defined as the absence of noise. Most of us describe noise as unpleasant or unwanted. The second step in creating a successful Rhythm Day is to keep all sounds to the level of the natural world around you. The object is to silence anything that interferes with your ability to tune in to yourself.

For many, the quiet can seem maddening at first. Your instinct to rebel and distract yourself will be strong. Be aware and persist with the journey. Only in getting quiet can you begin to hear your deepest life force, allow your body and senses to sync with the energies inside of you.

SURRENDER

After you have successfully slowed down and gotten quiet, you will start to feel your body, mind and spirit relaxing into a more peaceful state. Now it's time for the third step -- surrender, the process where you allow your whole self to adjust to your own inner wave. You sleep when you are tired. You eat when you are hungry. Most importantly, you let your thoughts meander freely, while also focusing on your inner rhythm.

As you surrender, remember that there is a key difference between a Rhythm Day surrender and a day given over to chilling out and doing nothing. What makes each Rhythm Day so valuable is the deliberate consciousness you bring to the process during your awake hours. Chilling out is often equivalent to zoning out. Rhythm Days are all about tuning in -- to your thoughts, feelings, your body and your desires. Surrendering to a new awareness without distraction allows you to take your 'pulse', which is key to discovering your song. And that is where the action is.

YOUR SONG

The last step in the four-step process is one of self-expression and self-discovery. At this point you should feel compelled consciously to do something, create something, express yourself. This expression can include sound, thought, energy, art, music, words, and movement. The only requirement is that anything you do or create must be a result of the energy of your own mind and/or body.

This is an amazing part of the Rhythm Day process. Each individual focuses within and then consciously manifests a physical expression of what they 'hear'. What emerges is as unique and personal as every human being. Manifestations have included poetry, songs, paintings, jewellery, pottery, shoe designs, hand-built carpentry, inventions, stories, photography, and recipes. Other outcomes have included epiphanies, insights, forgiveness, lightness, peacefulness, strength, and an amazing sense of harmony.

Ultimately, you feel more in touch with who you really are and what makes your heart, mind and body sing. And it feels terrific.

NOW, YOU'VE GOT YOUR RHYTHM

Ultimately, gifting yourself with a Rhythm Day is a cathartic and positive life-giving exercise that allows you to tap into an often uncultivated source of your own power. You realize you are made of energy which can create amazing results when directed with persistent focus.

In addition, exploring your inner rhythm reconnects you to the Universal Rhythm all around you, an energy that is both attractive and compelling. When you are in harmony with yourself, you realize that anything is possible. And that noise you wanted to get away from doesn't seem so loud anymore compared to the happy vibration of the rhythmic drumbeat of your soul.

Aug 10, 2011 - 7:29 AM

Andrea Connell -

Rory - Well said once again!
You are absolutely right about the persistence of noise - I remember a much quieter childhood! There's an environmental fact published out there that says that birds have to sing 30% louder these days just their mating calls can be heard above the daily din! I often see clients feeling the persistent call of their soul urging them toward something 'important'. It never occurs to people that it is just their own truth wanting to express! Your Rhythm Day plan is brilliant and essential; slow down, silence, surrender and sing! And everyone's song will be heard!
Beautiful!