At first, a loud or imposing noise can seem unbearable. After a while, we get used to it and it’s business as usual. That once irritating sound can become a seamless part of our background, and it’s not until we withdraw our attention, that we’re reminded of how intrusive it really is.

Noise in our environment comes in many forms. It can exist as an idea that has worn out its welcome or a broken system that remains in place. We must remove ourselves from the environment in order to hear the noise with a renewed sense of open-mindedness. When we do, we may decide that there is an opportunity to adjust the volume.