Honking, arguing, laughter, sounds of hawking, rapt knocks on car windows, more honking, stomping to get your attention in a distracting way, speed bumps, sudden jolting breaks.
Banter, market hailing, howling, call outs and more honking.
Bells ringing, kids chanting, feet shuffling, swings creaking.
Music, loud music, tugging, pushing, loud radio station airings with pidgin and vernacular conversations.
Arguments, whispers, raised voices, ringtones, elevator chimes, music from the uber radio station, English dialogues, the sound of rain.
These are the ‘sights and sounds’ of our Lagos commercial city from our homes to the bus-stops, market places, offices and schools.
You get jarred by a few or a collection of some sounds initially and before you know it, you don’t notice but you just get “sucked in” and the sounds are a blur….
If inspiration, observation, some state of calm and silence all drive next level creativity, how do we rise to expected levels while life is happening at the same time?
Then it hit me…
It’s in being still….
But how does one get a chance to even be still when everything is on the move?
The saying “run like you stole something” then came to mind….
So if i can run like i stole something to attain that PR (personal record) in my race then I can achieve silence by “stealing it” ….. or not?
Aha! Steal your still!
You’ve got to steal your still….. Find a way to get stillness into your schedule so you can process and think.
So you can allow ideas flow in.
So you can let your true north guide you & your very own GPS lead you.
So you can maximise your capacity.
Steal your still…..there’s power in quietness. #TryIt
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Ngozi Adebiyi is the Lead Consultant at OutsideIn HR & Career/Leadership Coach @ OutsideInCoach. Our focus is practical interventions that address the challenges of businesses today. We specialise in HR Business Partnering & Leadership Development with the goal of revolutionising HR in Nigeria & consciously unleashing inner greatness!
Ngozi@outsideinHRng.com