Have you ever heard of information overload? Too much information can actually create a barrier in our lives. This overload is produced by the amount of information, the speed at which it comes to us from all directions, the need to make fast decisions, and the feeling of anxiety that we are making decisions without having ALL the information that is available or that we need.

Just a few facts to illustrate the point:

• The daily New York Times now contains more information that the 17th century man or woman would have encountered in a lifetime.
  -- Wurman, S.A. "Information Anxiety." Doubleday. 32 (1987).
  
  
• In the last 30 years mankind has produced more information than in the previous 5,000.
  --"Information Overload Causes Stress." Reuters Magazine. March/April (1997). LexisNexis Academic Universe. McCormick Library, Harrisburg Area Community College, Harrisburg, PA. May 24, 2002. <http://www.lexisnexis.com>.
  
  
• About 1,000 books are published internationally every day, and the total of all printed knowledge doubles every five years.
  --"Information Overload Causes Stress." Reuters Magazine. March/April (1997). LexisNexis Academic Universe. McCormick Library, Harrisburg Area Community College, Harrisburg, PA. May 24, 2002. <http://www.lexisnexis.com>.
  
  
• Dr Dharma Singh Khalsa, in his book Brain Longevity, ... says the average American sees 16,000 advertisements, logos, and labels in a day.
  --Gore, A. "Stressed? Maybe it's information overload." Sun Herald, 27 (January 18, 1998). LexisNexis Academic Universe. McCormick Library, Harrisburg Area Community College, Harrisburg, PA. May 24, 2002. <http://www.lexisnexis.com>.