Silence is golden.
Unfortunately, with busy streets, busy schedules, & even busier minds, silence is also a rare commodity these days.
We’re surrounded by noise from automobiles & other people & screaming children. We hear the squeals of public transportation and buzzing from crowds, classrooms, conferences, concerts & cities all around us. Even when the noise quiets, it’s normal to be stuck on overdrive with a mind that races and expands to fill the empty space. It’s becoming harder & harder to shut off.
Finding silence today is not easy. It takes intention & persistence. Still, making an effort to find silence is important, and it’s worth it.
Sitting in silence for awhile is like pushing a reset button on our brains. Silence can help us find more clarity, & greater connection to ourselves & others & the world around us. It helps us spark creativity, & it even regenerates our brain cells.
When we carve out quiet time for ourselves, we tune into our senses & calm our bodies. We feel safer, centered, & grounded. We can sort out the clutter that keeps us scattered. When we’re comfortable with silence in each passing moment, we can become a grounding force for everyone around us, to truly impact our world & everyone in it.
Valuable silence gives us the spaciousness we desire. When we swim in silence often enough, we learn we’re already whole, & we already have access to everything we need. Silence helps us slow time & get more out of our every effort. Silence makes room for the reflection & insight we need to move forward effectively & consistently towards our goals.
Are you ready to make silence a priority in your life? Here are a few steps to get started:
Calm your mind. Quiet the noise between your ears first. If your mind moves very fast, short guided meditations might be a great place for you to start. You can work up to 5 minutes of silent time, slowly making silence a habit & scheduling it into your day. Get comfortable having solo conversations with yourself, & get curious about the thoughts & feelings that come up during silence. Everything is normal.
Unplug. Turn off your phone & other technology. Seek out nature. Nature might not be 100% silent, but it’s a lot quieter than a busy street or a crowded workplace, & gorgeous natural scenery can compliment quiet time beautifully. Go for a walk in a quiet area & opt for silence over headphones. Focus on your body & your breath while you try to keep your thoughts slow & to a minimum. Afterwards, notice how much fuller you feel.
Get support. Let your people know what you’re up to, & ask clearly for you need to make your silent time possible. Make a sign to hang on your door when you don’t want to be interrupted. Invest in noise blocking headsets, silent retreats, & outside accountability as you make this the new normal. Make silence a family event, knowing that growing the habit of silence with your loved ones is providing them with a tool for success & happiness that they can use for life.
You may want a pen & paper to record insights you receive during your silent time. Don’t re-join the noise until you feel refreshed & inspired to act. Congratulations on prioritizing silence for yourself moving forward – you definitely deserve it.
