The Power of Silence

While my last post was all about communication, I have to say that I am equally in awe of the power of silence. For many people, silence is awkward. It makes things uncomfortable. Leaving things unsaid is like ignoring a 600 pound gorilla in the corner. It increases tension. Me? I've always loved silence. Probably because it was what I knew. It was what made me feel comfortable. Knowing that all my thoughts and feelings were tucked safe inside. I appreciate silence for a couple reasons.

First, silence gives you the opportunity for evaluation. So often we are always caught up in saying, speaking, yelling, sharing, that we don't really take the time to think about what we say or the effects it may have. We want other people to listen to what we have to say, but we don't listen to what we have to say. How often do people speak without thinking? Take 30 seconds the next time you're about to say something even mildly important - you'd be surprised what it might change.

Also, silence allows other people to gather their own thoughts and opinions. Again, so often we are caught up in telling people what we think and wanting them to respond. Instantly. A little silence gives people the chance to figure out how they really feel. What they really think.

Silence forces you to confront your thoughts and your feelings in the most raw form - before they have been tempered and exposed. Being able to sit in silence, to me, shows that a person is comfortable with themselves, who they are, what they believe in, and the thoughts and emotions that run through them.

Finally, silence provides an atmosphere conducive to inspiration and self-reflection. Some of my most poignant thoughts or ideas typically come when I am not speaking - it may be 2:00 in the morning, it may be driving down the road (this one happens a lot). In this Information Age, people are constantly connected. When you walk out of a class, a meeting, or work, what is the first thing you do? Pull out your cell phone? When you get in the car - can you make it from one place to the next without calling someone? Without turning on the radio or the news? When you wake up in the morning and you're getting ready for your day, do you have the TV on? Music? Don't get me wrong...I love to listen to music, watch TV and I have been accused of attachment to my CrackBerry, but I see great value in putting that all on hold and just enjoying the silence. I find myself driving without music or talking on the phone a great deal and I thoroughly enjoy it. Long road trips, for me, are not an opportunity to catch up with all the people I've been meaning to call, but I've just been too busy. It's a time to roll the windows down and listen to music (which is an activity my mind and I actively participate in). It's a time to drive without any distraction and think about life (and random signs on the side on the road and things like horsepower...see "Interesting Words" and/or "Signs on the Road"). See - my times of silence provide a great opportunity for enlightenment :)

The point is this: as much as I value the power of communication and have a new found appreciation for sharing, I equally value the great power of silence. It's oh so necessary in my life and if I don't get it from time to time I'm an outright disaster.