The Problem with Silence
Sufi mystic and poet Rumi wrote, “Silence isn’t empty. It is full of answers.”
In our busy lives, we tend to overlook the value of silence. From the moment we wake up to the buzz of our alarm clock to the thriller we watch before bedtime, our minds are full of activity. Some of us fill our lives with so much activity that we feel we are wasting time when we are not constantly on the go. Those who regularly take time to enjoy silence even risk being labeled selfish or lazy.
Many people are uncomfortable with silence. In the presence of others, they feel a need to start a conversation. They leave the radio or television on even when they are not listening, just to avoid the silence. Countless neophyte meditation students have walked out of their first class or never returned, complaining how time-wasting it was. What is the problem with silence?
Perhaps some people avoid silence because it forces us to face our inner demons: our insecurities and unmet desires, our regrets and worries, and our loneliness. We want to be heard. We want to be validated. And we want to be relevant in the world and in eyes of others.
Medicine for the Brain
Research indicates there are many benefits to silence. They include improved mental focus, reduced stress, greater emotional regulation, enhanced creativity, sharpened perception, and better decision-making. Proven physical benefits include lower blood pressure and heart rate, decrease in muscle tension, and relief from insomnia, to name a few.
In short, by giving the brain a rest from the constant racing thoughts, it functions better in other areas which it finds more useful. And who would not rather spend their brain resources immersed in creativity than worrying about their bills? Silence is medicine for the brain; it can actually transform its physical structure and regenerate brain cells.
Discovering the Treasure
Meditation is a more formal way of entering into silence. However, you do not have to sit in meditation to experience the benefits of silence. Research shows that it does not take long for the brain to be rewired. After only a few days of practicing silence, it is possible to trigger physical and functional brain changes similar to those experienced by regular meditators.
When spending time in silence, experts say that a good amount of time to aim for is two hours per day. This may sound long, but it does not mean you have to sit in a meditative posture or quit all activity during that time. It just means to have no noise or distractions: no conversations, no television, no reading, no music, and no worrying, for example.
Just try to quiet the mind with limited activity. Perhaps take a slow walk in nature, enjoy a cup of tea or coffee, or indulge in a warm bath. Also, the two hours do not have to be consecutive. So perhaps we can split it into 30 minutes in the morning, 30 minutes during lunch break, and an hour before bed.
Silence is a treasure. It is an opportunity to listen to our inner voice and reflect upon our life choices. Silence is indeed, full of answers. You may even receive answers to questions you never thought of asking.
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4 Responses
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This is so true. My next door neighbor has the television on 24/7. I visited their house once, and to have conversations, they were yelling over the television sound instead of turning it down or off. I also have a colleague who is listening to a Christian bible talk show the whole time he is at work. We are being so desensitized that constant noise seems a normal part of life.
My aunt leaves her televisions on 24 hours a day. She says it is to deter burglars, but she has one on in the living room downstairs and one on in her bedroom upstairs. She lives alone, so it occurred to me that maybe she is lonely.