The power of silence in ordinary life

 

The power of silence in ordinary life

The world is full of sensory explosions. Seldom do we stop and consider what beauty can be found only in quietness.

When we are young we tend to focus primarily on what is ahead…what is the next thing? We are bored with silence and our own company with nothing to do. 

Always on to the next experience.

We don’t yet understand the wonderful surprises hidden in the sounds of silence.

 

 

At this stage of life, I am learning a lot about silence.

I can sit in it sometimes for days. Relishing its lack of bombardment of information.

Sounds. Signs, words. Requests. Demands.

 

 

What are the benefits of silence?

In silence, we hear the whispers of God.

In silence, we hear birdsong and wind chimes and the distant drone of an airplane.

In silence, we use all of our senses to notice the details all around us.

 

 

The sound of rain, the smell of a flower, the soft velvety skin of summer fruit, the complete muffling of the world in powdery snow, the awe of the delicate blowing fluff of the dandelion.

 In silence, we hear ourselves, and we pause to consider who we are. We no longer only think about the future, we reflect on the past.

We see a bigger picture built on the tiniest of incredible details.

 

 

When we are young we don’t have the same amount of life experience to draw on. Perhaps the silence of aging is a gift. An opportunity to not fill every single second.

Life does that for us easily enough on its own.

Pause gives us a reprieve. An understanding that we have grown. Changed. Blossomed. Silence can give us a fresh start in the constant influx of life.

 

 

Is silence a strength?

Just like a runner in a marathon who grabs the cup of water from sideline volunteers…

We run keeping a steady pace, but without the refreshment of silence, our body won’t give its best.

It is in these ordinary, mundane, calm moments that we think without outside competition.

We plan without distraction. We celebrate what has been without interruption.

 

 

Some say that silence is deafening. It takes practice to be able to enjoy this gift. For me, it came after years of constantly being “on”.

Always hearing so much around me, being required of more than I felt I could give.

I now embrace the opportunity to be still. To seek out and fight for margin.

 

 

I’m slowing down the tune, I never liked it fast. You want to get there soon, I want to get there last. _ “Slow” by Leonrard Cohen

In silence, perhaps, we find a deep sabbath.  Unique to the peace that we find only in quiet.

These moments are worth seeking out. Worth the effort to be comfortable with our aloneness. Worth the lessons learned in reflection.

 

 

The sounds of silence are what we seek to hear.

Your turn- what have you found in the “sounds” of silence that you might have missed being busy?

 

P.S. Check out this post if you’d like to read about the power of silence on Highly Sensitive Refuge

The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You (ps, I am an HSP, are you?)

*Disclosure: I only recommend products I do/would use myself. This post may contain affiliate links that at NO additional cost to you, may earn me a small commission to help support this blog. Read full privacy policy here.