The power of silence & 5 ways to embrace it

27 Jul, 2023

The power of silence, and the experience of a quiet and mindful moment, is strong and substantial. It’s good for us to step from the noise of our life and to just be, as we are. But somehow, it seems harder and much less common for us to inadvertently happen upon a few minutes of quietude, without a bit of planning beforehand. Our world is no longer created for, or conducive to, the unfolding of simple, silent moments—the way that it once was.

Those times have past, when there was more space for peace & quiet. And when there was seemingly more time for that space to be acknowledged and cultivated. Those simpler times really weren’t very long ago though. When I was younger, I would meander for hours to myself on a Saturday afternoon, wandering and exploring my surroundings curiously, without all of the obtrusive, unpoetic sounds badgering incessantly for my attention. Those sounds have changed us.

Things are different now. Our addiction to the ‘connection’ of the internet keeps us farther from the subtleties where the magic lives. It bathes us in an unwarranted arrogance and a sad uncertainty.

But we can do something for ourselves that might help us to feel calmer, and more grounded.

No, It won’t happen with the ease that it did in years past. Things aren’t as they once were. But we can make a conscious effort to make some space for the power of silence, and the healing power of a mindful moment.

Silence can be meditation. If we allow ourselves to focus on the single, simple experience that we’re having. It could be slurping noodles into your mouth after a hard days work. It could be a brisk walk through the morning trees, and it could be a bath at the end of the day. If we take the time to make the time, anything can become a silent meditation.

That is the power of silence…

These days, silence can seem extravagant, or strange, or boring, or lonely…

Multitasking seems like a better option than to doing one silent thing. Shouldn’t we be trying to get more done instead of less? So that we can get to our down time quicker? So that we can scroll through social media, and online shop, and watch netflix all at once? Perhaps.

There is nothing necessarily wrong with doing all those things. But for a second, just think about the sheer amount of stimulus that we are dealing with, and how often we are at that capacity. Don’t we deserve a few minutes with a little sliver of peace, of quietude and with the appreciation that is easiest to hone in on when we focus on one simple experience? I think so. Maybe you will too…

Here are 5 ways to embrace the power of silence 🙂

1) Our phone need not be invited (even if it’s on mute)

The power of silence is most potent when we add mindfulness to it. And the truth about our smartphones is that they are designed to take away the calm that we desire, deserve, and search for. So, in attempting to get a few minutes of silence, set down the phone or tablet… Better yet, put it in another room. Take a breath, and choose to be here right now, in the moment with no need to say anything or to prepare a response. No need to be anywhere but here. We can be fully within ourselves, in our minds, and with our thoughts.

Whatever it is that you are choosing to do, give yourself to it. Cook, walk, swim, breathe, read or just being. No need to have your phone. But remember that something that may be unfamiliar might feel quite uncomfortable at first. Most of us are not used to being away from the screen, or without some sound, be it a podcast or music. And being in silence is also something that can feel foreign. Staying in this space for a few minutes at a time, however, might just unlock a piece of peace that some part of you has been longing for. Keep it up, you might end up enjoying it 🙂

2) Silence with a friend

Does time in silence feel unattainable or inaccessible? To make a few minutes in your own life may seem hard enough, but if we are surrounded by friends, family or the others, how could we ever get a chance for some quietude? Well, the truth of the matter is, that taking some mindful silence together with someone that you are fond of, can be beautifully powerful and quite fun. So if you drink coffee with your partner every morning, perhaps plan the first 5 minutes without words spoken. Experience your partners energy, the smell and taste of your warm drink, the sounds of the breeze through the window. Part of the power that silence possesses, is within it’s uncommonality. It can make it so potent. And so, a little bit each day may fill you just enough. So if it just doesn’t seem like you’ve got the time in your day, think again. Maybe there is a way to do it with someone you love…

3) A daily date with the breeze

An easy way to get your few minutes in, is to make it an appointment with yourself. It doesn’t matter what or when it is, but if you plan it and show up for it, you may just start to enjoy it…

Every morning, I fill my pockets with peanuts, and go for a little walk down the path to the big stone by the brook where the animals that have come to expect my gifts are waiting for me. I hear the squirrels start to squeak. And see the crows watching over me on tall trees, and the little sparrows flying ever so slightly ahead of my path, like they’re leading me to the spot that we all know I’m heading towards. I feel rejuvenated and filled by this simple 10 minute date with the beings in my forest that remind me that silence is beautiful, and that everything is as it should be. This is my little morning ritual. I could never forget it, because it’s part of my day. And I look forward to the silent simplicity of a regular unwavering step into nature for silence, mindfulness, and friendships 🙂

4) Add it to your evening ritual

Usually, when the evening is upon us, and most of our responsibilities have been checked off, or pushed over for another day, it’s our time to relax into some mindless entertainment. Youtube, Netflix, social media scrolling, or video games come out and they don’t usually leave us until we nearly pass out. And there is nothing necessarily wrong with that. But there could be something that we could add to our evening with not too much challenge. Even giving yourself 5 minutes of time before you drift into sleep that is away from all of that, to turn off the sounds and to focus on something of your choosing. You could prepare for the following day in some way. Add something silent, and with intention to your evening routine. It might also have the added benefit of helping you fall to sleep a little quicker too.

5) put down your fears of missing out

The stresses that we accumulate in our life, often seem to have no release valve. There is no place to set things down to get a breath, and certainly no easy place to step into the basics of what makes life beautiful. Everything is tangled up. We are constantly playing the game of our life. And we’re constantly trying to do it the right way, as well as showing that feigned eloquence to the world as we do it. So, give yourself the time. Set down your phone. Let yourself miss out on the lives of others so as not to miss out on your own life. It’s your turn, it’s your time. And it has nothing to do with anyone else. So claim that simple little moment for yourself, and you just might learn that it actually means everything.

There is not always a need to fill the silence. Sometimes we need to embrace it 🙂

All my best to you this week my dear friend,

Thanks for coming and reading my thoughts,

Have a look at another recent article of mine, 5 signs of a cluttered mind and what to do about it

and join me on instagram if you’re so inclined.

-Lyndsay

If you’re interested, here is my YouTube video of this article… please subscribe to the channel while you’re there 🙂