Finding Your Silence – the benefits of silence

“Silence is true wisdom’s best friend.” – Euripides

In the high-tech, fast-paced world we live in, it can be difficult to embrace silence.  If we get a quiet moment, we don’t know what to do with it!

But silence is not something to fear or be anxious about. Silence is a powerful mind tool and when it is utilised, it can recharge your mental, emotional and spiritual battery.

Find Your Silence

Step 1: Find Time

The first step to find your silence is setting aside time each day to experience it. Often people find the morning is an ideal time. Evening before bed is also ideal, as the dark is also soothing to the brain.

Step 2: Find Space

You need to find a space that is quiet and serene, ideally away from any possible distractions, including your gadgets or computer.

Step 3: Rest and Relax

Get into a restful position, whether that’s sitting down, or laying down. Relax and take some deep belly breaths, letting your diaphragm rise and fall. Still worried about what you have to do next? Not quite relaxing yet? Feel free to set a timer. For worriers, this gives you a set period of silent time and lets you know when you need to get back to your routine.  Focus on your breath.  Fill your body with your breath and imagine it in a restful colour, reaching the tips of your fingers and toes.  Give yourself at least ten minutes.

Step 4: Wield Silence

Silence is a weapon against negativity, reactivity and worry. Anxious about your schedule for the day? Silence your planning. You don’t need to keep rehearsing your day. You can only do what you can. Ruminating over a failed relationship? Silence your knee-jerk emotional reactions. You don’t need to expend energy on anything that isn’t providing you genuine affirmation. The thoughts that present themselves during silence become clearer and clearer, allowing you to combat any negative ones and replace them with the positive.

The more you practise these steps, the easier it will get and the more you will benefit.