I live in an area of my city that’s near a hospital and a fire station, so the sound of sirens is frequent. The people in my neighborhood take care of their yards, so the mingled sounds of lawn mowers, edgers, and leaf blowers are nearly constant. Add to all of this the fighter jets that fly out of a local naval air station, and some days can be VERY noisy, but we get used to it.
We also get used to other “noises” in our lives: News media. Social media. Online games. TV.
Some people keep their TVs on because they can’t take the silence. When my dad became widowed, the TV was constantly on, except when he was sleeping. He found comfort IN the noise.
My opinion?
These “noises” are making us detach from nature, from real conversations, and especially from ourselves.
Can we please detach from our phones for a minute?!
I certainly can and do!
I don’t take it in the gym, unless I want to take a rare gym photo. It’s not in my hand as I make my way through a store. It’s not by my side when I am watching a movie, and on my hikes it remains in my pocket or slack pack.
On the day I am writing this, I have taught one of my two scheduled yoga classes today. I typically allow my music to play while students are in the final and most important posture, savasana. Today, though, I opted to stop the music and allow my students to lie in silence. I directed them to just BE and to listen to their breath.
I wanted them to get past the discomfort of silence… to embrace it.
The seemingly endless noises of our current, overly-connected world have brought us to a place of being afraid of silence.
Yet, it’s in the silence and in nature that we can hear the inner voices of our souls and the voice of God.
How can you start practicing silence?
- Step outside in the morning–on your porch, deck, balcony, or yard–and just sit and listen and observe for 10 minutes. Leave your phone inside. Be still. Maybe sip some coffee. Listen. Watch. It’s amazing what you’ll hear and notice. On my recent morning outings, I see squirrels chasing each other. I hear ducks splashing in the canal. I see skinks crawling under bushes. I feel and hear breezes. Plus, early morning sunlight (between 6-9am) helps boost serotonin levels, which can help sleep.
- Take a walk in your neighborhood, but ditch the music and leave your phone at home or put it in a pocket. Let your mind roam free, and take in the sights and sounds of your area. You might be surprised what you actually notice, things you miss while chatting on the phone or listening to music.
- Sit on the floor or on a chair if floor sitting isn’t possible. Have no background noise. Just BE. Start with five minutes and build up to 10 minutes. Just be with your body, your breath, and God.
- Take a hike! Again, put your phone away, and listen! One of my great pleasures is hearing the crunching of leaves or rocks under my feet and listening to the creatures of the forest.
We need not fear silence, friends.
In fact, a deep dive into silence here and there (such as a silent retreat) or a few minutes outdoors, welcoming the day, can do wonders for our brains and our souls.
Put away your phone. Turn off the TV. Tell Siri or Alexa to stop or pause.
Listen.
There’s much to be heard in being quiet and embracing silence.
Amy Walton regularly embraces silence, maybe not for extended periods, but for at least 10 minutes a day. She will connect with you, though! Reach out to her at amywaltoncoaching@gmail.com.