What is the practice of silence?
Silence is often seen as an unpleasant or uncomfortable experience to most. However, those who have practiced it regularly even for a short duration are aware of the incredible benefits of silence in their life and work.
Silence is one of the most beneficial practices for personal growth. Being able to find peace and clarity in silence can help us better understand our feelings, thoughts, and actions.
One of the biggest benefit of silence is that it has the potential to connect us with the universal power flowing around us. (Called by different names like Prana, Chi, etc in different parts of the world)
Silence by Swami Veda Bharti, Ahymsin.org
Silence is such a profound and deep experience of human existence that only when we have understood silence can we understand all the inspiration that has ever flowed to humanity from the minds and mouths of its adults, the great rishis, sages and prophets.
Here are five ways to practice silence:
Five Benefits of Silence
1. Silence Reduces Stress
Let’s face it – when life gets hectic and overwhelming, the last thing you want to do is add more noise to your already overloaded mind.
The mind likes clarity and thinks better with less clutter. The biggest example is the way we clear our study table before we want to do a deep focussed work.If physical decluttering can help us so much, just imagine how much mental decluttering can do to you.
Taking a few minutes to sit in silence and clear your head can be incredibly calming and restorative. One of the major benefits of silence is that reduces the amount of stress hormones in the body, and can put you in a better mood, allowing you to tackle whatever challenges come your way.
2. Silence Boosts Creativity
Stifling creativity is one of the most common side effects of a noisy world. When you’re constantly surrounded by noise, it can be difficult to focus your thoughts and come up with creative solutions to problems.
Taking some time to be in silence allows your brain to process information more efficiently, and can spark creative ideas and insights.
Many meditation practitioners believe that silence can connect to the universal energy that has the ability to the most difficult problems.
3. Silence Improves Concentration
When there’s noise, it’s hard to stay focused for long periods of time. Taking a few minutes to sit in silence can help you stay on task and concentrate better.
It’s also a great way to practice mindfulness, which can help you stay in the moment and be more productive and happy.
4. Silence Enhances Self-Awareness
Spending some time in silence gives you the space to reflect on your life and your feelings.
It can help you gain clarity on who you are and why you do the things you do. It also gives you the opportunity to become more aware of your thoughts, emotions, and wants and needs.
Silence can help you plan your life and goals better and achieve greater success in life. With a deeper self awareness, you can make better decisions.
5. Silence Improves Self-Confidence
When you’re constantly surrounded by noise, it can be difficult to find the courage to trust yourself and your decisions. Taking some time to be alone and silent can help you reconnect with your inner voice and boost your self-confidence.
Spending some time in silence can have a positive impact on both your physical and mental health. Whether it’s taking a few minutes each day to clear your head, or taking a weekend away to a quiet spot in nature, regularly taking some time to be alone and silent can be incredibly beneficial.
Okay, with so much said about the benefits of silence, let us now see how you can practice silence in your daily life.
Five ways to practice Silence
1. Meditation
Meditation is a great way to practice silence and clear your mind. Studies have shown that meditation can help improve concentration, boost mood, and even improve physical health.
In fact, silent practice is an essential element of most meditative traditions. The energy that you save by not speaking is diverted inwards and helps you open channels of self awareness.
Last year, I was in an ashram for a year at Rishikesh. All the practitioners there had to practice silence every Thursday. We used to stop speaking after evening meditation on Wednesdays, and were only allowed to speak after breakfast on Friday morning. I felt it was an immensely powerful thing to do to regain your self awareness.
2. Practice Self-Reflection
Taking time to reflect on your life and learn from your experiences can naturally make you silent. However, it can be a powerful practice for personal growth. When we take time to be silent and reflect on our lives, we can gain insight on what we need to change and how we can become better versions of ourselves.
3. Listen to Nature
Nature can be a great source of solitude and silence. Listening to the sounds of nature can be very calming and can help to clear the mind. Taking a walk in nature can also give you the opportunity to practice mindfulness, which can help you become more aware of the present moment.
4. Journaling
Writing in a journal can be a great way to practice silence and become more aware of your thoughts and feelings. Journaling can also help you to process your emotions and gain clarity on your experiences.
5. Reading
Taking the time to read can be a great way to practice silence. Reading books can help you to relax, gain knowledge, and connect with your inner self.
Practicing silence can help to improve mental and physical health, and can also be beneficial for personal growth.
Taking time to be silent and practising the tips mentioned above can help you to develop a healthier relationship with yourself. And make your more focussed, peaceful, and happy.
Now that you know these benefits of silence and the ways to practice it, try bringing it in your daily life. Let me know in the comments if you have had any peculiar experiences of silence.
