People often underestimate the power of silence.
Similar to white space, people frequently misinterpret my silence.
Some people consider my behavior as pretentious, while other people mistake my reservation to speech as judgmental, disinterest or mysterious.
To the receiver, this silence may provoke the feeling of dissonance – similar to how white space causes a feeling of unease. However, this pause – or silence – offers time of assessment and self-reflection.
I am a listener. That is, I appreciate the pleasures of not speaking during the entire conversation.
This is not to say I am not communicating or participating in a conversation. As an inquisitive person, I find it an honor to engage in people’s experiences with empathy.
However, I convey my interests or disinterests in a conversation with nonverbal cues, such as nodding my head or smiling.
Silence only enables me to actively process this information and communicate on a different level that words do not permit.
Likewise, I feel no awkward silence when riding in a car with somebody, and I seldom speak small talk to ease the awkward silence for the other person.
I communicate my inner feelings without words – a universal and unspoken language. While body language can be misleading and ambiguous as a result of perception, silence conveys a deeper form of expression.
For instance, tears can express more emotion than words – an occasion of unspoken and understood silence.
If employed properly, silence also allows the listener to decipher the message with reflection, while the speaker enjoys the presence of the listener.
At times, I long for someone to sincerely attend to my thoughts to experience catharsis – the release of emotions or tension.
Silence also embodies other benefits in an interpersonal setting. If I did not reflect about this column in solitude and harness silence’s subtle qualities, I likely would never ponder the value of it and appreciate its tranquility.
While challenged with the hassle of balancing college and my responsibilities as an editor, I often find my thoughts jumbled between my research papers, homework and tests.
However, a quick stride around campus usually allays my nerves and aids in concentration and productivity. Simply put, it offers an experience that I cannot express in words.
Similarly, creativity requires an understanding of silence, and I find that silence boosts my creative thinking.
Inspiration often strikes when I am in the most unconscious state of mind while walking or sitting in deep, inner concentration.
In these times of silence, I attend to no forms of communication as I let my mind drift in attempt to entertain myself.
This unbridled experience empowers a person to create new ideas – a process of not relying on trite ideas as a crutch.
Silence also provides an opportunity for self-reflection and inner calmness. After a hectic day at school, I sometimes retreat to a quiet room and set aside some “me” time for self-actualization and awareness.
To unwind and embrace the value of silence, I often disengage myself from the world and focus on the pulsation of my heartbeat or the sensation of relieving the tension in my legs.
I slowly feel my pulse decrease as I shut my eyes and exhale a deep breath.
In this moment, I experience the liberation of inner peace, and I gradually feel the world’s burdens ease off my shoulders as I let my soul speak.
Although mastering the art of silence requires moderate effort and dedication, a moment of silence can be a rewarding process to foster relationships, enliven the inner spirit and unearth creativity.
So, put down the newspaper, sign out of Facebook on your phone and take a walk to enjoy the tranquility of silence.
By STEPHEN ALLEN
Features Editor
allen68@imail.iu.edu
