December 30, 2022
Ending a Year. 2022. In Silence.
By Ken Giglio, Principal of Mindful Leadership
2022 was like many years when looked through the long lens of history. War erupted in Europe and raged in Africa. The United States continued to grapple with what the word “united” means. A mental health crisis was declared and addiction continued to devastate our communities. And, the devastation of the Covid pandemic appeared to have receded into the background.
2022 also brought great courage and kindness in response to global and local crises. Individuals and communities came together to support those among us who are most vulnerable and in need. After all, we are all connected in the uncertainty of life; our peace and ease today can turn into disruption and tragedy tomorrow.
The end of the calendar year, which coincides with winter in the northern hemisphere, is a natural time for reflection. With the holidays concluding, things slow down, activity lessens, and a quiet emerges. Silence is here.
I think 99 times and find nothing. I stop thinking, swim in silence, and the truth comes to me. – Einstein
Silence brings reflection; reflection brings silence. Silence allows us to ask ourselves deeper questions about what matters most, like:
Who am I? Who do I want to be? What will I do with my life?
Big questions. Take your time and hold them in reflection. Allow silence to teach you how to answer them. And do not work too hard thinking on these questions. In fact, thinking may be counterproductive. Studies have shown that periods of silence generate cell development in the memory and learning center of the brain and help us encrypt information.
Einstein, genius that he was, intuited this pre-neuroscience in his quote, above. Talking and thinking are overrated and silence underappreciated. In our loud world, many fight to be heard and talk louder. And, for many of us, the loudest noise we experience comes from inside our own heads. Our discursive thoughts, the ongoing chatter in our minds can be incessant. Silence is an antidote for our overworked minds. It creates a refuge of quiet and the space for feelings and sensations to enter. Being fully human is to listen to our minds and our bodies.
Silence is both practical and profound. We find it and create it. According to Artic explorer and author of “Silence: In the Age of Noise,” Erling Kagge, silence is “the new luxury,” which enriches our lives.
By pausing and inserting silence into our conversations, for example, we help ourselves slow to gather our thoughts and help others to better understand us. Deeper listening is a benefit of being quiet. As the poet Rumi notes, “The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear.” Silence makes us more effective communicators.
Silence also gives us insight into the “Why” behind our behaviors. In quiet, we can ask ourselves, “Are my behaviors aligned with my values and intentions? Are some of my actions habits that once served me and should now be released?”
Silence is the only universal language known to all life. Trees, crows, foxes, and people all share and connect in silence. Without silence, speech, music, or any sound loses its coherence and meaning. The quiet or pause between sound, a rest in music, allows us to take in and to make sense of what is being communicated or performed. This was clear to Mozart, who said, “The music is not in the notes, but in the silence between.”
We can find silence anywhere, even in the loudest places, because we carry it within us. Meditation in any form cultivates this silence, and its companion stillness, by settling our thoughts and creating a spacious presence. Being in nature is another way to be silent; it is our connection to all life. Trees are exemplars of silent living, only making noise when the wind rustles their leaves and creaks their branches. To add meaning to the sounds of your life, find and create your own silence.
We can be stunned into silence. These are times when words are left behind, not needed and even useless for providing meaning for what we are experiencing. This is beautifully captured by the poet Billy Collins in his poem Silence:
There is the sudden silence of the crowd
above a player not moving on the field,
and the silence of the orchid.
“Let silence be the art you practice.” –Rumi
As we end a year, let us pause and allow silence, which is always present within us and around us, to make a home in our noisy lives. Let us be grateful for the gift of quietude.
And, let us take a moment of…
Silence for the oldest among us – May you stay steady and strong as you walk into your future transitions and model for the rest of us the grace of older age.
Silence for all refugees and all those impacted by war – May you find safe havens to be free to return to your homes, or to be embraced by your newfound communities.
Silence for the mentally ill – May you find the care and support to carry through your troubles, and may your vulnerability become your strength.
Silence for all who have experienced being othered and marginalized – May you be welcomed as You wherever you go. You belong.
Silence for all who have died – You were born from the womb of silence and have now transitioned into eternal silence.
Silence for all who have lost someone – May we be comforted in our grief. “Everybody you have ever loved is a part of the fabric of your being now.” –Ram Dass
Silence for the natural world – May all life of the earth and sky be sustained and thrive, and teach us true silence.
Silence for all children – May you create a future that respects and loves all of you, others, the world, and all the silence in between.