Silence can only be found these days if you look for it.
Practicing silence can be an excellent way to experience it; otherwise, finding a moment of silence and peace in this busy world may be hard.
Silence is crucial to clear your mind, feel peace, look for God, and have new ideas and inspiration.
It is the most valuable thing you can find nowadays because only in silence can you hear the sound of the wind blowing, birds chirping, and leaves crisping.
Let us explore ten very simple ways to explore silence in this noisy world.
1) Meditation and prayer
‘The silence is there within us. What we have to do is to enter into it, to become silent, to become the silence. The purpose of meditation and the challenge of meditation is to allow ourselves to become silent enough to allow this interior silence to emerge. Silence is the language of the spirit.’
— John Mains in Word into Silence
Meditation and prayer can be one of the best ways to practice silence.
When you pray, you silently talk to God; you focus on the conversation between you and God in a completely silent environment.
You believe that God is hearing your whispers.
And you also believe that silence will bring you closer to God because this is the reason monks take the vow of silence.
In those moments of silence, they free their mind from this noisy world and stay busy with work and prayers.
In almost all religions, silence is given the utmost importance.
So from here, you can see how beautiful it can be to start practicing silence regularly.
Silent meditation is itself an enriching experience.
Make a meditation routine and pray to keep your mind quiet from all the thoughts, feelings, sensations, and worries.
‘Silence is God’s first language; everything else is a poor translation. In order to hear that language, we must learn to be still and to rest in God.’
— Thomas Keating quoted in The Sun & Moon Over Assisi by Gerard Thomas Straub
2) Sunset
Sometimes just sitting silent and observing nature’s masterpiece can be the most rewarding thing.
Just like a beautiful sunset is one of the most mesmerizing experiences one can ever have.
Next time you see a sun setting, sit there with a clear mind, see its beauty and make yourself believe that all your anxieties are going down with the sun.
Make sure to put your camera and phone down, capture the scene with your eyes and save it in your mind.
No need to take pictures, talk about anything, and sit still in utter silence.
Nothing will be more satisfying than this; watching the sunset will take your breath away.
For some moments, you will feel your mind light and tense-free.
So sunset can be one of the best and most beautiful ways to practice silence in this chaotic world.
3) Breathe
Breathing is one of the best exercises to practice silence.
Make yourself sit in a peaceful place and a comfortable position, and breathe.
Without thinking of what to say next, what to do next, and what you’re doing right now, only focus on breathing in and breathing out.
Inhaling and exhaling will make you feel relaxed and take away all your anxiety and tension.
By intensely practicing breathing in and breathing out, our minds get clear of the clutter that fills our brains daily.
It is then that we get to hear our inner voice, our heart, and our spirit.
4) Go to the nature
To experience the actual kind of nature, the best way is to go and sit in nature.
Go, hike in the mountains, find a good place you can go near animals or find a river and stroll by the riverside.
If you can’t go anywhere far you can sit for some time in your garden.
Spend time with plants, trim them, water them, and plant new seeds.
It will take away all your worries and anxieties.
Nature will automatically help you boost your mood and make you as light as a feather.
You will experience the silence you never had before.
The chirping of the birds, the sound of the water splashing on the rocks, and the light breeze blowing through the leaves of the trees does not count as noise.
They are the type of sounds that make you feel better.
Stay silent and listen to them with your eyes closed.
Feel that mesmerizing environment.
Stay more in tune with nature to make the experience the actual kind of silence.
‘In the sweet territory of silence, we touch the mystery. It’s the place of reflection and contemplation, and it’s the place where we can connect with the deep knowing, to the deep wisdom way.’
— Angeles Arrien quoted in The Millionth Circleby Jean Shinoda Bolen
5) Talk only when necessary
Do you find it weird to be quiet?
If you do, it’s not your fault.
We live in such a noisy world that even talking less is harmful.
It is noisy, so making and listening to noise is considered normal.
You must have noticed sometimes you talk to keep talking.
Most of the time, there’s no purpose in talking; it’s not even necessary to talk, but we keep talking to fill the gap of silence.
Also, we know so many people around us who talk uselessly, they have no purpose for talking, but they talk because they love telling stories.
But this is not the right thing at all.
Talking too much makes you seem illogical and dumb.
Wise people talk only when they find it’s necessary to talk, that too precisely and after thinking about what to say.
One who talks too much may instantly grab everyone’s attention, but people lose interest immediately when they find he’s talking without any purpose.
Make your life easier and more peaceful by talking less.
Keep quiet till you find a need to talk.
Say only what you think is necessary, be precise, and talk in a low voice.
You will notice the changes in your life if you adopt this technique.
6) Think before you speak
When you speak, think before it.
Take your time and choose your words before uttering them.
Make sure no one gets hurt by your words.
Speak only to spread love and to make people laugh.
It is the quality of wise people to talk less and to think before talking.
They talk only when necessary and ensure they don’t talk when in anger.
If you also start thinking before you talk and try to choose your words wisely, your mind, heart, and soul will automatically remain at peace.
7) Listen
You need to listen more to talk less because people who talk more listen very less.
You mustn’t focus on what you will say next whenever you talk to someone.
Just focus on what the other person is telling you.
Stay in the present moment without worrying about what reply you should give next.
By being silent, I don’t just mean to be silent by mouth but also to make your mind silent.
When you make sure to listen carefully, you will never need to ask the other to tell you again about what he just said.
You will interpret his meaning better and understand everything that he wants to convey.
8) Don’t react
The best way to resolve an argument or a conflict is to keep quiet.
Make this a rule for life, not to react instantly in any situation.
You must feel outraged when you’re in the middle of a conflict.
Anger will never allow you to say anything sensible.
Wait for some time and only listen to what the other person says.
Analyze the situation, take your time, and think with a calm mind.
Only reply when you think of anything sensible.
Keep silent, stay calm, and don’t react without thinking and analyzing the situation.
9) Be in the moment
Being in the moment is the most important if you want to practice silence.
Concentrate on whatever you’re doing without thinking of what’s coming next.
If you’re brushing your teeth, focus on the teeth without thinking about the next thing you must do.
If you’re watching your kids play, observe and watch them without thinking of the anxiety your boss is giving you.
So, be in the moment.
This is the best thing you can do for your mental health.
Stop worrying about what the future holds for you because you cannot control the future.
Just focus on the present and live it to the fullest.
‘Silence is the shaft we descend to the depths of contemplation. Silence is the vehicle that takes us to the innermost center of our being which is the place for all authentic practice.’
— Elaine MacInnes in Light Sitting in Light
10) Screen time
Mobile phones, televisions, laptops, and other gadgets are a big distraction these days.
Whether you’re in the middle of a meeting, having lunch, or sitting on the toilet, you are constantly watching your phone without paying attention to what you are doing or what is happening around you.
You can never experience silence until you switch off your phone, television, and other screens.
Instead of going outside in nature in their free time, people prefer watching a movie indoors.
These constant sounds and noises around us slowly make us depressed without giving us realization.
It’s better to avoid all kinds of screens to make your life peaceful and quiet.
Even your mind needs to be quiet sometimes, which is only possible if you avoid such distractions.
Conclusion
Silence is significant and one of the most valuable things we can practice.
Try to make your life quieter, more peaceful, and more accessible by talking less, thinking more, sitting in nature, and turning the screens off for some time.
I hope the above article will help you learn how to practice silence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is it important to practice silence?
A: Practicing silence can help reduce stress and anxiety, improve focus and concentration, enhance creativity and intuition, and promote inner peace and well-being.
Q: How can I find time to practice silence in my busy life?
A: You can start by setting aside a few minutes each day for silence, such as before or after work, during a break, or before going to bed.
Q: What are some simple ways to practice silence?
A: Some simple ways to practice silence include taking a walk in nature, meditating, journaling, practicing yoga or deep breathing, or simply sitting in stillness.
Q: Can practicing silence be difficult for beginners?
A: Yes, practicing silence can be challenging for beginners, especially if they are used to constant noise and stimulation.
However, with time and practice, it can become easier and more rewarding.
Q: Is it necessary to completely eliminate all noise to practice silence?
A: No, it is not necessary to completely eliminate all noise to practice silence.
Instead, you can focus on reducing external and internal distractions and finding a peaceful and quiet environment.