There are so many ways of thinking about silence. There’s the silence when we are alone. At home we can turn off our machines--the TV, dishwasher, and even the radio. We can go off in the woods or walk along the beach, where at least there are fewer city type noises. Turning off the chatter in our heads is another challenge, one that I’ve written about often.
Today I’ve been thinking about being silent when I’m ‘talking’ with someone else. Sounds like an oxymoron. To be silent with someone involves not paying attention to those external physical noises or to that chatter in my head so I can listen. By listening, I mean being very quiet, saying very little, and offering ‘wait time’ to allow the other person to formulate and express fully what he or she wants to say.
It is amazing when I wait in silence, when I don’t fill the void. The person goes deeper, expresses more truthfully, and speaks freely; my listening becomes more profound, honest, and open.
Today I’ve been thinking about being silent when I’m ‘talking’ with someone else. Sounds like an oxymoron. To be silent with someone involves not paying attention to those external physical noises or to that chatter in my head so I can listen. By listening, I mean being very quiet, saying very little, and offering ‘wait time’ to allow the other person to formulate and express fully what he or she wants to say.
It is amazing when I wait in silence, when I don’t fill the void. The person goes deeper, expresses more truthfully, and speaks freely; my listening becomes more profound, honest, and open.