The Openings in Silence

A beautiful scene on a partly frozen lake with mountains and brilliant blue and green northern lights on a dark night.

2026-01-09

I often allow noise and avoid silence.

The Noise of Our World

Rushing here and there, planes, trains and automobiles, a world that won’t stop talking, arguments, machines and so much background noise. These things compose our world. They hum along in our lives and we get used to them. So much so, it’s as if they are not there. However, they are there and they have their effect on us.

For some, noise is a comfort and hard to be without. Having tv on in the background, gathering with others, music, loud vehicles. These are all good things at times. However, all the time, 24/7? Sleep may be the only silence we experience.

The silence of an empty church, a forest, stream or mountain top, the sun and stars, a library, the desert, late night. These things incorporate silence. They are quietly present and often beckon us to their silence. Silence is always there for us to find, even if it seems elusive – by closing a door, finding a place to be alone and quiet. A lack of noise leaves us with ourselves.

Difficulty

Getting to silence may be a difficult thing for us to do. In our world, silence can feel unnatural. We have gotten used to almost constant stimulation. Silence leaves us with ourselves and sometimes that is not where we want to be. Our thoughts want to run and take us with them. Silence can be awkward and uncomfortable in a conversation, group or on our own.

An overactive mind can be a part of our discomfort with silence. The circumstances of our lives create an overactive mind – protecting us as children, helping us keep pace with the world, keeping us occupied or providing a way of avoiding silence. The mind needs to be balanced with the quiet of our inner self.

Being in silence can reveal fears that we try hard to avoid. Silence can allow new things into our thoughts that we may not be comfortable with. If we have difficulty with silence and avoid it, it can lead to anxiety, overthinking, avoiding situations or unhealthy physiological responses. Allowing silence, although uncomfortable at first, can help us come to peace with ourselves.

How are you with silence?

Refuge

Silence is a refuge from the speed and noise of life. Silence brings us to the present moment which is a good place to be. Studies have shown that silence stimulates brain growth. Silence relieves stress. Silence allows us to think clearly and focus. Silence allows our creativity to come through.

There are numerous Openings in silence. Can an Opening get our attention in a noisy room? Or when we are doing too much? Not always. Silence makes room for Openings. The space of silence lets us think quietly. In silence we can “hear” an Opening when it is ready to appear. Silence also helps us in making a choice regarding whether to enter an Opening.

Silence is not emptiness. It is a potent force. Some try to keep us from silence for their own purposes. In silence we have autonomy. And we have peace. We are left with ourselves. We are in touch with a wider world, that we may not be accustomed to, but will benefit from knowing.

Center Point

Silence is the perfect place to find a center point. It nurtures our focus, puts us in touch with ourselves, calms us (once we are used to it) and puts us in touch with beneficial energies we may have not encountered before. There are wonderful Openings in silence. Let’s find them!

Silence is golden.

Photo: pixabay.com