The Richness of Silence

Many people are actually afraid of silence; they consider it to be quite threatening. That’s why many relationships really have a zero-tolerance for silence; if there are even a few moments of silence emerging, anxiety and tension and fear are not far behind. Hence, there is an ongoing attempt to ensure that there is some level of noise happening at all times; be it from other people, from television, music…it doesn’t matter.

This has nothing to do with the noise itself; it’s not done out of an appreciation for noise. It’s done simply to avoid silence – to keep silence from “showing up” in life.

So what’s so scary about silence? It’s that, in the deepest core of our being, we grasp that essence that silence isn’t empty. It’s not simply the absence of something; the way that darkness is the absence of light. Silence is overflowing with content; in fact, it is the most content-filled thing in this world. Silence is the channel through which the celestial greets the terrestrial; because deep inside, we are a part of that silence and always will be.

The next time you “face silence,” don’t run away – either physically or mentally. Simply open yourself up to it. Let it embrace you, gently, and nourish the part of your soul that cannot be fed by any other means.