Quiet Please!
True silence is the rest of the mind; it is to the spirit what sleep is to the body, nourishment and refreshment. – William Penn (1644 – 1718)
The value of silence is often overlooked in today’s society. Like a favorite book covered by mounds of unfiled paperwork, out of sight is out of mind. We tend to forget the beauty and fullness of silence, and how silence allows us to create. But the richness of silence should never be overlooked. Instead, silence should be savored like a cup of hot cocoa on a cold winters’ day.
If you are at all like me, you find yourself constantly “plugged in”...... with technology rapidly becoming the center of your life. A day or so away from email and social networking can lead to withdrawal pains. Your boss may want to make sure that you are still available by cell, even though you are on vacation. And, of course, you always need to keep track of your fantasy teams.
We’re told that multi-tasking is good and that we should make the best use of our time by listening to self-help books on tape while driving in the car. And our nature hike would not be complete without our trusty I-pod providing us with our favorite tunes and blotting out all semblance of nature.
What if silence was not the vast wasteland it is presumed to be, but rather a place of physical and spiritual healing? What if silence allowed us to hear the thoughts behind the words; the meaning behind the actions; and intent behind the behavior?
How much smarter would we be if we spent more time listening and less time talking?
Do you allow silence into your life? Do you allow time for reflection and thought? Or are you too busy completing the tasks at hand to hear the whispers and messages being sent to you in the quiet of the day.
Silence is the conduit of thought. Without silence our thoughts are distorted by the noise around us.
Until next time....
Dave Meyer
ECI Learning Systems LLC
http://www.ecilearning.com/
Categories: Workplace Energy Crisis,Communication,Coaching,Leadership
Dave great post. You are right we run so hard and stay so connected and communicate so much we forget to stop and hear what our own mind and heart has to say.
I observe it every day in business people running so fast improving productivity (efficiency) while not being very effective. I see people and organizations reacting and then reacting to the reaction. It pays to stop and listed to the quiet.
Great post
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Boy, Dave.....You've sure given us something to think about with this one.
And I know that I am as guilty as anyone.
For me it's music. I LOVE music. Almost any music. Especially if it's got a good beat and you can dance to it!
I listen while I'm playing, or working out, or working... In fact, when I've got a big task looming, I know I can crank the tunes and immerse myself in both task and music and hammer it out. I can be very productive that way.
Yet, I also know that I truly need the quiet. That's where the creative thoughts, ideas, insights, and possibilities pop in. That's where my inspiration lies.
Thanks for the reminder to listen for myself in the quiet.
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Hi Coach Dave. Right now i am teaming up with another business associate to help unemployed people through the difficult transition of finding themselves again without the safety net of work. What i coach them on is taking this quiet time to reflect on who they are, listening to their inner voices and to embrace this time as a bonus, not a negative . We find out so much about ourselves when we stop to listen to our heart, reflect on where we would like to grow and realize our weaknesses.Alone time can build the foundation to personal growth..Take care, Anne Crawford
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Hello Coach Dave, what a great post! I don't know what drew me to your blog today! All week i have been running from one commitment to the next, with that feeling of rush and of being behind or not doing enough! what a great timing to fall on this powerful article on silence! thank you for the reminder! it is a valuable insight and i felt the 'shift' as i was reading it!
So, i am logging off now and going to enjoy some quiet time (overdue) with myself!
Thanks again,
Myriam
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