Silence speaks…

Silence speaks and indeed in volumes. Silence is a very powerful communication tool. It must be heard and only then do you realize that it speaks the unspeakable! It weighs more than words and speaks louder than words for sure! Hence it’s often said that silence is golden. It’s very tough to refute silence in a debate. It gives out many messages and hence is as easy to misunderstand or misinterpret it as it is to understand!!

Periods of silence in music, dance and theater mean a lot and are used in the right time and right context to denote some deep thoughts, allowing things to sink in the minds of the audience. The pause in music can convey a powerful message than the chords. That pause in a conversation is just as important as the words that follow it. It may even be more essential. Look at the white spaces between the letters on this page; aren't they as important as the letters themselves? Silence gives significance to that which is around it. It is the pause in a conversation that gives you the feeling that something meaningful is happening. It implies that the other person is actually listening and absorbing what you had to say. And then comes a thoughtful response. It could be less than a second, but this little "nothing" carries intense meaning.

More often than not, silence can be very painful and unbearable. Especially when u are seeking some answer or justification from the other party but u in turn get only silence! It can be frustrating!! When you do not get the right consent at the right moment and the same is being conveyed through an indefinite period it could be very bothersome. How do you plead your innocence in relationships and situations if you decide to be silent? You shall keep wondering till death as to what happened? Y did that silence prevail? Did u really deserve that “moment of silence”? It can hurt you big time.

Silence has the power to heal the turbulence of emotions. Silence must be observed. When you observe silence it becomes meditation. More often than not, these days we see every other yoga teacher or a doctor suggesting meditation to people who are busy in their mundane life, worrying about the nonsensical happenings within and without them, making them the slaves to the two great evils - “stress and strain”!

We are accountable to something or someone superior. Foremost, ourselves!! You need some time and moment to speak to yourself and that can be done in silence alone! It is a wonder tool to understand one self. It gives a chance to speak to one’s inner self. A chance to contemplate on the deeds. To introspect. Silence instills stillness and quietude allowing the mind to calm and relax. In silence, you become conscious of the consciousness. Perhaps what we need is a little "white space." A moment of silence - For personal reflection. For contemplation. For world peace. Period.


Read an article pertaining to silence in TOI. Following is an excerpt of the same-

Says psychiatrist Dr Avdesh Sharma, "When we talk, a chain of thoughts gets translated into speech, it is loss of energy. We think 30 thoughts per minute. In silence we think 5, when we're agitated they go up to 60. Silence slows down our thoughts. This reduces the chance of misinterpretation."

Used right, silence communicates trust. When used in love, it shows we care. It can be a sword too. Silence is far easier to punctuate than language. We just need to choreograph quietness. As your confidence level grows, you will find it easier to include moments of quiet. "The silent points are punctuation points that help you hear the composition of life," adds Sharma. All it takes is strength of silence to resolve a complicated dialogue.

A hush of words, a pause to kickstart your lost chance, all over again!