SILENCE

How to Practice Silence for Women Who Need to Check In With Themselves, Like Right Now

Your power isn’t always loud; sometimes, it’s silent.

Over the past several weeks, I have been practicing silence in different corners of my life. Today, I am completely silent in all areas. I am out of words. I am, in a way, catatonic. This is how I cope when life has gotten too loud. For me, silence has become one of my most effective practices, and a sign that change is underway. And though it has become second nature to me, here are a few methods I’ve noticed myself repeating during these quiet times.

Finding a Quiet Place

When it’s time to be silent, feel free to lock yourself in your bedroom, bathroom, or closet for several hours. Once locked inside, sitting on the floor may help you feel more grounded. Breathe. Maybe take this time to listen to music, binge-watch one of your favorite shows, or comb through a book or magazine. What the hell — lock yourself in this quiet space with a glass of wine, a cocktail, or a beer. Whatever you do while in this space, don’t speak. Just be.

Focus Your Attention and Breath

Try focusing your sight on one general area of the room, which sometimes means just staring at the wall. Breathe deeply and slowly, letting go of the stressors of your day. This is a moment of nothingness, and with all that goes on in your life, it’s nice to look at nothing for a while. Another way to focus your attention and breath is to close your eyes and think about a specific part of your body, like your diaphragm. While focusing on that area, take deep, cleansing breaths to rid yourself of the energies weighing you down and to release the tension you tend to keep in that part of the body.

Forward-Focus

It is essential, during your silence, to remain forward-focused, as well. This will help you evolve out of this still silence and spring back into action when you feel ready. So, while in your silent practice, think about a goal that makes you happy, and all the things you need to do to achieve that goal. Then, please make a list of what you will do to get closer to it when your vow of silence is over. This will help you not to get stuck, utilize this silent practice, and not use it as a crutch or a place of permanent escape.

Journaling

During the silence, and in the moments after you have broken your vow, journal your thoughts and ideas. Focus on gratitude and ideas centered around your personal and professional goals. In your silence, your thoughts, feelings, and motivations become more apparent than ever, and getting them down on paper is essential so that you don’t forget once you’re back in the world.

These quiet times can last for days or even months. When practicing silence, do it in your own time, and in a way that works for you. Maybe you’ll need an hour or two of silence every evening, after a draining day at the office. Perhaps you’ll need an entire weekend. Perhaps you will spend your whole vacation in silence…and in Mexico!

There is so much peace in being silent. Here is where you will find the answers to the questions you’ve been asking of the universe. In practicing silence, you will be able to hear yourself clearly. Silence is a way to let the universe know you have had enough, that you’re exhausted and unable to go on as you’ve been, and something needs to change.

Practicing silence isn’t about not responding to the universe — it’s about allowing the universe space and time to respond to you! Make this practice a part of your daily and weekly self-care, and you may be surprised by what you discover about yourself!