Today’s technology has “gifted” us with the ability to talk while we drive, Skype while we type, and chat with anyone almost anywhere on phones that fit in our pockets.
Have these modern conveniences distanced us from our true inner voice? What does he or she have to say about this? Have you stopped to listen?
I remember the first time I spent 24 hours in silence about 7 years ago. I set out with the intention to “unplug” from the outside world, including my laptop, cellphone, television, music, and most of all, speaking. At first, I resisted this practice, and at the same time, there was a subtle voice inside of me that was begging for it.
For the first few hours of my day, I felt anxious, scattered, and all I wanted to do was complete my morning ritual of checking my email, making a phone call, or bantering with my housemate. Still, I had a feeling there was something to be learned in this unfamiliar silence.
Eventually, the mental chatter began to quell, and my thoughts became more clear and focused. A sense of calm washed over me, and I suddenly felt like I had more room to breath. As I listened in the silence, I heard clear insights about what I needed to do to be healthier and more fulfilled in my life. I wrote, listened, and wrote some more, and was surprised by how much information was right there inside of me all along, just waiting to be heard.
I’ve taken many “Silent Days” since then, and occasionally “Silent Weeks”. I still resist at times, or find myself caught up in what I think I “have to do”. But I now realize that it’s usually those times when I need to go inward more than ever. Each time I do this, I feel refreshed, inspired, and brimming with new ideas. I sometimes say that I feel like a “new” woman, but I’m actually just more connected to the woman I am.
So whether you have a full day, an afternoon, or even an hour, I encourage you to “unplug” from daily distractions, and open up to your own inner wisdom. You are the only one who truly knows what you need to do to be happy and healthy.
Are you listening?
*Photo above: My sleepy hometown of Rockwood, Maine (taken by my talented Mum).
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I can’t think of anything more rejuvenating than the scent of Ponderosa Pine, and sweeping views of snow-capped peaks and wildflowers. This always hits a reset button for me. Suddenly, my sleep falls into a different rhythm, synchronized with the rise and fall of the sun. The flickering and humming of electrical appliances no longer trick my mind into thinking I should be “doing something”. I am lulled.
