When I was a kid I used to hear my mom saying "interpreta mi silencio" (interpret my silence), and with my naive child mind I used to think: 'what does she mean with that? what's there to know about silence? Silence is just that...blah'. I was so wrong!
Most of us see silence like I did when I was a kid...a void that's waiting to be filled. For some, silence is that awkward space they furiously avoid to enter. For others, silence is just lack of sound, a respite to the hearing sense....but it could be so much more than that. Silence shouldn't be seen as a void or empty space, silence is powerful, and it should be compared with stillness. What happened when we are still? ...our senses get heightened and we may experience sensations never experienced before, we may hear what we didn't hear before.
Since I started practicing as a mental health practitioner I realized the power that silence gives me and have learned to use it as a powerful tool. I have noticed that I get my best answers when I am not asking questions, when I am dressed in the quietness of the moment. Silence unlike questions has no boundaries, and allow others to express what they are thinking or feeling without limits. We just need to allow others to interpret our silence as symbolic of opening the gates, of granting permission, of offering free range. When we are quiet we empower others to take control and lead the conversation. It's also empowering to the quiet one as this will allow for great discoveries of self, life and others.
We cannot forget that silence could be an answer on its own, that answer that we refused to hear, or accept. Like my mom used to say, we just need to interpret the silence.
We may look smart and intellectual asking our fancy questions, but how can we get the answers we look for if the space is busy and filled with our own words? Make silence your alli, you may discover that silence isn't that quiet after all.
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