SERIOUSLY SPEAKING - MIGHT IT REALLY BE GOLDEN?

Quiet doesn't seem to get high marks in our lives.

Can you remember the last time you were praised for being silent?Maybe in grade school...  

When we're quiet, we often assume that others tend to think the worst about us - or maybe that's only what we think they're thinking?

Hmmm

DANCE WITH IT!   EXPERIENTIAL APPS                           

An opportunity to experiment with some fun ideas…

WHAT'S YOUR SILENCE TOLERANCE?

Which of the following fit for you?

* I can sit quietly and be comfortable with my own silence and that of others.

* If it's quiet too long I think something's wrong.

* When I'm with people and there's silence I have to fill it in.

* If someone doesn't respond to me right away, I get nervous and start chattering or asking questions.

* If there's a lull in a conversation I tend to think the other person is bored and try to be entertaining.

* I hate silence.  I always fill it in with negative thoughts.

SHHH… HANG IN THERE!

She asked me a question and I was quiet for a moment, letting my mind wander…

It's a lovely way to find answers.

But…

Ever notice how many people tend to panic when there's silence?

"Oh," she filled in quickly, "did you mean…"

What is it about silence that makes people feel such an intense need to fill in the blanks?

What do ya say?

Ever notice this one?

SERIOUSLY SPEAKING - SILENCE IS … WHAT?

So, what's wrong with a little silence?  Why do we need to fill in all the spaces?

People often answer:  anxiety! 

So, what does that have to do with not leaving open space in our conversations, on our walls, in our lives?

Think about it.  We fill in our conversations with unnecessary, gratuitous and often nonsensical sounds, our counters with clutter, the walls in our homes… and how about that constantly blaring tv in the background?

In ancient times people banged drums and created loud sounds to ward off the ever lurking demons…

Perhaps we are trying to ward off our own demons - those ever present, internal Bully voices that might jump into the silence with their incessant criticisms?

Here's an interesting thought:  Attorneys prepping their clients for depositions often advise them to count to ten before responding to any question, creating an easy method of not jumping into that tempting silence…

  

DANCE WITH IT!   EXPERIENTIAL APPS           

An opportunity to experiment with some fun ideas...

THE PRACTICE OF SILENCE…

Imagine yourself in a special, very safe room that has a 'No Criticism Allowed' rule.

The room is wonderfully peaceful and quiet - no auditory or visual clutter…

As you enter this room, feel yourself becoming light … knowing you are totally safe you begin to float … just enough to drop any weight… it's a very pleasurable feeling…

Breathe deeply and experience the pleasure of being so light… everything is clear … no clutter as you continue to breathe…

If anything intrudes - even a thought - try counting to ten - in rhythm with your breathing - in and out …

Spend a few minutes in this restorative space … it now belongs to you and you can return to its lightness as easily as taking a deep breath…

Allow yourself to return to your present moment feeling lighter and less cluttered…

Nice, right?

~To comment click below and let us know what you think ~

And for a quick meditation:                                                                                   

Http://tinyurl.com/minimeditations

UMMM… UMMM…

Ever notice those really annoying space fillers?

I mean, seriously, what's wrong with a little silence between words - or even thoughts?

And how about that ubiquitous 'you know'?

And then there's the compounded 'you know… ummm…'

Yikes!  What is it with these people? 

Maybe they are afraid of those little green goblins that jump into empty spaces…

Ok, a little out there… But really…

What do ya say?

You don't do this, right?  

~To comment click below and let us know what you think ~

And for a quick meditation:                                                                                   

Http://tinyurl.com/minimeditations