Article by Tamara · 3 min read · Originally shared 2019-05-29
The Power of Silence
Why silence feels so uncomfortable, and why it matters in coaching. A reflection by Tamara Georgiadou.
Living in constant noise
Daily routine: rushing to work in traffic, chores, shops, activities, back and forth all day. When we finally get home, there is TV, social media, calls, messages and everything else technology offers, and we willingly keep ourselves busy with it.
We have learned to live in such constant noise that silence feels strange, uncomfortable, even unnatural. Strangely, to silence our mind we need a lot of practice. When was the last time you tried to quiet your mind or to meditate? How many attempts did it take before you managed five minutes?
With other people, silence feels so uneasy that we quickly come up with a story, a joke, some news or gossip, anything to keep the noise going. Alone, it is just as uncomfortable, so we call a friend, flip through TV channels or scroll through social media. We keep our minds busy with things that often give no real value to our lives.
What is it about silence that scares us?
Is it the speed of our times, the technological era, the size of our cities and the lack of nature, or our own fear of looking inside and what we may find there?
In the last decade or so, quieting the mind and meditation have come to the surface. Practitioners recommend stillness, and science suggests many benefits: peacefulness, greater awareness, better sleep, less stress and even improvements in physical health.
Silence in coaching
As coaches, we also practise silence during our sessions. We hold the space for the client to finally be with themselves, to reflect and gain insights. It is during the silence that the aha moments, the “eureka”, insights, inspirations and revelations occur.
We live with so much speed and noise that we need to remind ourselves of the power of silence, above all to bring us back to ourselves. How many of us really take the time and space to hear what is within and listen to our own voice? Not only for the eternal questions of who we are, why we are here and what we really want, but also for the many questions we are afraid to ask because they would disrupt the flow of our rushing lives.
And yes: simply to be, in peace and harmony.
A question to take with you
Are you ready to hear, or better, to listen to silence? Start by taking a deep breath.