I used to lie so I wouldn’t have to explain myself. The next time you begin to feel anxious, sit in silence and see if you can find the space of deep faith that lives in your heart. Silence taught me to have faith in myself. But living in silence meant I had to trust my instincts. The next time someone doubts you, instead of disagreeing, silently vow not to give up. Silence isn’t flashy, but it has an immense power to endure. PerseveranceĮvery retreat reminded me that speaking is easy, but staying quiet is hard. There is immense courage inside your heart. The next time you are afraid, stop and wait for it to pass. When we stop moving everything we’re running from catches up. Silence taught me the courage it takes to be still. I used to think courage was about facing danger, but during retreat I realized that real courage is about facing yourself. Think of someone you haven’t said I love you to recently and tell them. Silence taught me that love can be simple. But in retreat I found that I felt love for so many things. The next time you face something difficult, pause and honor whatever’s arising. Silence taught me that space helps me face hard times. But retreat taught me that if I avoided something it would never go away. Spaceįor a long time anytime something difficult came up, I would just distract myself. Find a good spot to people watch with an open heart. Silence taught me that people display great beauty. Some were happy, some were sad, but all were wonderfully human. Humanityĭuring retreat I was surrounded by imperfect people who were doing their best. You’ll be amazed at what you hear if you listen long enough. Sit in front of your house and close your eyes. Silence taught me that the world is a rich texture of sounds. But living at the monastery I knew all the noises, from frogs, to owls, to the sound of sandals on the sidewalk. People would come to the monastery and remark how quiet it was.
The less you see and hear, the more settled your mind can become. Silence taught me the importance of reducing the stimulation. I came to realize how much our senses have to process most of the time. Whenever I went into town after retreat, the world seemed so loud and fast. Close your eyes and ask, “What sensations do I feel in my hand?” Learning to feel your body can calm your troubled mind. And when I focused on my body, my thoughts would calm down. Bodyĭuring retreat I noticed that whenever I got lost in thought, I lost track of my body. Take a short walk outside in silence and you’ll discover the wisdom and peace that nature has to offer. Natureīecause I sat retreat in every season, I know that the sound of wind in fall is different than it is in winter.
Take time each day to notice your thoughts and let go of thoughts that don’t serve you. Silence taught me the importance of shaping my thinking. I realized if my thoughts were this loud, I’d better make them as wise as possible. What amazed me was how easily my thoughts drowned out the noise. I once sat a retreat next door to a construction project. The next time you are with someone you care about, try turning off your phone and putting it away. Silence taught me how important it is to let go of distractions. It showed me how my phone divided my attention.
But then I would remember I didn’t have my phone. Several times at my first retreat I thought my phone was vibrating.
Deep listening expresses deep appreciation. The next time you see your friends or family, try to really listen. Silence taught me to appreciate the value of relating to others. Appreciationīeing able to speak makes life easy, but when I couldn’t talk I learned how much I relied on others. Think of one simple thing you can say that would help someone feel better and say it. Silence taught me that a few simple words well spoken have more power than hours of chatter. Before the monastery I talked a lot but said little. When you can only talk by writing a note, you only say what’s important. Pick something that’s weighing you down and let it go. But at monastery I went without and discovered I didn’t need it.
#Powerful move in silence quotes tv
I used to think I needed to watch TV every night. By the time I left I learned that silence was my friend and teacher. At the time I was living at a Zen Monastery and every month we would have a week-long silent retreat.ĭuring this retreat we sat meditation in silence, ate in silence, worked in silence, and only communicated through hand gestures and written notes.Īt first living like this was hard, but over time I learned to grow to appreciate silence. “Silence is a source of great strength.” ~Lao Tzuįor over two years I spent one out of every four weeks in silence.
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