Embracing the Power of Inner Silence

Embark on a journey along the road less traveled, where we embrace the Power of Inner Silence

Let the road less traveled be your guide to deeper connection with the world around you.

This year has been all about doing less for me.

Less screen time.

Less busyness.

Less drama…

Just less.

Part of the reason for wanting less is so that I make room for stillness and slowness.

When French mathematician and physicist, Blaise Pascal said in 1654, that “All of humanity’s problems, stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.”

I felt that.

Some people treat these things like diseases to avoid, though, on the flip side, silence is such a force.

We invite you to explore the beauty of solitude and the thrill of the unknown. And as you tread lightly on this less-traveled terrain, you’ll encounter the whispers of nature, the echoes of self-discovery, and the serenity that comes from forging your own way.

Dutch-born priest, professor, and one of the most influential spiritual writers of our generation, Henri J.M Nouwen once observed  that “silence and stillness are truly one of the only places we are laid bare—completely naked.”

Nouwen explains, “Solitude is not a private therapeutic place. Rather, it is the place of conversion. It’s where the old self dies, and the new self is born. Where mirages of our false self pop up again and again.” said Nouwen. But our job is to stay put in the quiet place.

To stay put in the desert.

Without the need to numb ourselves in the mindless act. But rather to realize how little attention we’ve paid to our internal energy center.

Author of The Untethered Soul, Micheal Singer said it best when he said, “We study the energy outside and give significant value to these sources, but we ignore the power within.” ing

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I’m often reminded of a story about Alexander the Great, who reaches a river crossing only to be confronted by a philosopher who refuses to move.

“This man has conquered the world!” one of Alexander’s men shouts. “What have you done?”

With complete confidence, the man replies, “I have conquered the need to conquer the world.”

And there, they were able to look each other in the eye and see who really had control over himself.

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“First, silence makes us pilgrims.” noted Nouwen, “Secondly, silence guards the fire within. Thirdly, silence teaches us to speak.”

But if we can’t listen to that quiet voice in ourselves, then how tf can we help other people gain freedom? 

How can we be part of the harmonious flow of life?

How can we bring peace?

And so, by forcing ourselves to slow down, to spend more time in personal reflection, away from the noise,” as American physicist and writer, Alan Lightman, reminds us, “we’ll have an opportunity to think about who we are as individuals and as a society.”

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Try this with me as you read this: Take a deep breath.

Let your tongue, throat, and shoulders relax.

Let your breathing be at peace as you relax your legs and feet.

Now gently observe the breath, and body sensations, without judgment.

And whenever you notice the mind has wandered, return it to the breath. Two inhalations, then one exhale—In the same breath cycle.

This simple practice, if done daily, can help ease anxiety, and the nervous system, and overall, enhance your wellbeing. It’s a life hack I learned from American neuroscientist, Andrew Huberman, that turned out to be super helpful during stressful. It’ll fill you up with positive and peaceful energy.

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On this less-traveled terrain, give yourself a few minutes every day to sit in quiet meditation.

If you’re new to this practice, start with five minutes a day.

Find a quiet spot, sit comfortably, and simply observe the ins and outs of your breath.

Allow the thoughts to pass gently through your mind.

It is the nature of the mind to think, so don’t fight them, or try to get rid of them. Give them no importance, and they’ll pass on.

There are plenty of other methods you can also explore, from meditation apps, books, and classes.

When I first started, I could only sit for 5 minutes. But gradually I worked up to 15 minutes, then 30, and so on. Though I cannot say which method is right for you. That is something you will have to discover for yourself.

And as self-help author and motivational speaker Wayne Dyer, would say, “You are a spiritual being living in a physical world.” For this reason, everything that happens in the physical first happens in the realm of the spirit.

In the spiritual realm, we become connected with a higher source, whether it’s through prayer or meditation. Additionally, the practice of forgiveness and unconditional love can also work wonders.

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As metaphysical lecturer and author, Louise L. Hay reminds us, “Think thoughts that make you happy. Do things that make you feel good. Be with people who make you feel good. Eat things that make you feel good. Go at a pace that makes you feel good.”

And lastly, be a bit kinder than it’s necessary to yourself and others. Go at a pace that makes you feel good. Breathe, and feel deeper. As the Swiss philosopher and poet, Henri-Frédéric Amiel points out, “The growth and development of the soul is more than power and glory.”

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Thank you for reading, and I’ll see you on the next one. God bless.