How to learn to appreciate silence

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Try to remember when and where was the last time you listened to silence? I am sure that not everyone will be able to answer this question. And all because silence in our time is a rare phenomenon and not accessible to everyone.

The life of modern city dwellers is so densely permeated with sound stimuli that over time we cease to notice them. Everywhere we are pursued by various music, conversations of colleagues, telephone ringing, noise of cars, messenger notifications, and the hubbub of TVs. All this forms a brutal audio grinder that grinds our brain every day.

Breaking away from this noisy pursuit, even for a short time, is not so easy. For this, many people have to radically change their lifestyle or, for example, go on a solo hike somewhere in the mountains. However, if you are not yet ready for this, then you can start small. Here are some tips to help you learn to appreciate silence.

1. Take five minutes

To some, this task may seem too easy and even ridiculous. But believe me, spending even five minutes in absolute silence without doing anything can be tricky. Especially if this is your first experience. In half a minute your brain will start to starve and beg you to do something, but you should not give up. After a while, your consciousness, deprived of feeding by external stimuli, will pay attention to itself and a new wondrous world of inner contemplation will open before you.

2. Leave your phone

It's not even a matter of getting rid of those constant notifications and calls, although that matters too. Another thing is more important: try, at least for a while, to get rid of the invisible threads connecting you with the world around you. We are so accustomed to the fact that we are constantly pulled for them that we ourselves did not notice how the thin threads turned into a strong leash or even shackles. Try to part with your mobile assistant for at least a short time every day. This will give you a completely forgotten feeling of freedom.

3. Turn off everything

It's funny, but in those areas where there are power outages for various reasons, people live much more fulfilling lives. Instead of hanging out in computer games and social networks, they talk, walk, cook, read or draw. In general, they are engaged in those things that we all want to do, but constantly put off until later.

Try to implement something similar in your life. To do this, it is not at all necessary to unscrew the plugs in the apartment, you can simply agree on a curfew for gadgets. Or try, for example, to make a bet: whoever turns on his computer, smartphone or TV first will lose. All participants, without exception, will still win.

4. Buy good headphones

If you cannot completely control the surrounding sound environment, then try to at least isolate yourself from it. There is no better way to do this than a pair of good headphones and your favorite playlist on your player.

5. Meditate

Nothing teaches you to appreciate silence more than meditation. This activity can be called a kind of spiritual gymnastics, which, unlike physical exercises, gives us mental health and balance of emotions. A meditating person learns to keep attention on his internal processes, looking at them as if from the outside, and this is possible only in conditions of silence.

Do you like silence? Or at least remember what it is?