Q is for . . .
“Go placidly amid the noise and haste and remember what peace there may be in silence.”
Max Ehrmann
Quietness is good for our mental health.
Silence and solitude give us the space to think, act, and play "catch up" with our mind, and can be very healthy for our physical and mental wellbeing. According to a 2013 study in the journal Brain Structure & Function, at least two hours of quietness a day increases the production of brain cells. It’s the brain’s way of preparing for upcoming mental challenges.
And it can happen in less than two hours. A 2006 study in the journal Heart found silence can release tension in the brain and body in just two minutes. Researchers found it was more relaxing than listening to "relaxing" music based on changes in blood pressure and blood circulation in the brain.
It's helpful here to think of 'silence' as being the absence of constant stimulation, visual AND auditory. So, turn off your screen and let your mind settle. For two minutes or two hours, it's up to you. But give your mind a break.
“Some of our greatest ideas, arts and inventions … came from quiet … people who knew how to tune in to their inner worlds and the treasures to be found there. Neither the theory of relativity nor Paradise Lost was dashed off by a party animal.” Susan Cain
Quietness is good for our creativity.
We grow up with an idea that creativity arises from mental stimulation. And sometimes that can be true. But one thing is for sure - modern life doesn't need more mental stimulation. In our everyday overstimulated lives we miss working and re-working our thoughts. Developing and internalising our understanding of an idea and the layers of meaning.
Find a quiet place or go for a walk. Turn off your phone. And let you mind roam without any distractions or boundaries. Connect your ideas, solve problems and explore how you might share your creativity with others.
Quietness is good for others.
We tend to think that quietness is found through listening but perhaps it’s the other way round and quietness enables us to truly listen. Our inner voice can be quick to speak and quick to judge, but empathy comes from stilling that voice and truly listening.
Listen today to those around you. Truly listen and seek to experience the world the way they see it. And then observe how that changes your relationships with others.
Quiet - The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan M Cain
Podcast
Susan Cain - Quiet Podcast a podcast where quiet voices are heard.
