We live in a noisy, distracting, and restless world. Trying to find a moment of silence can feel next to impossible.

We know that it is somehow essential for our souls to find that kind of peace and quiet, both outwardly and inwardly. The Psalms exhort us to “be still.” The prophet Isaiah proclaims that “in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” Thomas Merton later called silence “the very core of our moral being.” This all tells us what most of us already feel intuitively - a deep longing to find the Lord and, with Him, our very being in the midst of such quiet.

But that kind of idyllic silence just seems so elusive, doesn’t it? It’s almost as if the whole world is conspiring against us being able to ever really experience it.

If I’m being honest though, “the world” is not the real issue. At least not for me. No, the real issue is within myself. There is something within myself that conspires against silence.

I am the one who ultimately drives myself away from silence—away from the very same peace and quiet that I claim to be needing. Sure, my heart and my mind are conditioned by that noisy, distracting, and restless world that we all live in, but when it comes right down to it, it is me who chooses against silence more often than not, even when the opportunity for it is right in front of me.

Can you relate to this? My hunch is that I'm not alone here. If this describes you too, then I want to encourage you to recognize all of the small ordinary moments that are actually available to you throughout most days and simply allow them to be silent.

It is not difficult, except for the fact that it requires great discipline to not automatically fill every quiet space with something (email, social media, to-do lists, podcasts, news…the list of options goes on and on!). So in that sense, it is actually quite challenging, but learning to curb this reflexive tendency to fill silence is partly the point here.

Ready to take this challenge? The infographic below shares five ways that you can actually practice silence in your own everyday life by simple allowing them to stay quiet. Which one can you try this week?

Beyond enjoying the quiet itself, there are several important benefits to practicing silence in your daily life.

1. Silence grounds us. It cuts through the static that constantly surrounds us and fills our minds with stress, anxiety, and endless preoccupation. Even brief moments of stillness can bring our scattered attention back into alignment and settle our restless hearts.
2. Silence helps us better understand what is going on within us. Our inner life can become a murky and messy place when we don't give it focused attention. Silence creates space for introspection, clarity, and intentionality. It enables us to better discern God's loving and guiding presence and the work that He is doing within us.
3. Silence increases our capacity for connection in relationships. When we’re constantly overstimulated and preoccupied, we inevitably carry that into our interactions with others. By carving out regular space for quiet, that too overflows into our relationships, as we become more likely to show up with patience, empathy, and attentiveness. Silence is a gift to others just as much as it is to ourselves.

Grace to you on this journey toward finding everyday moments and actually practicing silence.

Written by: Matt Warren, LMHC MDiv (Executive Director)

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