The Power of Being Quiet

In Thich Nhat Hanh’s book Silence, he emphasized the importance of being quiet.
Be quiet from the outside, whether it's social media, news, words, sounds, or any kind of information.
Be quiet from the inside, turn off the nonstop broadcasting radio in your head.

When you are in silence, you have the space to pause.
You have more freedom to feel.
You have more appreciation for now.

Because finally, you have time to see what’s going on with your mind and your body.
When you are quiet, you have a connection with yourself.

But how?

Especially these days, when I can't even put down my phone for half an hour.
How can I turn off the thoughts in my own mind?

It’s not that hard.

Try it:

Just feel.

Feel your breath.
It's inhaling, then exhaling.

Feel your body.
Is there any tension?
Exhale and relax it.

Feel your mind.
Are you at peace? Or a bit irritated?
That’s okay. Exhale and let it be.

Feel the moment.
What do you hear? Birds? Trees? People talking?
How’s the temperature?
And everything around you?
How does it feel?

Are you noticing that you are in silence?
Are you noticing that your mind was pretty quiet, and you kind of enjoyed this feeling?

Then that’s it.

Just feel, don't think.
Then you can be in silence again.