A mentor (you know who you are) once told methat when you allow space for silence it appears to others that you are being more thoughtful about your response. Many of us feel uncomfortable in silence among other people. Through years of practice, I’ve learned to use silence as a tool, whether it is in public speaking, in conversation, or when I’m alone.
I had an epiphany today. I recognized that the discomfort I felt in silence among other people for so long mimicked the discomfort I felt in silence by myself in early sobriety. One of the scary parts of getting sober is having to face ourselves without the self-medication of alcohol. Early sobriety consisted of a lot of crying, a lot of anxiety, and a lot of courage sitting with my own thoughts and not trying to escape from them.
Just as my mentor suggested, I allow space for silence when I'm alone. I practice sitting in it and noticing my thoughts instead of trying to make them go away or drown them. It allows me to be more thoughtful about my responses to people and circumstances in my life. There is so much that can happen in silence if you get still and let it.
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#PowerOfSilence #MindfulCommunication #OvercomingDiscomfort #EarlySobriety #FindingStillness #MindfulLiving #SobrietyJourney #PersonalGrowth #EmbraceSilence #InnerPeace
