The art of reclaiming silence in a noisy world
In my own life, with obligations like anyone else, I discovered that taking a moment each day just for myself was not a luxury, but a deep need. At first, I was not strict — some days I remembered to do it, other days I simply skipped it — until I began to notice how my mind felt scattered and restless without it. In a world filled with endless notifications, emails, and constant distractions, I decided to say to myself: this time belongs to my silence. What began as a personal discipline slowly transformed into a habit I could no longer live without, a ritual that allows me to breathe again and to reconnect with myself. Modern neuroscience has shown that silence has measurable effects on the brain: researchers like Imke Kirste have found that two hours of silence a day can lead to the growth of new neurons in the hippocampus, the region involved in memory and learning. It is fascinating to realize that something as simple as creating space for stillness can literally reshape our brain and enhance our well-being.
From boredom to insight — the practice of sitting with yourself
When I started to dedicate daily time to silence, I quickly noticed how my mind resisted it. Within minutes, I was already making tomorrow’s shopping list, remembering tasks, replaying conversations. At first, contemplation felt boring, almost like a punishment. But the Taoist sage Lao Tse reminds us that “silence is a source of great strength.” Over time, I learned that silence is not empty — it is full of potential, a fertile ground where thoughts begin to settle and clarity emerges. Albert Einstein himself often said that his greatest ideas came not when he was intensely thinking but when he was walking, sailing, or simply sitting in stillness. Neuroscientific studies of the default mode network (DMN) suggest that when we allow the brain to rest from external input, associative networks activate, leading to moments of insight and creative problem-solving. What was once boring became a kind of secret recharge, like plugging my soul into a quiet energy source that carries me through the rest of the day.
Silence as the first step toward healing and presence
Sometimes we are physically on vacation, feeling the sea water touch our feet, yet our mind is still at the office. We have normalized living entirely in the mind, disconnected from our body. Silence acts as a bridge, allowing us to return to ourselves and inhabit the present moment fully. For me, silence has become the first step of every path of healing, recovery, or spiritual exploration. Only in silence can truth reveal itself. Carl Jung spoke of individuation as a process of integrating the unconscious into consciousness, and I believe that silence is what allows this process to begin. It is not a journey with a final destination, but a lifelong adventure, one that I love with all my heart because I am walking it with awareness. Taoist philosophy calls this living in harmony with the Tao, aligning with the natural rhythms of life. Every day I sit with myself, I feel closer to that flow, and I discover a little more of who I really am.