I was sat in the Tyneside Cinema Cafe pondering what I should write about in this months blog. The cinema screen which plays in the background was showing the black and white silent movie, Dracula. I was mesmerised and completely drawn in as I was watching the actors and imagining their converstaions based upon the visual interactions with each other.
As I became drawn into this visual world of silence my mobile bleeped, alerting me of a notification. The silence was shattered and the moment lost.
I was actually really upset by the intrusion however it got me thinking about just how connected everyone is in todays modern society. How often do we get to experience silence?
The old adage “silence is golden” has never been more relevant and is nowadays a rare commodity. One of the reasons for this is because it if we turn our phone off or heaven forbid leave the house without it we panic that no one will be able to reach us in an emergency, or that we will miss something important in the Facebook, Twitter and other social media news-feeds. This leaves us all constantly connected in one form or another.
Modern technology is incredible, it enhances life in so many areas and connects family and friends across the globe in ways that just a few years ago would never have been possible. Technology has freed us from many manual labour tasks, however, instead of this giving us more relaxation and family time it has sucked us in and so many of us (me included) are now shackled to our phones, tablets and other gadgets.
Silence enables us to become connected to our inner thoughts, feelings and emotions. Being still and sitting in silence is therapeutic and being able to obtain inner silence is a great meditation technique.
It may be difficult at first to switch off, both the technology and your mind but the benefits of accomplishing this can greatly enhance your life.
Spending just a little time in a silent environment can reduce anxiety and stress causing endorphins and lower blood pressure.
Experiencing silence can boost your immune system, increase mental alertness and cognitive abilities. These benefits are due to the bodies own amazing natural healing system which is at its most effective when the body is at rest and relaxed.
So, how do we obtain silence? The obvious answer is to switch off the technology. Try it for 30 minutes a day, or if that sounds too hard, start by doing just 5 or 10 minutes a day. Doing this can provide external silence so that you can then focus on finding inner peace, tranquility and silence.
To assist with finding inner silence, find a quiet place where you can relax wether that is somewhere to sit, lay down or even going for a walk outside with nature. Try sitting and just allowing your thoughts to come and then go until the mind reaches the still point. Once you have mastered this you can then then do some deep breathing exercises, in through your nose and out through your mouth. This will expand your lungs and relax and calm the body inducing a state of meditation. As you relax enjoy the stillness, remember silence is golden but also good for your health.
There are many ways to achieve a meditative state. Sign up for the Crystal Cottage Newsletter and receive my Easy Guide to Meditating with simple methods to learn meditation techniques.
Love and blessings
Theresa xxx