“Silence is the most powerful scream.” - Anonymous
I recently heard the legendary Garth Brooks speak about the pause between his songs on every album. He explained that the pause, which began as a necessary way to separate songs on vinyl records, later became an intentional addition to his digital albums as well. Brooks feels strongly that the silence allows the listener to sit with their thoughts before moving on to the next song and, subsequently, the next feeling and emotion. I love the intentionality of this simple silence between songs because I believe there is so much power in the pause.
Take for example a heated exchange between loved ones, or even co-workers. Often during these intense conversations all it takes is one word or phrase to trigger a feeling of negative criticism, and it is so easy to respond from a place of emotion and defense.
An intentional pause and a breath allows a shift from the emotional part of the brain to the more logical thinking and problem solving part - which often leads to a more productive result.
Pausing briefly also forces both parties to sit in silence, which can lead to a shift in energy as both parties take time to process rather than react. Naturally, some people may be uncomfortable with silence and see it as their job to fill the dead air with more words. Resisting this urge to reactively speak is not easy at first, but as with any new practice, it can and will become a habit over time with discipline and self-awareness. I challenge you to adopt the practice of a brief pause and embrace momentary silence as a powerful tool to control your emotions and shift your perspective.
Melissa “Skeeter” Gentile