Are We Afraid to be Silent?

We are all consumed with today’s media gadgets and programs. Whether you are in public, on transit, walking, jogging, in your car, in a mall, in a class or in an elevator we observe everyone being connected. Are we afraid to be silent?

"Silence," said Lao Tzu, "is a source of great strength." It is in silence that we steadily learn the language of art. "It is not the inert silence of a stone," said Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, "but creative silence."

Adolescence is a time when young people discover their unique identities. They need moments of silence to reflect on their experiences—to discover who they are as individuals, what kind of relationships they desire, and what they value and believe about life. Tuning out the noisy world helps young people develop the ability to reflect and grow. 

When asking our young people to share their thoughts and feelings, we affirm the value of their experiences, help them see things through other eyes, and support the process of reflection. It is not necessary to text or email questions, but rather interact with our youth and each other.  J. Dewey wrote and published (1910),” How We Think” followed by, “Experience and Education” (1938). He lists five ways to foster self reflection in teens. It is worth the read.  http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-moment-youth/201312/the-importance-silence-in-noisy-world

Talking to others - really talking and sharing or whether talking to ourselves  gives our minds time to pause, to reflect and to relax.  It is healthy.

Human relationships are high on the list, but we also need to guard against losing those other faculties that truly define our humanity.

Silence is one of the great arts of conversation.

Marcus Tullius Cicero

References
Dewey, J. (1916). Democracy and education: An introduction to the philosophy of education. New York: MacMillan
Dewey, J. (1933). How we think. Buffalo, NY: Prometheus Books. (Original work published 1910)
Dewey, J. (1938). Experience and education. New York: Kappa Delta Pi.

How to foster self-reflection in young people.

Published on December 8, 2013 by Marilyn Price-Mitchell, Ph.D. in The Moment of Youth