Working
Through Silence
Noise as a Distraction
Our lives are typically filled
with noise. There are the noises from the outside world that we cannot control,
and there are the noises we allow into our lives. These noises, from seemingly
innocuous sources like the television and radio, can actually help us avoid
dealing with uncomfortable thoughts and emotions. However, using noise as a
distraction hurts more than it helps because you are numbing yourself to what
may be internally bubbling up to the surface for you to look at and heal.
Distracting yourself with talk-radio, television, or other background noises can
also prevent you from finding closure to issues that haunt you.
Noise as
a distraction can affect us in many ways. It can help you stay numb to emotions
that you don’t want to feel, allow you to avoid dealing with problems, distract
you from having to think, and make it easier for you to forget reality. Drowning
out the thoughts and emotions you find uncomfortable or overwhelming can
complicate your issues because it allows them to fester. By tuning out noise and
relishing silence, you create the space to experience and express what you are
hiding. It is only then that self-exploration can begin in earnest and you can
stare down frightening issues. In silence, it becomes easier to let your
strongest feelings come forth, deal with them, and find new ways of resolving
your problems.
When you go within without the veil of noise to shield
you from yourself, you’ll be able to figure out what you need to heal. Embracing
silence and introspection allows you to work through your thoughts and emotions
and transmute them. Free of the need for noise, you can accept your pain, anger,
and frustration as they come up and turn them into opportunities to evolve.