How comfortable are we with silence? We are continuously inundated with noise: traffic, music, people talking, television blaring. On the news, we see human tragedy unfold: terrorism, murder, war, racism, hatred…All this information, coupled with the difficulties we face in our everyday life, might fill our thoughts continuously, make us trapped in our own minds. Even when alone, silence is absent, we are prisoners of our own ruminations.
Is there no end to this anxiety of ours? How can we find inner peace in a world that over-stimulates our senses, pushes us to continuously achieve, push ourselves harder?
Some find silence in prayer, in faith, in a Higher being. Others find peace in giving, in living a life serving others, in being kind even in the smallest of things…Being one with nature, looking at the vastness of the sea, observing the beauty in a small flower might help us appreciate the value of silencing our thoughts and be fully present in the here and now. Stop and think…are there enough moments of silence in your day?
– Anna Catania is a counsellor with Willingness. She has had a special interest in working with clients facing intimacy and sexual difficulties and runs a service for families going through cancer and chronic illness. She can be contacted on anna@willingness.com.mt