The Power of Silence: Finding Clarity in a Noisy World

2024-03-28 04:40:00

We live in a world of constant noise, much more than in any other era that humanity has known. Since social networks have multiplied the means of communication, our daily lives are an incessant bombardment. While our mobile phone sends us the latest news push, through other applications we receive opinions from Twitter, notifications from Instagram and other networks, not to mention the fearsome groups…

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We live in a world of constant noise, much more than in any other era that humanity has known. Since social networks have multiplied the means of communication, our daily lives are an incessant bombardment. While our mobile phone sends us the latest news push, through other applications we receive opinions from Twitter, notifications from Instagram and other networks, not to mention the fearsome WhatsApp groups that fire words and memes incessantly. On the way to work, there are those who listen to their favorite program on the subway without headphones, until two rappers enter and, after turning the music system at full volume, begin to improvise lyrics about the passengers. Once in the office, the murmur of colleagues’ conversations are the soundtrack of the day. Noise, noise and more noise. It is as if silence had been relegated to the monasteries, or was a dangerous black hole that must be filled with anything before it swallows us.

The essay Cállate, by journalist Dan Lyons, opens with the following question: “Do we need all the people on this planet to express all their opinions about everything that happens at the same time?” The quote is from YouTuber Bo Burnham, and anticipates the thesis of the book: precisely because we live in the midst of a constant cacophony, closing your mouth is a measure that is as generous and timely as it is therapeutic with oneself. Lyons assures that learning to keep quiet helps us progress professionally, since we reduce the chances of screwing up, in addition to having health benefits. Without a doubt, trying to convey your message in the midst of the chaos of people who want the same thing is highly stressful, as well as frustrating. Many times, the person who has the most credit is the one who keeps his distance from controversies or the fight for attention. This is in line with two keys from a Machiavellian-inspired book published in 1998 by Robert Greene: The 48 Laws of Power.

The 4th is to always say less than necessary, and he justifies it like this: “Keep in mind that the more you say, the more vulnerable you will be and the less control of the situation you will have (…) Powerful people impress and intimidate because of their parsimony. The more you talk, the greater the risk of saying something stupid.”

The 16th uses absence to increase respect and honor, anticipates the madness created by social networks by several years, and says: “Too much supply reduces the price: the more you are seen and heard, the less necessary others will consider you (…) A temporary distance will make them talk more about you, and even admire you (…) Remember that scarcity creates value.”

These two recommendations go against the grain with respect to what millions of people do on the networks: nudge each other to be seen and heard, even for a few seconds on a reel. What Greene proposes is just the opposite. In a world dominated by noise, the most interesting person is the one who is silent, because silence gives us mystery, which is the key ingredient of seduction.

Since we are no longer used to remaining silent, let’s return to Dan Lyons’ recent book, which proposes five paths:

Whenever possible, don’t say anything. Unless, as a Japanese proverb says, your words are better than silence. In the words of the author of Cállate: “You have to be Dirty Harry, not Jim Carrey.”

Discover the power of breaks. Great speakers are known for how they manage silence. Wait two seconds before or after speaking, breathe, let the other person process what you just said. A silence in time is equivalent to a thousand words.

Leave social media. Most platforms are designed to be addictive. If because of your work you cannot abandon them completely, at least limit their use.

Look for silence. “Information overload leads us to a state of constant agitation and overstimulation, which causes health problems and can even shorten our life,” says Lyons. Give your brain a break through silence.

Learn to listen. This is a very productive way to keep quiet, but it requires active effort. It involves putting all five senses into what the other is saying, without judgments or mental chatter. Furthermore, as the author points out: “Nothing makes people happier than feeling like they are truly heard and seen.”

When we are able to keep our mouths shut, what happens next is incredible, Lyons says, as we will feel calmer, less anxious and more in control of our lives.

Pay attention!

— In his book The Value of Attention, the British popularizer Johann Hari points out that our ability to concentrate has entered a deep crisis. According to recent studies, a teenager can only concentrate on a task for 65 seconds on average, while an adult’s attention span does not exceed three minutes.

— A key to recovering it is understanding that the human brain is not made for multitasking. “We are very single-minded,” an MIT professor told the author. To regain focus we have to “turn off” the distractors and go back to doing one thing at a time.

Francesc Miralles is a writer and journalist who is an expert in psychology.

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