Silence is rewarding, so I indulge it as often as I can. I do not feel the need to have a constant swirl of noise around me. I do not need to have the television on constantly. I do not need the radio while I’m driving. I have no obligation to answer my phone when it rings.

Allowing myself to be still calms my heart rate and my blood pressure, leading to greater health and longevity. I am rewarded by better and deeper sleep. Lower levels of adrenaline keep me from responding in hair-trigger fashion to crises. I indulge in silence because it is good for my body.

Silence is also important for my mind, allowing me to absorb and retain the important information I have recently learned, rather than allowing it to be dissipated in the chaos around me.

Perhaps most importantly, silence nourishes my spirit. My thoughts and feelings are at the center of my creative self. When I afford myself silence, I increase my own creativity.

I actively seek out peaceful silence. When I walk, I allow myself to tune into the lessons of nature. When I am working, I prefer silence over the static of canned voices. When I am with friends and family, I do not feel obligated to fill up space with empty chatter.

I do not treat silence as an intruder, but as a friend that I welcome with open arms, knowing that he comes with my best interests at heart.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. What function does noise play in my life?
2. What sources of noise in my life could be silenced?
3. Do I treat silence as a friend or as an adversary?