What Is This Silence We Seek?

Alright, beautiful souls, let's settle in for a moment. In our busy lives, especially as Black women who often carry so much, the idea of "silence" can feel like a mythical creature – rare, precious, and almost impossible to capture. We talk about needing it, chasing it, dreaming of it. But what is silence, really? Are we genuinely seeking an absence of sound, or is it something deeper, something far more profound that we crave, particularly during challenging times?

I've been thinking a lot about this lately, as I go through my daily life here in Oklahoma. The world constantly bombards us with noise: the demands of family, the ping of notifications, the endless loop of news, even the internal chatter of our own minds. In this symphony of sound, "silence" often gets elevated to the ultimate luxury, a panacea for overwhelm.

Maybe what we truly yearn for isn't just the quiet of the outside world, but the stillness within. It's not merely the absence of sound, but the presence of peace. It's the space where we can hear ourselves think, where our intuition can whisper, and where the constant demands quiet down enough for us to simply be.

So I ask... Does our longing for silence stem from a genuine need for deep quiet, or is it a symptom of our exhaustion, a cry for that wholeheartedness that external noise often drowns out? Are we just wishing for it during difficult times, hoping it will magically make the problems disappear, or is it a foundational element for our ongoing well-being?

It’s crucial to consider the nature of the silence we seek. Is it a deliberate choice for introspection and rejuvenation, or a retreat born of weariness, or even, at times, a form of self-suppression? As the brilliant Audre Lorde reminds us, "My silences had not protected me. Your silence will not protect you." This powerful truth challenges us to discern when silence serves as a sanctuary and when it becomes a barrier to our growth, our voice, and our very protection.

I believe that the feeling of silence we truly need is more than a fleeting thought in tough moments. It's a vital nutrient for our souls.

Are we chasing actual silence, or are we truly needing something else? Maybe it's not the complete absence of noise that matters most, but the intentional creation of moments where external distractions fade, allowing our internal world to settle. It's about finding those pockets of stillness, whether it's a mindful walk, a quiet moment with a cup of tea, a few minutes of deep breathing, or simply sitting in stillness in our own homes.

What does "silence" mean to you in this season of your life? How do you find those moments of stillness that truly nourish your spirit, distinguishing between a protective quiet and a silence that might hold us back?

Make this a conversation today.