Is Silence OK?

I really would like to know! I personally believe that comunication is THE key to all...if you talk it out, most likely you can come to a conclusion. It is the way to give the problem a chance to be solved.
But when there is silence, and no talking, is that ok? I'm talking about families.
I have heard that there are philosophies that say that thoughts "arrive" through space, and no words are needed.
I find silence negative. But I would like to know what you think...There are lot of very intelligent people out there (out here?). Please....let me hear your viewpoints.
Thanks
Stephanie

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by luisella valeri on November 24, 2008 at 3:10pm

There is a silece much speaking and there is a silece silent.
In some occasion are better words (it's possible to give voice, and so to let loose prejudices), in other the silence when speaks with the heart.
But if we speak and we don't listen other person, or we make silent being closed to other?
Always, is not the things by itself, but the modality we conduct them and our really motivation!
luisella

Permalink Reply by Stephanie on December 6, 2008 at 1:10am

Hi
Please check Is Silence Ok for my response
Thanks
Stephanie

Permalink Reply by Eliana Gilad on November 29, 2008 at 11:48pm

Being a composer of healing and transformational music, silence is the source of true harmony. Actually all the sounds come from it.

Many beautiful words have been written here, though, their source comes from that deep well of silence.

Permalink Reply by Stephanie on December 6, 2008 at 1:11am

Thanks
Please look at Is Silence Ok for my response
Thanks
Stephanie

Permalink Reply by Irene Brautigam on December 3, 2008 at 6:04am

I have always taught my children that one of the most important tools I could provide them in life was to help build their communication skills. It started from the time they were very young and I told them that they must learn to always say hello or greet people. I am always amazed at how many people have forgotten this simple lesson in the work place and people can just walk right by without acknowleding another's existence. Good communication skills develope into good people skills and this will be the most valuable tool in all relationships throughout their lives whether in the home or in their careers. Remember PEACE starts in the home and just think what these same skills taken into the world can do for WORLD PEACE.

Permalink Reply by Stephanie on December 6, 2008 at 1:12am

Hello
Please look at Is Silence ok for my response
Thanks
Stephanie

Permalink Reply by Stephanie on December 6, 2008 at 1:04am

DEAR MANY FRIENDS WHO RESPONDED TO MY "Is Silence Ok?" discussion THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!
I only now realized and read your varied, interesting, useful, intelligent, original, profound answers. Doesn't this show us how different we really are? It is amazing!!!
Since I had put on another discussion the other day, I hadn't even realized how many answers I had received here. Please forgive my absentmindedness!
The thing that got to me reading all these, is the variety we have here. It means that we have all learned different things from our families, and from our life experiences.
But one thing is very clear....there are some marvelous minds here on iPeace. And the desire to share our knowledge and opinions is very strong: and I would add, with a strong sense of respect and concern for us all getting along.
Thanks once again to all. Ever since I joined iPeace, boy, am I reflecting more than I used to!!!
With friendship,
Stephanie
(a photo of me "reflecting" in Liverpool)

Permalink Reply by Michael J on December 6, 2008 at 2:22pm

The thing is that words are a narrow band of communication. Think of what our communication might be like if we were all sitting in the same room. Words are good for things like "logical" thought. Don't get me wrong. Logical thought most definitely has it's place.. But not in the family I grew up in. My bet is that logical thought is an unnatural skill that probably gave humans their enormous evolutionary advantage over the rest of life. But with great power comes the possibility of great destruction.

Meanwhile, in a family there is so much history in the room that words are remarkably ineffectual. A touch, a glance, a movement of the eyes tell more in a micro-second, then many words spoken many times.

Silence is not not speaking.
It is being open to input in whatever form without the "natural" reflex of "fight or flight."
It is about not being afraid.

Permalink Reply by Meditations by Matthew on December 8, 2008 at 2:40am

I've sat quietly in a room with people I have never known and meditated with them. When you quiet the words in your head and feel the energy of the other people around you, you can get to know them. After this meditation I felt very comfortable with them and felt like I've known them for a very long time even though some of them I hadn't spoken to yet. Just getting to know their vibrational energy was like getting to know them.

Matthew

Permalink Reply by poonam on December 10, 2008 at 8:25am

Silence is great and can help in many ways and where communication doesnt help,silence makes a breakthrough and gives us lot of peace of mind.Ive written an article on silence,lot of depth is there in silence...sometimes we can relate to people in a better way with silence..

Permalink Reply by Cal-el on December 10, 2008 at 11:33am

Silence is find for introspection or avoiding direct conflict, but it does absolutely NOTHING to resolve conflicts between any two or more parties. Silence, besides introspection and meditation, can cause anger, cause misinterpretation, and can cause despair as well.

Permalink Reply by Cal-el on December 10, 2008 at 11:17am

If both parties don't have a chance to speak, there is nothing that can be worked out. THINKING you know what someone is speaking and actually TRULY understanding what they are thinking are two entirely different things.

My wife of 15 years and I had some problems the first 5 years of our marriage because of this. After that, we learned some communication skills and both saw how entirely wrong we had been. I don't care how empathic or psychic you THINK you are. If you don't listen to the other party or parties involved, you can really misinterpret many things and cause more problems in the long run. Without good communication, any type of relationship is doomed, whether it be with a mate, a family member, a friend, a neighbor, a dignitary, or another country. If your communication skills are poor, you also run into problems, so it behooves us to constantly try to learn to communicate better.

Typed or written communication can often give the wrong impression because of the lack of verbal inflection, the absence of facial expression, and the lack of body language. Even with telecommunications that allow visibility, there is the absence of touch and gestures that might make a huge difference in what you are trying to say to someone.

I am confident that my late wife and I would still be together if not for her developing stomach cancer and losing her life. Even though we were very different, the communication helped us to understand each other's differences. I have also successfully maintained friendships with people from many different cultures and countries, none of which would have been possible without good communication.