Filling the Silence

...and trying to break the habit.

When I’m washing up I’m listening to a podcast. When I’m gardening I’m listening to an audiobook. When I’m driving I’m on the phone to one of my parents and listening to their daily meal plans. When I’m running I’m listening to music. In fact a lot of the time I’m listening to music. It’s only when I’m sleeping that I’m not listening to something… is that a little silly of me?

I’ve been recording the podcast for 9 years now and one thing I’ve always clung on to is the need for silence on the podcast. Not from my guest, obviously. But from myself. I never feel like I have to jump in, in fact I actively tell myself not to. Sometimes my silence (and listening) prompts the guest to organically go somewhere else or dig deeper into a thought. That is what silence encourages. An expansion of mind and voice. A space.

Why then do I surround myself with so much noise? For the sake of my own creativity would a bit of silence actually help formulate thought and take me on a path of creation that would otherwise not be discovered were I to be constantly listening to the words and sounds of others?

Maybe.

Suddenly enrolling into some sort of silent retreat sounds appealing… or maybe I’m saying that because it’s the summer holidays and there’s even more choas being added to the noise? It’s a possibility.

I think I might be onto something about noise though. I need to start making space for my own thoughts and musings - just like I do for others on the podcast.

So here’s to a bit more silence and (hopefully) a little more creativity.