Silence, isn’t that just wonderful. Very quiet, ssssshhh, you hear nothing at all. It is so quiet that you notice it. Delightful, how peaceful. What an oasis. What a – deep sigh — moment to be with yourself. Nothing at all. Peace. Silence. You become aware of your body, of your beating heart, of your breath… Silence is one of people’s basic needs. Let your ears have a rest, let silence give you some breathing space. A moment of reflection, to re-connect with yourself.

What all comes at us?

Silence is essential. It is one of the more important human needs. In our daily lives, we are surrounded by all kinds of stimuli. People who talk to us, music in stores, traffic noise, radio, television. Other people’s smells or from food. Images everywhere. Everything we see around us but also what’s shown in newspapers, magazines, billboards, on the computer and television. Our eyes are totally distracted by all of it! Highly sensitive people know all about this. And children with ADHD and autism as well!

How do you deal with television?

In Eckhart Tolle’s book “The Power of Now”, he gives advice about watching television. In short he says: “Just don’t do it. But if you do watch,” he says, “turn the sound off during the commercials.” At our house, this is a game. Watching commercials without the sound and guessing what’s being promoted. Those who guess what it’s about get a point. We often have to laugh because you see that a lot more is being advertized than just the product. Eat unhealthy, always have a fake smile, bleach your teeth, always have a perfectly tidy house, buy expensive gifts for christmas, have a new car and especially, always go cycling in white clothes when you have your period!

What do I mean with silence?

With “silence” I don’t just mean rest for the ears. No, also for the eyes, for the nose, really for all of the senses. It is literally standing still for a moment. Stopping the mill from grinding. If you absorb too much stimuli for too long, you lose your perception of them. Bakers stop smelling their own baking smells. By eating too many sweets you don’t notice how sweet potatoes are anymore. And all of the flash images around us distract us from what we really should want to be looking at: each other and ourselves. We allow ourselves to be distracted from attention for ourselves. If you return to a moment of silence, your senses can calm down and you re-connect with yourself. And that’s when you actually come back to life!

What effect does silence have on us?

If there is something that silence does for you, it gives you inspiration. By calming all of your senses, they have more space. You can get rid of all the ballast and come into contact again with your original being and your needs. Often, when you give your senses some rest, you suddenly have an idea: inspiration! You can suddenly see a problem clearly and make a decision. And moreover, you get new ideas! You become inspired. Words, bits of music and images of longings that you have surface. The greatest inventors in the world were inspired in silence. And research shows that successful people always have the radio off in the car!

What effect does the MIR-Method have on the need for silence?

The 9 MIR-Method steps cooperate with our sub-conscious. If our sub-conscious has the need to escape from the senses, it will arrange for that. Sometimes by literally putting us out of commission through flu or a skin rash. Sometimes our senses are suddenly very sharp. Our ears become overly sensitive and sounds seem much louder. You are forced to protect yourself from too much and too loud noise.

Sometimes our love for a hobby (through step 9: Clarify mission) comes to the forefront, reading a book, for example. You suddenly start reading again, calming your senses. No rolling screen but stable letters without noise; just the silence while reading.

Or you suddenly feel like being outside in nature. Away from electronics and noise. Soaking in nature’s silence while your senses have the chance to let go of the excess noise and stimulation.

It’s always wonderful to see how your sub-conscious creates silence!

What about you? Have you also experienced more need for silence since doing the MIR-Method? Please let me know about it below. Thank you!
By using the “End” key on your keyboard you can go straight to the form. Personal questions should always be asked of a MIR-Method coach!

My wish for you is a fine life in which you remain in close contact with yourself!
Greetings, Mireille Mettes

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P.S. Are you not yet familiar with the MIR-Method? Please go to the homepage: www.mirmethod.com You can watch the video there and also the instruction video. Register on the homepage to receive the newsletter and 6 weeks of coaching e-mails for extra support!