Sometimes silence speaks louder in music...and in life.
If you’re feeling drained from the energy siphoning portal that is the holiday hustle and end of year wrap-up, trust me, you’re not alone. Don’t get me wrong, I live for moments of family time and gatherings with friends, but after the cacophony of clanging dishes and conversations, mixed with my inner voice incessantly reminding me what I have yet to do, I crave solitude. A reset button, if you will. These little moments of silence offer insight into what’s really going on in our lives and I enjoy seeing what comes up.
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Right before I sat down to write this I did a meditation. Quietly, on my own, with no prompts. It went something like this…
I’m worthy. I’m fat, though.
Yes, but you’re still worthy. And you’re not fat.
You’re exactly where you need to be. Like, in this room or in life?
Okay, so my subconscious is a bit of a smart ass. And that’s okay. Sure, there are some self-esteem issues I still need to work through (I didn’t know my weight was one of them but here we are), and that’s okay. Checking in allowed me to receive that information. Now, I feel like I can move throughout my day with handling the noise and with purpose and confidence.
And this dichotomy reminds me of some of my favorite songs— the ones with pauses built in. Those moments of silence, no matter how large or small, force you to pay attention. One of my favorite artists, who does this in nearly every song, is Hozier. Maybe that’s why I love his music so much. It pulls you in while allowing you to let go at the same time. What would I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston be without the pause before she belts the words of the title track? Or the dramatic pause before Slash’s infamous solo in November Rain? Or recently Cynthia Erivo’s take on Defying Gravity and the goosebump-inducing final note? These songs are pretty amazing in their own right, but the pause is what makes them incredible.
When was the last time you allowed yourself to sit in silence, without prompt and without distraction? See if you can take 5 minutes sometime this week— set a reminder on your phone— to sit with your feelings, like the little pauses between musical notes, and see what comes up. Did a song pop into your head? What was it? Is your inner voice a bit of a smart ass, too? What did it say?
If silence just isn’t your thing and you need a song to reflect on during your meditation, try the peaceful Claire de Lune by Claude Debussy with built in pauses.
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