When people ask about my favorite music genre or artist, I most often pause before saying I simply prefer quiet. My preference for quiet does not stem from a deep cynicism toward music, but rather, from a strong appreciation for silence. While sound offers the body a unique source of gratification, I contend that silence can be a powerful source of comfort if we only learn to seek it out.
The world we live in makes it unusually difficult to identify things that require our undivided attention. Instead, we are expected to compartmentalize every one of our senses and process various types of input simultaneously. In New York City, it is quite easy to locate this dilemma on any street with passersby: AirPods in ears, phone in hand.
It can be tempting to satisfy our minds with constant stimulation, even allowing others’ ideas to replace our own when we listen to a podcast or talk on the phone. Nonetheless, exercising the restraint required to eliminate background noise is an invaluable skill.
Among the different types of silence scholars have identified, I find that reflective silence is most necessary today. It refers to the silence created when we make time for purposeful introspection.
Fasting opens up a space for reflection by replacing physical nourishment with spiritual nourishment. Silence similarly starves the body of its immediate needs, which can foster personal growth.
We often find it difficult to reduce noise because we treat it as a condition of life rather than a valuable addition. When we eliminate this assumption from our routine thoughts, limiting distractions becomes simple.
The first step I would advise anyone struggling with silence to take is to set aside mornings, evenings or a specific time of day as a silent retreat. It is not the case that in order to achieve a state of tranquility, one must take a physical journey.
For me, these moments of retreat occur when I’m at my desk or in my bed. I keep my AirPods in a trinket bowl on my nightstand so that every time I reach for them, it is a deliberate choice rather than an unconscious habit.
Moving yourself away from the source of distraction allows you to move closer to your ultimate source of peace, whatever that may be. It could be writing, baking or creating something with your own two hands.
Reducing noise is a reliable way to build intentionality. Intention can translate from the way we hear media content to the way we hear other people.
The absence of noise, both literal and symbolic, creates the desire to fill a void. Consider fasting, a practice integral to many religions. Fasting opens up a space for reflection by replacing physical nourishment with spiritual nourishment. Silence similarly starves the body of its immediate needs, which can foster personal growth.
Silence presents a way for me to engage with my faith. It allows me to discern truth among many other voices. Like in many religious and cultural traditions, I value the sanctity of stillness. Silence is not just a core principle of meditation; it can, in and of itself, be a form of meditation.
St. Ignatius of Loyola, Jesuit founder of the Society of Jesus, who is memorialized in a statue outside of Fordham Lincoln Center, regarded silence as a necessary discipline.
He advised, “Be slow to speak, and only after having first listened quietly, so that you may understand the meaning, leanings, and wishes of those who do speak. Thus, you will better know when to speak and when to be silent.”
Noise is never just noise. No matter how much we like to admit it, there is a reason we blast music on our way to class or listen to a self-help audiobook on our way to the grocery store.
Reducing noise is a reliable way to build intentionality. Intention can translate from the way we hear media content to the way we hear other people.
How many people do you know who actually listen when you speak? Or better yet, try to understand you? Rather than giving simple one-line responses or nodding along, they hang on to every word you say and its meaning.
Many people accept that a world where we all care about what others have to say is preferable, yet unrealistic. I think it becomes possible when we choose to be silent, even for a moment.
Noise is never just noise. No matter how much we like to admit it, there is a reason we blast music on our way to class or listen to a self-help audiobook on our way to the grocery store. It could be that we are in need of a pick-me-up, but it is also plausible that we are avoiding a deeper issue.
In an age of generative artificial intelligence and anti-intellectualism, it is critical that we limit distractions to make room for the origination of thoughts and ideas.
Whether the reason is positive or negative is not the matter. The problem arises when we lose sight of the reason altogether and fail to recognize our overreliance on auditory stimulation.
Demonizing the consumption of audio media content is not my intent. There is a place for sound in our lives just as there is a place for work, rest, exercise, eating and drinking. Pursuing avenues for silence involves moderation.
Despite my dislike of constant noise, I do make time for the occasional sound wave or two. I find that my listening experience is enhanced by my intentionality — that is, when I do engage my ears, listening to music or content is one of, if not the only, activities I am doing. It is in this way that I can appreciate what I consume more carefully.
Preserving silence also preserves the sacredness of our innermost thoughts. We develop a reverence for contemplation and a hunger for thought when we are quiet. Being quiet allows us to produce ideas rather than solely inheriting them from other people or sources.
I would urge you to allow for at least five minutes of quiet today. It can be spent brainstorming, going on a walk or doing absolutely nothing. Silence is what you make it.
In an age of generative artificial intelligence and anti-intellectualism, it is critical that we limit distractions to make room for the origination of thoughts and ideas. We must place ourselves in environments where mistakes are viewed as sources of motivation rather than condemnation. Silence gets us one step closer.
Silence, if you let it, becomes a force that demands curiosity while at the same time gently inviting peace. This does not mean that quieting parts of your life immediately guarantees comfort with your thoughts, but that is the ultimate goal. Giving yourself permission to think loudly can surely aid in the gradual development of self-acceptance.
We sit with the silence so that we can answer the question that Fordham asks of its students: “What does it mean to be more and do more for the world now?”
Sitting in silence is not a form of disengagement from the outer world. We seek silence in order to engage with the deepest parts of ourselves so that we may be better for others.
I would urge you to allow for at least five minutes of quiet today. It can be spent brainstorming, going on a walk or doing absolutely nothing. Silence is what you make it. However you choose to spend the time, know that silence is the first step toward a healthier, more engaged and intentional lifestyle.
Reducing noise as a distraction from your life is more significant than you may have otherwise realized. Remember that silence is golden.
