It is said that silence is golden. And, as it turns out, psychology agrees. Sometimes the smartest step you can make is just button button and silent.
They don’t always know what to say. More often, it’s about to know that we are talking about anything at all. There is some wisdom in silence that can help you to better navigate life.
In the next article, I shoot from the world of psychology to emphasize 10 situations when your lips will be able to be your most powerful strategy.
Everything concerns the dynamics of communication and know when your personal brand is best served in silence.
Remember that silence can use wisely when it is wise.
So let’s study and discover these 10 situations where silence can be the worst case.
1) When you are angry
Anger is a powerful emotion. We have all experienced those moments when we sit in anger, and it feels that our many veins are on fire. It is so easy to say in those moments that we are later regretting.
Psychology tells us that this is one of the time when it is smart to be silent. Why, since anger can lead to impulsion, devalued judgment and potentially destructive behavior.
In fact, your anger is often more about you than the person or situation that caused it. And silence allows you to fit the area in these moments, reflect, and avoid saying something that cannot take back.
So the next time you boil in anger, resist the urge to undermine and embrace the wisdom of silence instead.
2) is more important when listening
As a psychology enthusiasm, there was a situation that I found that I really drove the power of silence. Dear friend passed through a tough time by navigating the confused collapse. They were visibly distressed and needed someone to talk.
I remember to sit with them for hours, not saying a lot, but just being there. I don’t recommend or try to fix things. I just heard. And later they told me how much it meant for them.
This is provided with psychology. Sometimes the best thing you can do for someone just to be there and heard.
Carl Rogers, one of the most influential psychologists of the 20th century, said.
Thus, in situations where someone needs a listening ear than tips or answers, choosing to remain silent and just listen, you can be the most compassionate and supportive step.
3) When words will not change the situation
Let’s be real, life can throw quite rough curves. And sometimes, sometimes, no matter what we say or do, the situation will not change.
I remember a time when my grandfather was diagnosed with a terminal illness. I wanted to say that so desperate that everything could make it better.
But the reality was that my words could not change his diagnosis. They would not be able to seize inevitable.
In these moments of the reality of Pain, the silence can be a deep acceptance action. It gains the reality of the situation and realizing that sometimes words are not just enough.
In the face of things, we cannot change, silence allows us to pass and find strength in our acceptance.
So when faced situations, you can’t change, remember the power of silence. It’s not about to give up, it’s about hugging it.
4) When you are tempted to gossip
Let’s accept that we are all tempted to engage in a little gossip. It is such common, but potentially harmful, the side of human communication.
I remember a time when a partner was sharing some juicy information about another partner. It was tempting to join.
But then I remembered the parable. “The great thought is discussing ideas, the average thought is discussing the events, and a small mind is discussing people.”
This quote often attributes to Eleanor Roosevelt, but it is very heavy in psychology. Inquiring in gossip can damage relationships and delete the trust that others have in you.
Instead of gossiping, I chose to remain silent instead of gossip. And honestly. It felt good. It felt that I was faithful to my personal values and maintain my integrity.
So remember when you are on the verge of gossip, consider silence. It is a powerful way to maintain trust and respect with your surroundings.
5) When silence is a higher statement
That sounds like a repulsive, it’s not. There are times when they didn’t say anything that actually says more than any word could.
Let me give you an example. Once, during a heated discussion with a partner, I realized that my points simply were not heard or recognized.
Instead of aggravating the situation later, I chose to remain silent. That silence, in the sea of noise, spoke volumes. It came to contact that I would not be involved in a fruitless argument.
Well-known psychologist Albert Mehrabyan’s communication was suggested that the words only make up 7% of our total communication. The rest is transmitted to our voice and body tone, including silence.
Silence is powerful. This can communicate with respect, disagreements, thinking, etc. When psychologist Sigmund Freud once said: “He who sees to see and ears can convince himself that no mortal can keep secretly.”
When you find yourself in a situation where words seem to be futile or potentially harmful, remember that silence can often be a stronger statement.
6) When should I think
There is a common misconception that silence means uninteresting or shutdown during conversation. But sometimes that is exactly the opposite. Silence can mean that you are deeply developing information, critically thinking about your answer.
Think about the moments when you give you a difficult question or caused a difficult task. Passing the first thing that comes to mind is not always able to serve you best.
As it is known, “thinking quickly and slowly”, “thinking, quick and slow” author, “a reliable way to believe in people, is often a repetition.”
In other words, just because the answer comes quickly does not mean that it is right. Taking a silent pause for deeply thinking and thinking can lead to more thoughtful, accurate answers.
So next time you stand with a difficult question or situation, don’t be afraid to think for a moment of silence. It can make all the changes in your answer.
7) When your story has not been told
We all have stories, experiments that form us and make us who we are. And sometimes, we are secret to other people’s stories.
I remember a time when a friend shared a very personal and sensitive experience with me. Later, in other social condition, the topic was presented. There was a temptation that I knew it was relevant. But I realized that my story is not to tell.
By choosing to remain silent, I respected the vulnerability and trust of my friend. The story was not my mine to share my. It was theirs, and only they had the right to share it if and when they choose.
If you find yourself in possession of someone else’s story, remember the value of silence. It is a powerful way to respect their trust and protect their vulnerability.
8) When you are in the presence of sorrow
Grief is a complex, deep personal process. We’ve all been there. When someone we think about is upset, we want to say something, everything to soften their pain. But often there are no words that can fix a broken heart.
I remember when a close friend lost his mother. I wanted to comfort him, to say something deep and healing. But I realized that this was a pain that I couldn’t fix with words.
In moments of grief, silence can be respect for human pain and its unique journey. So instead of trying to find perfect words, I chose to be there for my friend, silent support and solidarity.
So remember when you are sad, sometimes the wise thing you can do is just silent and offer your quiet support.
9) When you are tempted to fix someone in society
Naturally, you want to correct inaccuracies or misinformation, especially if it’s a topic you are passionate or knowledgeable. But there are times when it publicly causes more damage than good.
Consider this scenario. You are a group discussion and someone makes the wrong statement. The urge to jump and correct them is strong, but that’s where it becomes counterattacked, sometimes the wise move will be silent.
Psychologist Carolw, known for the “Growth Thinking”, suggests that public criticism or correction can be put to people in a “fixed mindset.”
Instead, consider taking into account the problem in the future. This approach respects the dignity of the individual and opens a better place for learning and growth.
So the next time you are tempted to fix anyone public, remember that silence can lead to more efficient conversation later.
10) When you think of thinking
I tried to include intimacy in my everyday life and let you tell you, it’s a game-changer. It is about being present, fully involved without judgment or distracting.
One of the main practice of thinking is silence. It’s about calming the mind, adjusting the external noise, as well as the internal mortar. And it’s not always easy.
In the practice of silence allows us to get better to contact us and our surroundings. It facilitates deep understanding, has grown in the spotlight and can even improve our interactions with others.
So remember when you strive to be more thoughtful, hugging silence can be a powerful tool. It’s not just about being calm. It is really about listening to ourselves, to others and the world around us.