Silence: does it help calm our brains and give well-being?

Many people do not value silence. I have found it to be comforting, nourishing and cosy.

The noisy world is drowning out our creativity and our inner connection. Noise effects our brains causing elevated levels of stress hormones even when we are sleeping. When I was a busy, working Mum most of my day was with other people and their noise. Being on my own in silence was refreshing.

In 2011, the World Health Organisation (WHO) concluded that the 340 million residents of Western Europe (about the population of the United States), were losing a million years of healthy life every year, due to noise.

Science is now showing that silence may be just what we need to regenerate our exhausted brains and bodies. Two-minute silences are far more relaxing for the brain than relaxing music.

Science has the proof not only that noise hurts, but also that silence heals. Two hours of silence per day prompts cell development in the hippocampus, the brain region related to the formation of memory, involving the senses.

With our digital world, our brains get less time to switch off. The constant demands of modern life are placing a lot of stress on our prefrontal cortex–the part of the brain responsible for making decisions, solving problems and more. When we spend time alone in silence, our brains are able to relax and release this constant focus.

The ancient spiritual masters have known this all along; silence heals, silence takes us deeply into ourselves, and silence balances the body and mind. Now science is saying the same thing.

Take a few moments to experience silence. Feel your energy relax. In a noisy environment I find I hold my energy close to my body. Relaxing in silence it stretches out as far as my finger tips when I hold your arms out. It feels wonderful.

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