The Golden Silence

On a daily basis, we are presented with multiple scenarios to show and practice humility. That could be at work, at school, in public places, on social media, etc. Perhaps in our ways of interacting with others, dressing, walking, eating and the list could go on. 

We are living in modern society, in which some people are more privileged than others in different aspects. Being aware of your privileges as an individual can have a powerful impact on the outcome of many things. Day by day,  I am realizing how important it is to have a voice and be able to express myself on different topics. I am privileged among those who God blessed with a voice.  Being able to raise my concerns, opinions and thoughts has been a daily blessing because I know that there are people out there that can not do so due to a variety of reasons. However, not long ago it became clear that the same voice that  I am very grateful for can get me in trouble, just as much as a blessing could easily shift to malediction in a short space of time if not well controlled and become the source of our problems. 

Essentially, it is in similar situations that silence becomes better than random babbling. Based on experience, I would suggest you opt for opening your ears rather than your mouth and you will not regret it. Invest your time into thinking and analyzing things before you say them rather than just talking to please people and to show people that you too can articulate yourself.

Proverbs 21:23 says; "Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble" Your mouth can be your door to success or failure, it is all up to you. In reality, no one can force you to spit words from your mouth unless you have decided to do so. This is fantastic because then no one can blame the person next to them for their downfall. Proverbs 13:3 argues that "whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin'' God is not asking us to become mute or doormats. He simply advises us to "talk only when it is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear", Ephesians 4:29. 

Most of the time, people tend to connect silence with insignificance, two words that are totally different. It has become a must in our modern world where individuals feel the urge of being heard and seen. The desire to be relevant in the eyes of others is leading the lives of many. Consequently, in the quest of proving our worth and importance, transgression is not lacking. 

Remember, words are sharper than a knife, and hard like bullets and wherever those bullets reach, they hurt and destroy and that may be irreversible. Words of love and compassion build and impact in a positive way. Therefore beware of words you choose to use and to whom you are directing them. As the late Mr. Marshall McLuhan said, “there are no passengers on spaceship earth". We are all crew." Learn to control your speech in order to make it a pleasant journey for everyone. 

Silence is indeed gold as it is definitely something that is precious and something that needs to be relished upon more often. It gives power and offers stealth to the person using it. It is an incredibly powerful weapon. It is a tool that adds power, elegance and class to your presence and whatever you say.

In my humble opinion, I think it is ten times better for someone to believe that you are stupid just because you are quiet than for you to talk just to ridicule yourself.

Humbly,

@MademoizelleZaye