On most days, my mind becomes restless the moment I wake up.
As soon as I open my eyes, I start thinking about yesterday and what I need to do today. I then launch YouTube or Apple Music to play something, followed by opening my Calendar and Notes to organise the day. Not even a minute of silence or idleness is left. There’s always something going on.
I might not speak much, but the inner “noise” is enough to keep my mind busy and numb to my surroundings. It’s no exaggeration to say I was rarely, if ever, fully present. There was no silence. I believe that’s the case for many, if not most, people I know.
Then I came across the practice of “noble silence” (or 圣默然 in Chinese) and started incorporating it little by little into my daily life.
Speak less. Respond less. Do so only when it’s necessary—even with family members.
Less stimuli. Less distraction. Do one thing at a time.
That’s my version of “nobile silence”. It’s not so much about speaking less — it’s more about quieting the chatter in my mind, and breaking my poor habit of distracting myself during idle moments. I never realised how easily I get distracted, and advancements in technology certainly don’t help.
It’s not easy, as work messages and calls, friendly conversation out of politeness easily disrupt the calmness and my focus. But I’m making changes to my environment, the way I work, and how I approach daily tasks.
For example, I’ve downsized from 3 computer monitors to just one. This simple change is surprisingly refreshing and helped me reclaimed my inner peace and focus. (Though, to be honest, it wasn’t the only reason I switched to a single monitor — I was also tired of organising my desktop to fit three screens, so I opted for a minimalist approach instead. It was only recently that I began practising “minimalism” as a natural progression brought about by my personality and lifestyle changes, rather than for aesthetics.) More productivity tools don’t always guarantee higher productivity.
I suppose it takes practice to get better at anything, just like with any other skill or hobby.
I’m happy that I’m conscious of my need for “noble silence” and have already started making changes for the better.