“Silence is like a cradle holding our endeavors and our will; a silent spaciousness sustains us in our work and at the same time connects us to larger worlds that, in the busyness of our daily struggle to achieve, we have not yet investigated. Silence is the soul’s break for freedom.”   David Whyte

Some ecologists, health professionals and others have taken on the challenge of finding true silence – see this BBC article for more on that interesting story.  It likely won’t surprise you that there are very few places in which we can find complete silence.  We have become accustomed to the background noises of traffic, airplanes, and the buzzing from electronics to the point that silence can even feel uncomfortable at times.  We crave it, yet when we have it we find ourselves turning on radio or starting up the computer.

In silence, we can connect to our minds, hearts and bodies.  Without the distraction of noise, we can truly listen to the moment we are in.  This week, experiment with spending time in silence.  Notice what you “hear” when you remove the noise and bring mindfulness to a silent moment.

Mindful moments are short practices to be used throughout your week to relax, integrate and center yourself.  Inspired by the wisdom traditions and science, mindful moments are meant to be accessible and simple enough for anyone to practice.  Many teachers and leaders in integrative medicine have influenced our approach to mindful moments. Jon Kabat-Zinn defines mindfulness as “paying attention in a particular way; on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally.”  Pema Chodron would say it is “practicing in the gaps.”  Look for the weekly mindful moment every Monday.  May it support you in finding your center to live life to the fullest.