Final Thoughts On Silence There’s no single right way to spend time in Silence. You can
pray, meditate, focus on what you’re grateful for, or even engage in
deep thought. For me, sitting in Silence—especially meditating—was
at first rather difficult, probably because I have what doctors have
diagnosed as ADHD. I don’t know that I agree with their diagnosis or
even with the idea that ADHD is a “disorder” (that’s another
conversation for another time), but I can attest that it’s definitely a
challenge for me to sit still and quiet my mind. Thoughts tend to race
in and out, bouncing around like a pinball, almost nonstop.
So even though I would sit in Silence, my mind didn’t stop
racing. The fact that sitting still and clearing my mind was so difficult
for me was precisely the reason why I had to commit to mastering it.
It took me three or four weeks of practicing Silence every day before
I felt competent. I got to a place where I would allow thoughts to
come in, I’d peacefully acknowledge them, and then quietly let them
drift away without getting frustrated. So don’t be discouraged if
spending time in Silence, or meditating, is at first a challenge for you.
As for how long to do your period of purposeful Silence, I
recommend starting with five minutes, although in the next chapter
I’ll teach you how you can experience the life-enhancing benefits of
Silence in as little as 60 seconds a day! When I began this practice,
I’d sit in Silence, calm and relaxed, say a prayer, meditate, ponder
what I was grateful for, and just breathe deeply, for five minutes. It’s
such a peaceful, perfect way to start each day.
