WorkLife Balance: Can We have a Moment of Silence?

Imagine a moment or two of silence among a few hundred business people. A keynote speaker stands on a podium and says nothing with her voice, but everything with her eyes. She glances amidst the crowd as the silence deepens. For some it’s a breath of fresh air, for others it sends them into unfamiliar territory – the lack of sensory overload. It can be an uncomfortable place for some to be. I did this silence exercise at a conference last week, and the impact was amazing.

Mostly, the reaction was pure shock that the silence manifested with so many people in the room. But it happened because somewhere, people needed it to happen. But there were faces in the crowd that took on a look of discomfort. What would happen next? Will she start speaking? How long do I have to be quiet? I have laundry to do. I need to change my career. I hate my workplace………You get the picture. Monkeymind took a hold in some cases, but overall it was a positive experience, unlike the roller coaster ride in the markets this week.

It’s been a heck of a week for the DOW, or anyone who either works in the financial or housing sector, let alone those who own a home. The taunting rattling coming at us in the media reminds us of how uncertain our world is. The lack of direction in the markets is unsettling and I wonder how people are coping. Are they even looking for that silence that will stop the moment?

What’s really scary is that unless we make the time to stop and reflect a bit, burnout is right around the corner. I’m all for exercise and meditation. But we have to make the choice -  to make the time -  even if it happens by less than conventional means. As a woman said to me at this conference  last week, "The only time I have is about 15 minutes in the morning. I have to lock myself in the bathroom for my alone time."

It’s no joke for her. She does it because it works. We have to start training our minds to be more comfortable with silence, or we will keep filling it with infomania because it’s famliar.

What works for you? What brings you into the depth of silence?