In a new topic about the psychological reflections that people go through and something I personally experience I tried to sit with myself and think about how silence can sometimes be a powerful weapon, and how it can be a source of strength in facing many situations. I asked myself: why do I stay silent in many situations? Is this a sign of weakness, or not?
Why do people choose silence instead of confrontation? Is silence considered a weakness, or is it actually a strength? When I sat with myself, I realized that, for me, silence gives me mental comfort. First of all, it saves me from confronting others and from entering into endless, pointless arguments. But on the other hand I found that silence can be difficult sometimes and in many situations, it becomes a negative thing especially when it relates to something important to you.
Someone might stay silent when they are being criticized by their boss, a parent, or even a colleague at work, thinking that staying silent will close the door to arguments. But in this case, silence becomes a very negative thing. The person here is taking a defensive position more than necessary. That’s why I tried to fix this within myself by understanding what I should actually do in such situations.
As I mentioned, for me silence feels like a kind of emotional healing. It keeps me away from confrontation and from mental distractions or the emotional state I might be in. It also saves me time because often I know that if a discussion starts, it won’t end easily. But at the same time, I also realized that if silence is seen as acceptance of insult or injustice then staying quiet becomes a huge negative.
I’m not talking about shouting or hurtful words as I’m talking about when you don’t respond to someone who is lying or denying the truth, or trying to mislead others while you know what the truth is. That kind of silence is a big problem. It can be one of the reasons that lead to the decline of a community like a small stone that builds up over time into a huge pile that becomes impossible to break down later.
Also, in my opinion, staying silent when you're ignorant or don't understand something is one of the biggest problems. If I need more understanding or clarity, I should ask. As I said, staying silent in such a case is a real weakness. When it comes to emotions, silence is not a solution either because it adds more burden to the heart and mind.
So, you need to be wise enough to know when to stay silent and when to speak but speak calmly and without exploding.
