Paulo Freire always reminded us of complexity, even in language. The word 'silence' stretches way beyond oppression. It also describe something we seek and treasure. It's in silence that we gather our thoughts, center out energy, fell the love and understanding we need for taking action. Quakers, Buddhist meditators and many others use silence to connect with forces larger than ourselves. Freire also valued the reflective possibilities of silence. In 1985, I heard him speak about what he called the "tensions between silence and voice." Silence, which we often see as empty, can represent great activity. "I can spend one hour silent but totally alive. I can speak a lot in silence" he told a crowd at Harvard University. Freire warned teachers not to "emphasize our own voice so much that we impose silence on students" but to "feel out how to get voice from the other side... how to, little by little, go into silence." When we truly choose it, silence is a powerful ally to speech (Dunlap,15)"
What is "good silence" to me?
The first thing I think of is music. What would music be like without silence between the notes, the beats, the melody? Silence makes it deeper and makes it move you.
How does this apply to social work?
Well, when it comes to counseling, I have been taught that a counselor does not give advice but listens and asks questions. In my own experiences or with friends, being able to talk out one's problems or situation, leads to one's own answers.
Why are good things hard?
Just as eating healthy is difficult (in our culture)...so is staying in silence.
In my opinion, one of the most difficult parts to silence is the vulnerability. Many people feel uncomfortable in silence (almost like they are naked). Maybe this is why elevators are so awkward, but how do you start and end a one minute conversation with strangers?
I think it is with silence that we can really hear our own thoughts. How does one truly know one's self without taking the time to listen? Just today, I listened to a TED talk which was incredibly inspiring about the power of listening to other people's stories, the power of vulnerability and the power of self-acceptance. Here is the link to a social worker/researcher/storyteller's lesson through her work...
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