Silence is a statement that is open to gross misinterpretation.

CRAIG BRUCE

Ah….yes. 

The pregnant pause.

It is one of the entertainment industry‘s most powerful weapons because it is one of life‘s most potent experiences.

When there is silence at a moment when we are expecting dialogue, the brain runs rampant trying to presume why the silence is there. That is why the term, “the silent treatment,“ exists. We are communicative creatures and we are so reliant on that communication that anything less only breeds potential confusion.

Conversely, we are often times so overwhelmed by the cacophony of communication all around us, all we really want is to have a moment of silence in order that we might formulate our thoughts, coordinate our next moves and anticipate where the future will take us.

Meditation relies heavily on silence in order that the brain might discard all aspects of traditional thought and replace that with an internal peace that facilitates a deeper tranquility within.

There are many times when silence is our sanctuary and the ability to eliminate all other forms of communication becomes a godsend. Have you ever hit that point where if your phone rings one more time you might throw it against the wall?

There are times when silence in a personal relationship is broken with the most beautiful of expressions. In a moment like that, the expression could be worth 1 million words.

In contrast, in the middle of a heated conversation, suddenly the other party goes completely silent and we become intensely aware that a threshold has been crossed which may never be retracted again.

As we become aware of the power of silence, we are ever more in tune with the opportunity to leverage that silence to our greater advantage through a host of options as I have expressed above. Conversely, there are times when we are facing that silence and we find it to be excruciating and painful to weather.

I think one of the more advanced skills of communication is clearly exemplified in our core competency of the mastering of silence. Only in this circumstance are we best able to leverage our greatest skills as an orator, communicator, actor, negotiator, spouse, parent, employer, teacher and countless other examples.

Once we are capable of recognizing silence for the incredibly powerful tool that it is in life, the stronger our overall communication becomes.

Happy Saturday!

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Written by Brian Weiner
When I was 5 years old, I discovered that the lemon tree in the backyard + dixie cups + water and sugar and I was in business. I have been hooked on that ever since. In 1979, I borrowed $14,000 to create a brand new product... photographic greeting cards with no text on the inside, called Paradise Photography. That was the start of The Illusion Factory. Since then, The Illusion Factory has been entrusted by all of the major studios and broadcasters with the advertising and marketing of over $7 billion in filmed, live, broadcast, gaming, AR, VR and regulated gaming forms of entertainment, generating more than $100 Billion in revenue and 265 awards for creativity and technology for our clients. When I took a break from film school at UCLA to move to Hawaii, my mother did not lecture me. Instead, she took 150 of her favorite aphorisms and in her beautiful calligraphy, wrote them artistically throughout a blank journal. That is the origin of the Lessons from the Mountain series. Since then, on my journeys to the top of a mountain to watch the sunrise, I have spent countless hours contemplating words of wisdom from the sages of all races, genders and political persuasions, constantly accumulating the thoughts to guide me on my life path. I hope you enjoy my books. Please let me know your thoughts, as I highly value your feedback!