OCTOBER: When Silence is Strength
“Silence is a lesson learned from the many sufferings in life.”
Seneca Thyestes, 309.
Keeping quiet with your thoughts and opinions may be easier for introverts than for extroverts. Yet, for all types of people, learning when to listen and when to speak is an emotional intelligence skill, requiring a blend of self-restraint, self-awareness, and other orientation.
In this conversation, try an experiment. Arrange seating according to Extroversion-Introversion type. In other words, talkers on one side, and quieter ones on the other side of the circle. Next, invite the quiet ones to talk first, answering the first 4 questions, while the talkers refrain from commenting until all has been said.
Quiet ones: Is this true? Love listens twice as much as it talks. That’s why we have two ears and one mouth.
Quiet ones: Finish this sentence: It’s really hard to bite my tongue when….
Quiet ones: What do you remember feeling the last time you spoke up angrily or impatiently?
Talkers: How does it feel to deliberately stay out of a conversation?
Talkers: Can you recall when you regretted something you said and later ruminated about it?
Everyone: Comment on how often you ruminate about something you wish you hadn’t said.
Everyone: There are times when it is important to speak up and speak out. What issues are you willing to speak up and say what you need? What isn’t worth bothering about?
Who in the group would like to use a timer so that everyone gets air time during meetings? Would it also help to let quiet ones go first in sharing?
Takeaways.