In yoga, when we assume savasana pose, we are told to pay attention to the stillness, the silence, between inhalation and exhalation. At first, it’s very difficult because we’re not accustomed to focusing on something that isn’t actively there. The key word there is ‘active’ because anything that exists, even if just as a noun, verb or adjective etc. exists. Even ‘nothing’ becomes something if you name it – it becomes a word if nothing else.
When we actually encounter silence, and are able to relax into it – no foot tapping, finger snapping, talking, coughing, or humming – we can experience a sense of peace that helps our frazzled, stress-afflicted selves to counteract the demands of modern living and to heal, both mentally and physically.