Articles

Surreal silence

We have been under lockdown for around 7 months now. While workplaces and restaurants have begun opening up, going outside is not the same as before. 

We know that the world outside has undergone enormous change. Within the first few weeks of the initial no-movement lockdown, we saw the dramatic change that was happening outside. Suddenly there were sparrows chirping from building ledges instead of the occasional pigeon or crow. Forests began to flourish as before, rivers that had a dry spell for years suddenly began to fill up bit by bit. It was as if nature had finally got its big break and had begun to stretch its cooped up limbs after a while.

 A similar change of course and freshness-of perspective can be seen when it comes to our homes and ourselves. Lockdown has allowed a lot of people to step back and assess themselves and their lives. 

Many individuals in this lockdown have had life-changing and path-altering experiences. None of it has come because they traveled to Tibet and gained spiritual oneness with the universe or that they nailed an important client meeting. This change from within has
happened because of the silence we have experienced. 

Lockdown had meant not being able to step out of our houses for months on end. Shopping trips have either been reduced to twice a month or have shifted to sole dependence on online deliveries. Socializing- going to a meeting, traveling out of the station, and parties; all of these
seem like things of a faraway past. The only way we can communicate is through online meeting portals and there is only so long that a conversation can be sustained that way. With no parties to attend or get-togethers to have a ball at. With no running errands and commuting
to work or school. With not much opportunity to engage with people outside people have suddenly had to sit down and have conversations with themselves. 

When there is no space for distraction, time becomes a void, and talking to ourselves is the only option. It may start slowly- thinking about what tomorrow's schedule looks like; with classes, meetings, chores, and whatnot. Gradually with no interruptions, the mind begins to
wander. Questions which/that we could have had before but didn't have the time to mull over suddenly need answers to. Such questions include - do I enjoy what I'm doing? Is this what I want to be doing/do? How has life passed by so quickly? 

All of these questions bounce around our minds day in, day out, and eventually as we allow ourselves not to be threatened by these questions but learn to welcome them; that's when we begin to unearth what's within. It includes having these conversations with ourselves, keeping in touch with what goes on under the surface, and most importantly learning to take a step back and look at the bigger broader picture. 

People have reported facing somewhat of an existential crisis during these times. In such cases, it is important to seek professional help and learn to trust the process and ourselves. Discovering ourselves and connecting with what’s deep within, all of these require time, care, and warmth. Feeling threatened by the process of putting it off is only a temporary solution. In one way or another learning to embrace silence and using it to engage with ourselves is important.