SILENCE SPEAKS VOLUME

I sat down silently for hours pondering over the power of silence. How can "no words" said complete a sentence. I had once watched a women, who was told to tell her own part of the story, break down. Looking at her, one would obviously see that she wasn't intending to say a word, but we all understood what was making her chest expand and contrast intermittently. At a point, tears clustered in her eyelashes as we watched and listened to her communicate through silence. She bursted into tears when she was done communicating. It sounds awkward right?

Jim Fannin wrote; "Silence is prevalent within the greatest speeches in the world. The dramatic pause has been mastered by the best orators of our time. With strategically placed silence, listening and retention increases 30-40% Silence is an equalizer in an argument or verbal confrontation."

In clinical psychology, silence is a therapuetic tool which if applied, would have saved some regrettable events from happening. One of my friends is behind bars now because he failed to be silent when he should: yes, when he should. Inasmuch as silence is so volumic, there are times when muting it will be necessary. 

Action speaks louder than words, but silence speaks volume. An ugly incidence happened during my first year in the university. One of my roommates threw my pot down from our four storey hostel building because we had a little clash. This roommate of mine was the school's Editor in Chief, and he always bragged about how he could walk into any office in the school without any restriction. It was obvious that he was well known, that was why he had the guts to do what he did. When I walked into the room, a sudden silence reigned. All eyes that were on me got me confused at first, but I didn't bother to ask anyone why the look becasue I could predict it. I asked them who took my pot, and one of my roommates told me that Editor had thrown it down the building. I was so angry that I felt like crushing him. In my anger, I noticed that the room grew quieter and I felt the effect of their stare on my skin. So many things ran through my mind, but I was still in all. I left the room without saying a word to Editor who was at a corner raising his shoulders up with the believe that he was covered. I went straight to where he threw the pot, washed and kept it inside my cupboard. Everyone there was surprised because most of them complimented my maturity confessing that they would have reacted if in my shoes.
When I was done with the silence therapy, Editor respected me more than other roommates thinking we were agemates till he left the school.

One of the amazing things about silence is that it is ambiguous. If done for the right course, it makes one wise because it gives room to think, analyse and strategize. Have you noticed that you see things from a blur angle when you are tensed or angry? But silence can help clear the blurriness after being calm.

My dad was always good at using silence to tell us that we were in for big trouble. 
Few weeks ago when we were arranging things in the our local church for a spoken word concert, things weren't going the way I wanted. As the chairman of the planning committee, I wasn't happy. The guys setting the instruments were cracking jokes more than they should work. When I approached them with a disappointed mood, I said nothing as I watched them readjust into seriousness. I wanted to say something, but on the second thought, what was the need when my silence had conveyed the message perfectly to them.

I saw one movie that swept across every part of the country; "Last trip to Abuja." The only thing I love in that movie was Omotola Jalade Ekeinde's silence when she caught her fiancé cheating on her. At a point, he wasn't feeling safe that he parked the car on their to the airport:- thats the power of silence, and also evidence that silence speaks volumes.

What does the silent mood of a doctor signify after the death of a patient?

You don't need to shout to be heard: remember empty vessels make loudest noise. Fill yourself with knowledge and then understand what you know before you practise it which is wisdom, I bet you, you will use silence as your best means of communication.

But then, do not misunderstand and abuse the power of silence and end up being a coward. Speak when you want to talk, act when you want to communicate, and be silent when you have much to say or communicate.