Silence can feel like a problem demanding immediate repair. We ask a question, wait half a second, then rephrase it, answer it ourselves, or change the subject. The empty space makes us nervous, so we fill it.
Some thoughts need longer to arrive. The other person may be deciding how honest to be, searching for the right words, or simply thinking at a different speed. When we rush into the pause, we may accidentally replace their answer with our comfort.
Try letting one silence finish today. Keep your attention on the person without staring them into submission. Breathe. Give the question room to do its work. The next sentence may be more thoughtful because it was not hurried. Listening is not only what we do while someone speaks. Sometimes it is what we refuse to interrupt while they are finding their way to the words.
Today’s Prompt
In which conversation can you allow a few extra seconds of silence?
