The Quiet Gift: A Gentle Reflection on Silence

"Even the quiet has a voice, if you choose to listen."

---

Dear you,

There’s a moment I still carry in my chest like a soft lantern. It was years ago, on one of my visits back home to Latvia. My dear god-daughter, Lui, and I wandered the cobblestone streets of old Riga on a golden summer evening. We hadn’t seen each other for such a long time, yet we didn’t need words. We simply walked, side by side, in silence.

The city hummed around us - warm stone beneath our feet, twilight brushing the rooftops - but between us there was only quiet. A deep presence, a gentle “I’m here” without needing to be spoken. Even now, when I miss her, I return to that memory and it warms my heart.

That’s the kind of silence I’ve been seeking again lately. During my no-scroll week, when Paula was at school and the house rested in hush until afternoon, I felt the same gentle shift. I realised I wanted silence - no expectations, no answers, no chatter. Just quiet.

I lit candle, poured tea, and sat by the window - the same little morning ritual that’s been with me for years. But this time, I leaned differently into it. I let silence wrap around it, not just as a backdrop but as a companion.

And I want to share with you what I’ve discovered - not the heavy silence that can sometimes feel unsettling (that’s a different journey, and one where professional support is so important), but the tender, healing kind. The kind that lets you come home to yourself.

Silence as Presence, Not Absence

We often think of silence as empty - the absence of sound, the pause between things.

But I’ve come to see it as a presence in its own right. Silence is a gift, a room with no furniture except a chair for your soul. Silence is the friend who doesn’t need you to perform. Silence is the pause that makes the music sweeter. When everything falls silent, we start to hear.

When Silence Feels Like Courage

Choosing quiet isn’t weakness. It’s strength, discipline, even rebellion. (Anyone else notice how our phones seem allergic to silence? Every beep is designed to pull us back in.)

But silence says: “Not now. I’m listening inward.”

It’s courage to stop reacting to every ping and pulse. Courage to be with yourself, even when it feels unfamiliar. And - slowly - it becomes freedom.

Quiet Invitations (not instructions :)

I don’t believe in strict rules. Silence works best when it feels like an invitation, not an obligation. These are a few ways I’ve been welcoming it - perhaps one might whisper to you too:

A car ride with no radio, just the hum of tyres and your thoughts drifting like clouds.

A cup of tea without a scroll, where the steam becomes its own conversation.

Two minutes of hush before you answer back in anger - to let the heat soften, the breath return, the words come out kinder.

A short walk without headphones, where the leaves, birds, and footsteps make their own soundtrack.

A candlelit pause before sleep, where silence is the last thing you meet before dreams.

These aren’t grand gestures. Just small doorways back to yourself.

The Science that Nods Along

And because my poetic heart loves when science nods in agreement… here’s what researchers are discovering:

Silence grows the brain. A 2023 study confirmed that regular silence supports new brain cell growth in the hippocampus - the part of the brain linked with memory and emotional balance.

Silence lowers stress. Even 20 minutes of intentional quiet reduces cortisol (the stress hormone), calms blood pressure, and helps the body shift back into safety mode.

Silence supports emotional regulation. Neurobiological research in 2024 showed that silence activates the prefrontal cortex (the “wise part” of the brain), giving us space to pause instead of react.

Silence restores attention. With constant notifications, our brains tire. A recent review (2025) noted that micro-pauses of silence sharpen focus and even improve creativity.

So science is now saying what our hearts already know: silence heals.

A Whisper from Eckhart Tolle

I’ve been a fan of Eckhart Tolle for years, and one of his reminders feels especially soft here:

“Silence is your greatest ally in the journey back to yourself.”

I’ve found that to be true - in Riga with Lui, in my room with a candle, in my car with only the road and my breath. Silence has always been guiding me home.

Before you go...

So maybe this week, give yourself a moment of silence. Just one. A candle’s glow. A cup of tea without the scroll. A walk with no soundtrack but your footsteps. No perfection. No pressure. Just the soft choice to pause.

I’d love to hear how silence meets you - what it feels like, what it shows you. Share if you feel so; your story might be the quiet nudge someone else needs.

With calm,

Eva

"A little glimpse of Old Riga...the cobblestones that hold so many quiet walks and memories for me."

References

• Kirste, I. et al. (2013). Is silence more than golden? The effects of silence on adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Brain Structure and Function. Duke University Medical Center.

• ScienceDirect (2024). Silence and the autonomic nervous system: neural pathways to calm.

• American Heart Association (2024). The impact of environmental noise and silence on cardiovascular health.

• Komo News (2025). Silence can significantly impact health: new research on memory, anxiety, and brain growth.

• Lone Star Neurology (2025). The Brain Benefits of Silence: What Happens When We Unplug.

• ABC News (2025). Silence and mental health: why quiet time matters in noisy modern life.