The Stoic Strength of Solitude
“Silence is a lesson learned from the many sufferings of life.”
“Silence is a lesson learned from the many sufferings of life.”
— Seneca, Thyestes, 309
Imagine silence. Sit quietly for a moment and try to be absorbed by it yourself. Allow your mind 60 seconds of tranquility.
Were you able to do it?
During those 60 seconds, you may have been assaulted by the buzzing of your phone, the ding of emails hitting your inbox, or a deluge of anxious thoughts. Even finding a small sliver of silence within your day may have proved to be impossible.
As modernity has come upon us, a part of the endless wave of technological advances and social upheavals, we have become a world of noise. Technology connects us to the thoughts and concerns of other humans in a unprecedented ways. It is now possible to read or listen to the thoughts of millions of other minds at any moment. The triumphs, tragedies, and worries of this cacophony of voices fills every void throughout our day — it is nearly inescapable. With this stream of information turning into a roaring river of data over the last decade, we must ask ourselves: what are the dangers presented by an absence of silence?
In its absence, we risk losing contact with ourselves. The inundation of outside voices does not allow us room to engage in dialogue with our own thoughts. In The Art of War by Sun Tzu, he cautions to “know others and know thyself, and you will not be endangered by innumerable battles” with the implication that, if we are not to know our true selves, we will be endangered by innumerable battles. Our constant connectivity and distraction is thus directly threatening us, causing us to take on more battles than is necessary.
We see this scene play out amongst the many actors in our lives. Those who do not know themselves fall into the same challenges and battles day after day. The alcoholic who does not acknowledge his problem continues to lose himself in the drink. The oblivious narcissist forfeit relationships as she ignores the wants and needs of others. The clueless food addict marches unceasingly towards an early grave. But these dangers are not limited to others — you and I alike share this same lack of self-knowledge.
Examine yourself and your experiences and attempt to locate points in time where you endured a hardship due to a lack of knowledge of yourself. Think about how the understanding provided by self-reflection can prevent other such occurrences. How would your life improve if you could avoid these battles?
You can only truly know by attempting it yourself. Set aside time for silence. Turn off the computer, leave your phone at home, and free yourself from distractions for just a short while. Allow yourself time to engage with the silence and, as a result, with your inner self. You may be amazed at what you find.