I often choose silence - week-285

Hello, friends! It is my pleasure to continue sharing with you; today I am joining in with the weekend topics; among the alternatives, I have chosen to write about: Awkward silence or talking too much... Do you do one or the other, or do you know someone who does?

Silence, from my point of view, can express many things, such as insecurity, fear of making a mistake, respect, and intelligence. It all depends on each individual and the moment when the silence occurs. From my personal experience, I have sometimes remained silent when answering a question, searching for the best words to express what I want to convey. I also like to listen to other people's opinions before rushing to give my own.

In addition, I am a person who is known for being discreet and prudent before interacting in a conversation and giving opinions without listening to others, so I don't usually talk too much, but only what I consider necessary. I prefer to remain silent if I am not sure that what I say will contribute something truly important.

I know people who tend to talk too much, interrupt all the time, and don't let anyone else get a word in edgewise; they even give you information without you asking for it. These are people who feel confident when expressing themselves, but who can fall into the trap of not listening to others.

There are moments that often lead to awkward silences. I remember an occasion at my old job when we were called to a meeting to give information about the week's achievements, what was pending, and to make proposals. When the manager said, “Who wants to start?” there was a silence that seemed endless; no one dared to begin, perhaps for fear of criticism and opinions, but when one colleague broke the silence, everyone began to participate.

It has also happened to me on several occasions that we are a group of people talking and suddenly some people leave and a silence ensues where we don't know what to do or say, because, due to a lack of confidence or not having a common topic of conversation, we are left in an uncomfortable moment, causing an atmosphere of tension and nervousness, not knowing what to do, wishing for something to happen to end this moment that seems endless.

Silence often also expresses discomfort; we don't want to talk to someone or express our support or point of view on something because we don't agree with it.

Well, friends, this is my opinion on silence; for me, keeping quiet is a great choice, but it's not always the best one, a communication strategy and a way of expressing oneself; I hope to return soon.

Own images, banner and separator created in Canva, translation done in DeepL.