Its Pancake Day and traditionally, tomorrow marks the beginning of Lent.
This Lent we’re encouraging people to engage in some intentional silence each day as a way of introducing some peace, some reflection and rest in each of our lives. You may be someone who does this a lot, you may be thinking about being intentionally silent for the first time. We hope our Silence Challenge will prove a simple and rewarding daily exercise to bring peace and enhance your wellbeing.
Although Lent is a Christian season remembering the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, Lent is a tradition which many people connect with - whether by giving something up or by changing a life practice. Lent begins on Weds 6 March and goes through to the Sunday before Easter
Last year we asked people to spend 5 minutes in silence every day for the 40 day period of Lent and see what happened. We were thrilled as over 700 people downloaded our resource and 2000 people took Silence Cards to help them to be silent.
“Nothing strengthens authority so much as silence.” Leonardo da Vinci
Silence Challenge 2019
This year we’ve adapted the challenge a little …
Would you be willing to start the day with 5 minutes of silence and end the day with 5 minutes of silence every day during Lent?
You might want to take 5 minutes of silence as you wake up, or with a coffee or on the bus?
Then in the evening maybe before going to sleep or in the evening after a meal or maybe on your journey home from work?
5 minutes in the morning.. 5 minutes in the evening … 40 days.
Who’s in?
Why be Silent?
Well, as well as being a proven stress relief, times of silence have also been proven to improve brain function and to allow you to hear and understand yourself better. Silence is a proven meditative tool, enabling reflection. If you like silence can be good for your health and good for your soul.
What I like best, however, is the sense of balance silence gives me. Silence has become one of the ways I settle myself when life is rocky or busy. Silence gives me a platform in amongst all the noise and busyness to be still. It helps me grow.
Lao Tzu said “silence is a great source of strength.” I’d agree with that. Silence can be a beautiful and resilience force in my life and I hope it can be in yours too.
If you’d like to join us in the Silence Challenge, would you let us know? Either by commenting here or using social media and adding the #silencechallenge. Let us know how you’re getting on and how we can help you.
Resources
Resources to support you will appear here, or social media (@space2breathe on Twitter and @spacetobreathecic on Instagram) and on our YouTube Channel. Why not follow or subscribe to these and it can help keep you in touch?
Our accompanying resource Entering Silence is available to buy on our arts label Proost - either in digital download for £3 or in hardback for £10.
Look out for more posts and updates during Lent and whatever you choose to do this season, may it build you up and bring hope and purpose to your life.
Thanks for reading