It's quite interesting I reckon, to be able to maintain awkward silences, even if it's for a few seconds.
This allows me, for example, to let a person speak more, rather than me rescue them. Or in a negotiation, for the other offer more. I know - I've been on the 'other' side.
It is also a very good and accessible way to train a foundational skill of all 8 week mindfulness courses: 'respond rather than react'. The urge to fill the silence can be quite strong and one has to observe and manage it in a real-life situation. One can call it "active mindfulness practice", which is my favourite part of a course.
Author: JD
Image by Christel SAGNIEZ from Pixabay
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