September 14, 2025

Why hello there! This work contrasts to the others I have previously written for this blog. This is because this piece does not aim to answer any mystical, philosophical question or define any words by my mystic-of-a-19-year-old mindset.

Still. The intent and the result are always two separate things. This I have come to understand very well! And so, we shall see where this writing takes us. There were many things in my life (and yours too!) that took place in between the last writing and this one. Still, even now, many things are laid out which could—but will not—prevent me from writing this piece. 

The “Power” In Being Silent

This written work addresses silence. The power of it and so its inversive weakness. This writing perhaps also aims to understand why I (a humble and confident author!) have come to love it so. Writing has always been a mode of communication I held passion for. Amongst friends or loose acquaintances, I started to recognize my love for verbal communication as well. Though, there was a point where my words were misconstrued and my writings—as clearly articulated as I made them—were interpreted poorly. I often spoke, wrote, or argued harder to attempt to prove a point. To get my message across.  

Though there was nothing uniquely occurring within my communication, I found something of immense value in its opposite. In my silence. I, through silence, could control my own narrative with greater power than any words or acts of communication could ever convey. It was a precious power which I still did not know how to control, as I’m sure many of you reading can similarly relate to. I suppose you could say that “with great power comes great responsibility.”, but, I now can confess. How poorly I wielded this “power” of mine.

I wielded my silence irresponsibly. Silence as a punishment, or in case, silence as an unjustified or unexplained consequence. But, this writer must mention something very important. Silence wielded immaturely and in ignorance does more harm to the person using it than the person receiving it. Please, keep this in mind.

But now, time has passed and with it, my immature silence. I am a writer who discusses topics of life, death, beauty, confidence, and temperance.  What a change! If you must know how, it is partially due to the words my father frequently says, “Everyone is a work of progress”. 

Of course I will still battle egregiously with a tiny and infectious form of pride! But it is this same battle that ensures I am human. My humility and confidence must always be at opposite ends, so that I find temperance in their conflict. 

But back to the topic at hand. Silence! As I discovered this “power” of mine, I discovered the lack of structure or method to my silence, I felt it’s power take control in ways beyond outward punishment and conflict. The inability to speak up for myself. The inability to defend myself. The inability to defend others. Silence at the wrong times engulfed with silence at the right times.

 All and all, as a whole, I was silenced.

Silence

But what made my silence so bad? The part of me that lost the ability to protect others? Protect myself? Or perhaps it was that my silence traded effort and caring for…nothing. Effort and caring for silence? A flawed bargain? I am still unsure.

But, perhaps a residual of this flawed bargain was more valuable than it first appeared. My silence, as egregiously pride-riddled as it reads, brought me back to my ability to write. My ability to write brought me to my ability to speak. And in a much, much healthier manner of ways, my ability to speak redefined my silence all together.  So, it can be said that somewhere in between my ignorant use of silence, I discovered when and how to use it more maturely?

The overwhelming amount of changes in my life would perhaps be what triggered this spiral. Silence was the only thing which, for this writer, that could bring me back to writing. I think we will all reach a point where we are forced (by life circumstances, another person, or, by themselves) to self-reflect and self analyze. We either learn to accept and love what we find or wither in our attempts to reject it. 

Though, I won’t spend much longer writing about myself. In between the silence spaces of my written word, I hope everyone will be given a mirror of self reflection. A mirror that shows them how they currently are using their own silence. For better or for worse. Beyond the surface of beauty, confidence, and humility. These are of course the more “desirable” traits and characteristics that I write about. The stories before this discussed desirable qualities we all hope to possess in ourselves. The stories after this, maybe, will delve deeper and thoughtfully into intimidating topics or even the “ugly” traits we steer away from. 

Compliance is the “ugly” trait this writing hopes to address. And how to do away with this dangerous form of silence.

How to Combat Compliance

To put it simply, Your silence must bring you to what you love. What you love, in some way or the other, must branch into what is uncertain to you. Perhaps a quality that is only revealed when you are around people you feel safe with. Perhaps a quality that is only revealed when you are by yourself. After this, what is uncertain for you will take you down the path of being misunderstood and mistaken. 

You must accept this and continue on your path. Why? Because! You are learning your triggers and the triggers of the world around you. What is it about yourself that leaves the world feeling hesitant? What is it about yourself that is accepted by the world?

You learn how, when, and why you can use silence to better the lives of yourself and others. You learn how, when, and why you can use your voice (what you love and what you were once uncertain in.) to make the world a better place. Silence to love, love to misunderstanding. Misunderstanding to triggers and finally, triggers to understanding and acceptance.

As you can tell by this order of events, silence must extend beyond advocation. What we say is what we mean. So, we know that what we mean is what we say.

But what of what we don’t say? The words that we leave out, the logic that slips away from a heated response or debate. This will become what we do not mean, though, it very well might be everything we are trying to say. What we do not mean will become what we do not say.

I, as a writer, am fully aware of the tone of this writing. Why has it changed from before? My message is full of misty-eyed, grand statements and holistic advice? Why can’t I write within more specifics? Or perhaps you are still thinking about my statement from earlier! Why is it that I love silence so?

To Conclude

This work contrasts to the others I have previously written for this blog. It is shorter, with less specificity and less direct answers. The answers are still as illusive to this writer as they might be to you. As I’ve tried writing in chaos, to no avail, I will write in silence, hoping to understand it better.

As stated in the beginning, this is because this piece does not aim to answer any mystical, philosophical question or define any words by my mystic-of-a-19-year-old mindset.  

Rather, this short reading opened a mirror for reflection for at least one of you to redefine, reassess, and readdress your use of silence.

Thank you for reading, love

– Ire A.