"If you do not understand my silence; you will not understand my voice" - to make these words easier to understand, 'Rumi', a great thinker and most popular poet of North America said, "Silence is the language of the creator, all else is poor translation." The hidden powers of silence have a beauty that benefits those who practice it. This non-verbal communication which carries symbolic significance could be the best answer to anger or the right answer to an unwise person.

In the 21st century, studies are saying that silence and periods of calm stimulate brain cells and relieve tension, which can result in a higher sense of well-being, as people can then feel more relaxed and when this occurs, sleep quality also improves which is a vital issue in today's life.

Neuroscientists have found in animal studies that with silence each day, new cells develop in the hippocampus – a brain region that is linked to our memory, emotions, and ability to learn. A relatively older but reliable study also found that just 2 minutes of silence can be more calming than listening to relaxing music. This was attributed to changes in blood pressure and blood circulation to the brain.

These days, most of us are not good listeners; not interested to hear others' opinions. Sometimes, silence could be a golden strategy not only for us but for others too.

According to researcher Brent Metcalf (Tennessee), 'when we allow ourselves to be in silence, we allow our brains to hit the reset button and be refreshed by just slowing down.' This was judged to significantly improve mood states and reduce everyday stress and anxiety from all the chaos in our lives.

E-mail: rubaiulmurshed@shomman.org