All of us are over-stimulated on a daily basis. Think advertising, TV, Nintendo, traffic, ambient noise.... All of these create a need to shut down some of our senses and withdraw. We simply cannot attend to everything around us. But how sad to miss sounds of a bird or ocean because you need to screen out daily sounds that are annoying. Where is our ability to stay in moment and grow under those circumstances? Here are a few more ideas to help you find a quiet, no matter how small, moment in time: *Turn off TV for 15 minutes. *Laugh - read comics or rent a Laurel & Hardy movie. *Read a good book - by "good" I mean anything you enjoy. *Take a walk alone - you can go for just 15 minutes.

A moment in time does not need to be large, extended or planned. Just let it happen even if for only those few seconds of breathing, breathing, breathing. It will give you back a sense of who you are and more energy to reach your goals.

Just take a deep breath!

6. Silence can indicate contemplation.

The more introverted your communication partner, more likely they will think before they speak. Extraverts discover what they’re thinking and how they feel by talking. Introverts figure it all out inside their own head and heart before giving voice to it.

7. Silence can be intentional rudeness. Because of nature of normal conversation in US, allowing an extended silence can be perceived as rudeness. It can also be meant that way. Refusing to reply to other person is a way of ignoring them. 8. Silence can be creation of a listening space.

When you are profoundly listening to someone, you create an open space for them to talk into that’s almost palpable. Good listeners know how to do this, and it can be learned. It’s an openness that you transmit through nonverbal means.

9. Silence can be an indication of empathy.

When we're really tuning in to how other person feels, we're listening more to tone of their voice, cadence and speed rather than actual words, so reply with words may not be most appropriate response. Sometimes sounds are more attuned … a murmur, a sigh, sucking in breath in shock, soothing sounds, clucking (tsk tsk), or shaking head and going uh, uh, uh.

10. How you manage silence in conversation is an important part of emotional intelligence.

Excellent communicators can allow silence when it’s effective or called for; can avoid being pressured into “spilling” when silence is used manipulatively; offer silence as a gift or sign of respect; interpret silence of others appropriately; understand how other cultures use silence; mindfully regulate use of silence; and are comfortable with silence and understand its many uses.