"Silence," said Lao Tzu,
"is a source of great strength." It is in silence that we steadily
learn the language of art. "It is not the inert silence of a stone,"
said Maharishi Mahesh
Yogi, "but creative silence."
Adolescence
is a time when young people discover their unique identities. They need moments
of silence to reflect on their experiences—to discover who they are as individuals,
what kind of relationships they desire, and what they value and believe about
life. Tuning out the noisy world helps young people develop the ability to
reflect and grow.
When asking our young people to share their thoughts and feelings, we affirm the value of their experiences, help them see things through other eyes, and support the process of reflection. It is not necessary to text or email questions, but rather interact with our youth and each other. J. Dewey wrote and published (1910),” How We Think” followed by, “Experience and Education” (1938). He lists five ways to foster self reflection in teens. It is worth the read. http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-moment-youth/201312/the-importance-silence-in-noisy-world
Talking to others - really talking and sharing or whether
talking to ourselves gives our minds time to pause, to reflect and to
relax. It is healthy.
Human relationships are high on the list, but we also need
to guard against losing those other faculties that truly define our humanity.
Dewey, J. (1916). Democracy and education: An introduction to the philosophy of education. New York: MacMillan
Dewey, J. (1933). How we think. Buffalo, NY: Prometheus Books. (Original work published 1910)
Dewey, J. (1938). Experience and education. New York: Kappa Delta Pi.
How to foster self-reflection in young people.
