Recent studies have shown that taking the time for silence restores the nervous system, helps sustain energy, and conditions our minds to be more adaptive and responsive to the complex environments in which so many of us now live, work, and lead. ⠀ ⠀ This kind of silence is about resting the mental reflexes that habitually protect a reputation or promote a point of view. It’s about taking a temporary break from one of life’s most basic responsibilities: having to think of what to say. (And aren’t we naturally constantly doing that right now on various social platforms?)⠀ ⠀ When we’re constantly fixated on the verbal agenda, what to say next, what to write next, what to tweet next - it’s tough to make room for truly different perspectives or radically new ideas. It’s hard to drop into deeper modes of listening and attention and its in those places that truly *groundbreaking* ideas are found. ⠀ ⠀ So the challenge today….is to just TAKE 5 for silence. Put away all technology, and go in your closet if you have to !! Just do it, and see what happens.