Quiet people have the loudest minds[2019]

 Quiet is when the output is not being generated and the machinery of the mind focuses on utilising all input – ideas heard, seen, or felt into manufacturing thoughts. Their loud minds are the ones that develop things we see around us. Next, what is a ’loud’ mind? A mind filled to the brim with thoughts and ideas, and no one hears them blurted out in a cafe or at a bus stop. I agree wholeheartedly with this quote and the following reasons are why.

 The most crucial benefit of silence in our daily lives and filtering what we speak is the advantage of silence in the mind. Only with a silent mind can great thoughts manifest, leading to a ‘loud’ mind. Perhaps you have heard that the average person has 12,000 to 80,000 thoughts per day. Additionally, 98 per cent of these thoughts are the same as the ones we had the previous day and 80 per cent of those thoughts are negative. This proves that most thoughts voiced by a person are out of boredom, arrogance, discomfort, hate, the list is endless. It is like watching milk boil over and not turning the stove off for hours and hours and the spilt milk is useless. Overflowing milk here is like words, never-ending and unhelpful. Whatever irrelevant, foolish, or cruel thing pops up in our heads, pops out. Most of it isn’t worth thinking, let alone speaking. We might depend on communication but talking isn’t always communication. Let’s look at everyone’s favourite detective – Sherlock Holmes. You cannot catch Mr Holmes engaging in small talk and is not very good at making people feel comfortable. However, in his mind is a palace of thoughts and ideas and this is a scientifically proven technique. Close your eyes for a moment and imagine walking up a marble staircase to a library of books. You open the book you need and the information you desire is printed right there. That is a loud mind – full of ideas. Only if you refrain from blurting out whatever is on the tip of your tongue, you will be able to listen more and store more in your mind palace. 

This leads me to my second point. You cannot focus on anything anyone has to share if you are speaking non-stop. We live in a world where everyone is talking, and no one is listening. We’re all so quick to hand out sage-like advice, but equally reluctant to receive it. The less you speak, the more you hear. The information and knowledge you have access to will increase substantially once you silence your mouth. Naturally, your output will decrease, and your input will increase. This will elevate what you know and how much you know. realising how much more there is to learn and the humility that comes with it is a true sign of intelligence. The silent state is receptive. Let’s take an example – have you observed that most of your ‘Eureka!’ moments are while you are in the shower or falling asleep? This is because your mind is operating as a place of relaxation and awareness. Why is ‘me-time’ so effective? It is because spending time alone and curbing your output allows your mind to think in peace. Abraham Lincoln said, “It’s better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.”

 My last argument is something all of us have experienced. At some point or another, most of us have complained of not being heard, not being understood. A common reason why most relationships fail – romantic, professional, or platonic – is due to poor communication. It generally stems from not knowing how to communicate your ideas and feelings accurately, diplomatically, and honestly, and not knowing how to listen. Quiet people have an advantage in relationships as they can connect, to listen and empathise with the other person, and at the same time, knowing the right advice to offer. My peers and I have often found ourselves in situations when, while being taught, we are not absorbing any information or opinions, but waiting for a turn to offer our thoughts. If you can listen and connect with another person, you’re more likely to be more compassionate towards them. In 2004, Gary Chapman conducted a study on how communication is a two-way street and listening is just as important as speaking. This recalls the tale of the two goats on a bridge and neither agreeing to give to other right of way. Similarly, if everyone wants to put in their two cents, but no one wants to listen, it’s going to be an unbearably lonely world.