Is Silence Really Golden?

We've all heard the phrase that "silence is golden" and many of us have used it without truly knowing the meaning behind the phrase or it's origin. I was lead to look up the meaning of the phrase and found that "silence is golden" is a proverbial saying, often used in circumstances where it is thought that saying nothing is preferable to speaking. What this is saying is that in some instances it is better to say nothing than to say anything at all. But, is this really beneficial? Is silence really golden or can it cause more harm?

Have you ever noticed that silence can be so loud at times? How deafening our thoughts can become when we choose to be silent and decide not to speak? While choosing not to speak and even ignoring someone can speak volumes, it may not be the best way to communicate. Proper delivery of words can bring clarity, whereas silence can prolong confusion. Now, I'm not referring to arguments or disagreements when I pose the question, "Is silence really golden" because truth be told sometimes in a disagreement it is better to say nothing, especially in the heat of the moment. What I'm referring to are those thoughts that stem from ambiguity; the thoughts that plague and overwhelm us when things aren't very clear. In those instances silence can do more harm than good. Not only can this be dangerous in a relationship, but also in friendships and really any encounter with another person. As I mature and reflect on the many interactions i've had with others i've come to realize that choosing to be silent is not always beneficial and really is not golden. Silence when appropriate can be a great thing, yet when things aren't clear or we need a better understanding of a situation we must speak up and get answers needed. If we could all get to a place where we can decipher when certain ways of communicating are appropriate, then our interactions and relationships with others can be much more fruitful.

I hope that this stimulates some thought on how you communicate and how you can improve when it comes to knowing when to be silent and when to speak up.