“Sometimes you have to disconnect to reconnect with yourself.”

Silence Isn’t Always Emptiness—Sometimes It’s Healing

There’s a quote by Rumi that struck me recently: “Don’t get lost in your pain, know that one day your pain will become your cure.”

To allow that transformation, sometimes we need silence. A sacred space where thoughts settle, feelings unfold, and healing begins—not through words, but through stillness. In a world that glorifies vulnerability, there’s often an unspoken pressure to share, to be open, to “talk it out.” And while communication is vital, I’ve come to believe that choosing not to share can be just as powerful as choosing to speak.

It is not about hiding or suppressing emotions—it’s about giving them room to breathe without the noise of opinions, expectations, or misunderstanding. It’s about reclaiming your inner space to process things at your own pace. There are moments when language falls short—when what you’re feeling is too raw, too tangled, or too sacred to be wrapped in words. In those times, silence seems to be the better option.

It’s never easy to accept a shift in your emotional state, but even then, it’s better to choose this shift. It’s okay to protect your peace when you realize that your thoughts and emotions are creating expectations that may not be met, expectations that, if left unchecked, could lead to disappointment or emotional imbalance.

Recently, I’ve felt this emotional shift unfolding in me, almost out of nowhere. It’s been confusing at times, even uncomfortable, but deep down I know it’s something I need to step back, reassess, and realign with what truly feels right for me. Maybe this is the best way to deal with my confused and imbalanced emotions without hurting myself or the other person in the process. People started noticing this shift and feel puzzled by the sudden change in my behaviour or emotional availability. They even tried to ask and understand what changed. But the truth is, I don’t have a clear explanation or a fair justification to offer.

As with many things in my life, I’m simply following my gut. And right now, my instinct tells me that this quiet, inward shift is necessary—not as a rejection of connection, but as an act of emotional clarity and self-preservation.

Recognizing this within yourself is not a weakness – it’s wisdom. It’s emotional maturity. And when you reach that point of clarity, choosing to make that internal shift might just be the best act of self-care you can offer yourself.

Is Silence a Strength or a Shield? – It can be both

Silence, when rooted in awareness, is strength. It’s the calm confidence of knowing that not every storm inside you needs to be broadcasted to the world. Sometimes, silence is the space where clarity is born. It allows you to pause, reflect, and respond intentionally rather than react impulsively.

For instance, there was a time when I felt deeply upset by an unexpected action from someone very close to me. It caught me off guard, not because it was cruel or intentional, but because it felt out of alignment with the bond we shared. I withdrew, emotionally. I went quiet.

Later, when I gave it some thought, I realized that maybe their actions weren’t meant to hurt me at all. Maybe it wasn’t intentional. But even then, I couldn’t fully convince my heart of that truth. My mind tried to rationalize, to explain, to calm, but the emotional sting lingered.

That’s when I started to see the root of it – over-expectations. Perhaps I had placed the person on a pedestal too high, expecting a level of sensitivity or presence that they never agreed to uphold. And that isn’t fair—neither to them, nor to me.

So, I slipped into silence. Not to punish or distance, but to protect—to keep myself from saying things I might regret, to process my feelings without dragging the other person into the chaos of my inner world.

But even in that silence, thoughts kept running through my mind: Am I doing the right thing? Is this silence healing or avoidance? Should I just let it out these emotions that may not even be grounded in truth?

It’s a confusing space to be in—between knowing you’re overthinking and still being unable to stop the thoughts from spiralling. A quiet storm, where you’re not sure if expressing would bring peace or only more complexity.

And that’s where silence sits—not as a solution, but as a pause. A space to ask yourself what truly serves your well-being and your relationships. Somewhere beneath the noise of my overthinking heart, I recognize the truth that it’s not them, not really. It’s life’s unpredictable situations and turns that brought out a version of them I wasn’t ready to face, and that left a lasting imprint on my emotional space.

When You’re Known as the ‘Open’ One

It’s not easy to suddenly pull back when people are used to you being emotionally available. You might hear things like: “You’ve changed”, “Why are you being so closed off lately?” And while these words are often said out of concern or confusion, they can unintentionally make you feel guilty for choosing silence, even when it’s exactly what you need. The pressure to return to your “usual self” can feel suffocating, especially when that self was always open, always accessible, always emotionally generous.

But what people don’t always see is that openness takes energy. It requires emotional bandwidth. And sometimes, you reach a point where that energy runs low, whether due to burnout, disappointment, or the quiet realization that you need to tend to your own inner world for a while.

Choosing to pull back doesn’t mean you care any less. It means you’re redirecting that same care inward. You’re choosing to protect your peace, to sit with your emotions privately, and to pause the cycle of constant giving because even the most open hearts need rest.

I’m Still Me, Just a Quieter Version Right Now

Being silent doesn’t mean being disconnected. I still deeply believe in honest conversations, emotional presence, and meaningful connection. But I’ve come to learn that openness and silence can coexist and that it’s okay to pause without explanation, to feel deeply without always expressing it aloud. This shift in my emotional stance isn’t easy. I might take some time for myself to process and adapt to it. In doing so, I may naturally create a little distance from people, some may notice it and feel the change intensely, while for others, it might not even register.

But for those who do feel it and wonder what changed – I want to say this: if it feels difficult for you, then know it hasn’t been smooth for me either. This isn’t a light-hearted phase or a conscious act of withdrawal; it’s a quiet battle I’m navigating within myself, a storm of emotions I can’t quite explain yet, even to me.

I don’t always have the words. I don’t always have the clarity. But I’m trying.
And maybe, with time and with the love, affection, and care I still quietly long for, I’ll find my way through this fog.

I hope I can continue to support myself in the process. I hope I allow myself grace.
And above all, I hope I can overcome the not-so-positive side of this shift and find my balance again within myself, and within the life I want to live.

Empowered Final Thoughts

If you’ve always been the one to speak up, to feel out loud, and now find peace in silence – know that you are not losing your voice. You are learning to listen to yourself first.

Silence is not weakness. Its strength wrapped in calm. It’s where you reclaim your energy, your clarity, and your self-worth.

You don’t owe anyone an explanation for protecting your peace. You’re not fading—you’re becoming more grounded. And in this space, you’re learning the most powerful lesson of all.

You are enough, even in your quiet!!!