Dignity & safeguarding · 2 min read
Silence Is Communication
On dignity, chasing and knowing when you have enough information.
Sharon Mackenzie SpiritRSPrac · Founder & Educator
- Diploma of Counselling
- Accredited Chaplain
- Narrative Practice Practitioner · Health & Harmony Colleges
- Advanced Aromatherapy Practitioner · Health & Harmony Colleges
- Trauma-Informed Care
Counselling and chaplaincy training and trauma-informed care inform Sharon’s educational work.
Silence is communication.
If you have asked clearly, followed up reasonably, tried to resolve the conflict, requested the information you need, or attempted to repair the relationship—and someone repeatedly chooses silence—you do not have to keep chasing an answer.
Their silence may not tell you why they are not responding.
But it does tell you something about what is available to you in that relationship.
You asked.
You followed up.
You tried to repair.
You gave room for communication.
At some point, continuing to chase an answer begins to cost you something.
Your dignity.
Silence does not always tell you what another person thinks or feels. People can be overwhelmed, frightened, unwell, or need time. One period of silence is not automatically rejection or manipulation.
But persistent silence after reasonable, clear attempts at communication can tell you what is currently available to you in that relationship.
And sometimes, that is enough.
You do not need to know why they chose silence before you are allowed to respond to what their silence has created.
Stop chasing the communication.
Stop standing at a door someone has chosen not to open.
Turn around.
There is life on the other side.
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