When Silence Isn’t Golden
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I went from being a stay-at-home dad of four kids to a single kidless parent overnight. One morning, the Manhattan apartment was filled with the sounds of my children. By evening, they were on a plane flying to Arizona.
Silence was the first thing I noticed. For the first time in 16 years I didn’t have little kids running around.
That silence taught me something profound: silence physically hurts.
Humans aren’t designed to operate in complete silence. It isn’t natural, and for many of us, it’s uncomfortable. Some people avoid silence entirely by turning on the TV, streaming shows, or scrolling through their phones. While this can feel good in the short term, what we fill our space with matters deeply for our mental health.
**Science Alert: Why Silence Can Be Unsettling**
Complete silence is rare in nature, and our brains aren’t wired to handle it well. Research shows that total silence can heighten awareness of internal sounds like your heartbeat or breathing, which can lead to discomfort or even anxiety in some people (Source: Frontiers in Psychology). This is why many of us instinctively seek out noise to fill the void; it’s a form of self-soothing.
Studies have found that background noise like music or white noise can help calm the mind and reduce stress, while overstimulating content; like distressing news; can have the opposite effect (Source: Journal of Music Therapy).
The Problem with Filling Silence with News
When we turn to news or social media to fill silence, we’re often exposing ourselves to content designed to provoke strong emotions like fear or outrage. These programs and apps are engineered to keep you engaged by triggering dopamine responses and creating a sense of urgency. While this might feel stimulating in the moment, it often leaves us more anxious and stressed than before.
Replace the Stimuli
Instead of filling your space with reactive stimuli, try music designed to calm your mind, like Dream CPR. Music provides a gentle backdrop that allows your thoughts to settle and your
body to relax. Unlike news or social media, it doesn’t demand a reaction; it simply creates space for you to breathe.
A Personal Experiment
In my 20s, I was a stressed young dad juggling gigs and teaching music. My morning routine included turning on the news while getting my son ready for daycare. I didn’t realize how much this habit was affecting me until I decided to replace it with music.
Within a week of starting my mornings with music instead of news, I felt noticeably calmer. My heart rate was lower, and I woke up feeling less anxious; even before the music started playing. The world didn’t stop turning because I wasn’t glued to the news first thing in the morning; instead, I gained control over how my day began.
The Dream CPR Challenge: Take Control of Your Mornings
If you find yourself reaching for your phone or turning on the news as soon as you wake up, try this instead:
1.Pause Before Reacting: Take a deep breath and welcome a new day of possibility.
2. Choose Music First: Open a music app or put on an album that makes you feel calm or energized; whatever your body needs that morning.
3. Delay Your “Go-To” App: Once the music is playing, wait before checking texts, emails, or social media. Gradually extend this time each day until you’ve built a new habit of starting your mornings with intention.
Taking control over what stimuli hits you first thing in the morning can set the tone for your entire day.
How Dream CPR Can Help
Dream CPR’s music is designed to create a peaceful ambiance that calms your mind and helps you process stress more effectively. By listening to these soundscapes during stressful moments; or even while sleeping; you can create an environment that promotes relaxation and clarity.
Studies show that listening to calming frequencies while sleeping can improve sleep quality by reducing nighttime awakenings and promoting deeper rest (National Sleep Foundation). While this approach may not work for everyone, creating a sound environment tailored to your needs is an act of self-care that benefits both you and those around you.
Your Turn
What do you listen to when you want to avoid silence? What’s the first thing you reach for when you wake up; music, texts, social media? No judgment here; just observation! Share your experiences in the comments or on social media so we can learn from one another.
The journey is more fun when shared! Let’s explore how sound can transform our lives together.
Stay Connected
Thank you for being part of the Dream CPR journey! Follow us on your favorite streaming platform and social media channels for updates on new releases and insights into relaxation music.
🎵 Explore all Dream CPR music on Spotify:
Sincerely, Colin
Sources
1. Frontiers in Psychology - The Psychological Effects of Silence: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg
2. Journal of Music Therapy - Music as a Tool for Stress Reduction: https://academic.oup.com/jmt
3. National Sleep Foundation - Sounds That Improve Sleep: https://www.sleepfoundation.org
This revised blog maintains the emotional core of your story while focusing on science-backed insights about noise and its effects on mental health. It’s concise yet empathetic, offering actionable advice through humor and relatability while aligning perfectly with Dream CPR’s brand voice!
