Words or No Words: What Does Silence Cost Us?

It’s that moment.

You are experiencing a feeling and, although you know what you are feeling, you hold it in.

Why do some of us do this?

There are many reasons.

Perhaps we want to avoid confrontation.

Perhaps we were socialized not to express certain emotions.

Or perhaps we are afraid of revealing our vulnerability.

There’s often a moment

where something is clearly present,

but not yet able to be spoken.

Yet the emotions remain.

Verbally stifled.

Held within the body.

Over time, the body continues to absorb and absorb until it finally reaches its saturation point.

What then?

Some of us become ill.

Others become lethargic.

Others isolate.

These are only a few of the ways unexpressed emotion can begin to surface.

There is something inside that wants to speak, to express, to be released.

Yet the words do not come.

This is where expressive arts, such as dance and movement, can be used therapeutically.

Creating space for expression when words feel difficult to say.

A way for the body to speak.

A way to process what has been held within.

Because what we refuse to express with our voice…

the body will eventually express for us.