A few weeks ago, I did something I’ve been thinking about for a long time:
I signed myself up for a silent retreat in 2026.
It feels both brave and obvious at the same time, like a choice I’ve been circling for years. A quiet promise to myself. A test. An invitation. A small doorway into something deeper.
Recently, I’ve realised just how noisy life has become. My ability to focus on one thing at a time has felt… stretched thin. I know many of you will understand this. It’s the culture we’re living in – 24/7 access, endless notifications, the constant pull for immediate responses on WhatsApp, Slack, Teams, and everywhere in between.
In my day job I can switch from one customer to another within seconds, whilst in my “soul job” I feel that steady tug to show up online, to share, to build, to keep nurturing the work I believe in so deeply. It’s a weight I choose, yes, but it’s still a weight. A beautiful one, but one that requires energy, consistency, and heart.
And then there’s family, the emotional planning that comes with aging parents, the desire to stay woven into the lives of younger family members so they always know they have someone in their corner. Even without young children of my own, I’ve become acutely aware of how much energy it takes just to hold the people we love.
No wonder there’s so little space sometimes to simply be.
So… I’ve chosen to switch some of it off.
For 48 hours.
To step away from the pings and the pulls.
To sit quietly with myself.
To listen to what’s underneath the noise.
To hear my own thoughts again without interruption.
It feels exciting. It feels uncomfortable.
And it feels necessary.
Because I know that somewhere inside the silence, I’ll find the clarity and steadiness I’ve been craving.
And I wonder, have you felt that pull too?
That gentle tug toward pausing?
Stepping back?
Reconnecting with the version of yourself that exists beneath the responsibilities, the screens, the expectations?
If so, let this be your reminder:
You can give yourself permission to step into silence.
You can create tiny pockets of quiet anytime you choose.
Even a single mindful breath can be a doorway.
Here’s to listening inward and to making space for the parts of ourselves that speak softly.