Shhhhhh! Something I trust we’ve all been told at some point in our lives. Be quiet. Fall into line. Be good. Don’t say that . Consider those childhood times we’ve been told to sit still and be quiet and those adolescent days of being hushed in class. Sure, these may be normal life moments in which we are taught the importance of respect and safety. But when our personal experiences and our innermost being are, “shushed”… well, that’s a different story.

What do I mean be Shhhhh? It is that experience of being silenced, shut down in often devastating ways. Silencing occurs when others diminish, ignore, ridicule or powerfully override who we are and the voices, ideas and experiences we carry. The effect? We feel invisible and often less than. Anxieties and doubt get stirred up in big ways when we cannot be heard or seen for who we are. We may question anything we feel and experience, not believing it is in fact valid because others' responses tell us in some way they’re not. We may eventually silence ourselves… standing in the shadows of others or keeping our words within. When we are silenced, we are unable to live life as our best self. Let me be bold and say that living from this place is no fun at all. In fact, it's pretty awful.

History and world events reveal many populations being silenced through harsh oppression and violence. Silencing may not always be this explicit but it can nonetheless be toxic, within our relationships and to ourselves. What I highlight here are common tactics and relationship dynamics that can have a silencing effect:

·Being told your ideas and opinions are not important

·Pressure to stay quiet so not to rock the boat ie: “ yes, yes, I’m fine.”

·Eye rolls and the dismissive head shake

·Interruption

·Criticism and judgment

·Bullying and intimidation

·Offensive jokes and slurs

·Being directly told that things must not be spoken of

·Being indirectly shown that life experiences are to brushed under the rug and not to be acknowledged

·Having someone share an experience that one-ups whatever we have just shared (Not everything is a competition!)

·Negative reactions or the quick change in topic when discussing things that make others feel uncomfortable

·Having those feelings you just expressed being dismissed, ie: “Don’t be so sensitive” or "Get over it already."

·Being gaslighted: when someone twists information to make you question your understanding of reality, working to discredit and doubt your experience.

The tricky thing is that silencing can be very insidious, at times strategic and at other times, unintentional. The numerous stories I've heard (and experienced myself) that demonstrate this experience make me pause. Recognizing this list is not at all comprehensive, I write this in hopes of calling out those situations that trap us into crazy-making doubt.

If you are/have been silenced, identify this experience for what it is… and not a reflection of who you are. When you’re told in some way to “Shhhhh. Don’t speak that. Don’t show that. Don’t be that,” step back and create space to find your truth. Then Stand up. Speak out. And be you. Let your story be told. Let your truth be shared. Let yourself be heard. You’re undoubtedly worth this.

Laurie