What I learned from 30 days of silent meditation

There’s a world of difference between knowing about meditation and actually practicing it.

The distinction lies in experience.

Reading about meditation is like reading a menu; you get an idea, but you’re not really tasting the food.

Engaging in silent meditation, however, is diving head first into a sea of self-discovery, consciousness and tranquility.

This is my story of what I discovered during 30 days of silent meditation.

It was a journey that taught me more than I could have imagined, and I’d like to share these insights with you.

Just like there’s no magic phrase to influence others, there’s also no magic pill for self-improvement or mindfulness.

But there are lessons to be learned, and that’s what I’m here to share with you today:

1) Silence is golden

In our bustling world, silence is a luxury we often neglect.

But in the realm of meditation, silence is not just a luxury, it’s a necessity.

During my 30-day silent meditation journey, I realized the profound power of silence.

We spend so much time surrounded by noise that we forget how essential it is to step back and simply be still.

The constant chatter of our minds, the endless stream of thoughts, the incessant noise from our environments—all these create a cacophony that drowns out our inner voice.

By embracing silence for a whole month, I discovered that it was possible to tune out the noise and tune into myself.

It was like turning down the volume on a loud TV and suddenly hearing the soft ticking of a clock that was always there but unnoticed.

The lesson here? Don’t underestimate the power of silence.

2) An unexpected confrontation

Silent meditation wasn’t all tranquility and self-discovery as it also brought me face-to-face with some unexpected inner demons.

As the external noise faded away, the internal noise became louder.

Thoughts and emotions that I’d been avoiding or ignoring suddenly came to the forefront.

I remember distinctly on the 10th day, I found myself wrestling with a feeling of resentment that I had been carrying for years towards a friend.

It was something I hadn’t even realized was bothering me.

In the silence, there was nowhere to hide.

No distractions, no noise to drown out these feelings—it was just me and my thoughts.

This confrontation wasn’t easy, but it was necessary.

It forced me to acknowledge and address a part of myself that I had been overlooking.

Through this process, I learned the importance of facing our inner truths, no matter how uncomfortable they might be.

3) Rewiring the brain

During my 30 days of silent meditation, I noticed a significant shift in my mental state.

My concentration improved, my stress levels decreased, and I felt more at peace with myself.

Interestingly, it’s not just a subjective experience as science backs this up too.

Neuroscientists have discovered that regular meditation can actually change the structure of the brain.

An article centering on a study conducted by Harvard University found that eight weeks of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) increased cortical thickness in the hippocampus, which governs learning and memory, and in certain areas of the brain that play roles in emotion regulation and self-referential processing.

In simpler terms, silent meditation doesn’t just help you feel better—it can literally change your brain for the better.

This understanding deepened my commitment to my meditation practice.

Knowing that I was not just improving my mental health but also physically altering my brain gave me a sense of empowerment and control over my well-being.

4) The Buddhist perspective

Silent meditation, while it can be practiced by anyone, has deep roots in Buddhism.

During my 30 days of practice, I drew heavily from these roots, finding inspiration and guidance in Buddhist teachings.

One of the fundamental concepts of Buddhism is mindfulness, or the practice of being fully present and engaged with whatever we’re doing at the moment.

This concept became a cornerstone of my silent meditation practice.

Half way through my journey, I found myself struggling with letting go of my ego.

This was a major obstacle that was hindering my progress.

In my book, Hidden Secrets of Buddhism: How To Live With Maximum Impact and Minimum Ego, I delve deeper into this struggle. It’s a common challenge faced by many on the path to self-improvement and mindfulness.

Understanding the Buddhist approach to ego helped me immensely during my 30-day meditation challenge.

The realization that our ego is not our true self, but rather a construct of our mind that can be dismantled through mindfulness, was a game-changer for me.

Buddhism teaches us that by letting go of the ego, we can experience life more fully and authentically.

This lesson from my silent meditation journey is something I explore in greater detail in my book.

5) Struggling with consistency

Silent meditation, like any other practice, requires consistency, but maintaining that consistency was one of the hardest parts of my 30-day journey.

There were days when I would wake up and just not feel like meditating.

My mind would be buzzing with a thousand thoughts—tasks that needed to be done, problems that needed to be solved, conversations from the previous day.

The idea of sitting still and silent for even a few minutes seemed impossible.

But I pushed through. I reminded myself of why I started this journey in the first place.

I made a commitment to myself, and I wasn’t about to break it.

Through those difficult days, I learned the importance of perseverance and discipline.

Consistency isn’t about always wanting to do something, but doing it even when you don’t want to.

In the end, those struggles made my meditation practice stronger.

Never underestimate the power of consistency as it’s often in our struggles that we find our greatest strengths.

6) Embracing discomfort

Silent meditation is often associated with peace, tranquility and comfort.

However, I discovered that discomfort plays a crucial part in the process.

At first, I was taken aback by the physical discomfort.

Sitting still for extended periods of time can lead to aching muscles and restless limbs.

Then there was the mental discomfort—the challenge of quieting a mind that’s used to constant stimulation.

Rather than resisting this discomfort, I learned to embrace it.

I realized that comfort isn’t always conducive to growth.

Sometimes, we need to step out of our comfort zone and into the realm of discomfort to truly evolve.

7) The power of the present

In our fast-paced world, we’re often juggling the past and the future, leaving little room for the present.

During my silent meditation journey, I realized just how powerful living in the present moment can be.

Each breath, each sensation became a focal point that anchored me to the here and now.

I found that being fully present helped me appreciate life more—it made me more aware of my surroundings, my feelings, and my thoughts.

Living in the present moment helped me let go of past regrets and future worries.

It taught me to focus on what I can control—the here and now.

This was one of the most transformative lessons I learned from silent meditation: The power of the present moment is not to be underestimated. It’s where life happens.

8) The journey within

The most profound lesson from my 30 days of silent meditation was this: The journey within is the most important journey we can embark on.

We spend so much time seeking answers outside of ourselves, in books, in other people, in external experiences—but the most enlightening answers often lie within us.

Silent meditation provided me with a pathway to these internal insights.

It allowed me to connect deeply with myself, to explore my thoughts and emotions, and to gain a clearer understanding of who I am.

The journey within is not always easy as it requires courage, patience, and perseverance.

However, in the end, self-discovery is the greatest discovery of all.

Final reflections: The profound power of silence

In the end, the impact of 30 days of silent meditation goes far beyond the immediate benefits like reduced stress or enhanced focus.

The journey is a deeply personal one, opening doors to self-discovery and introspection that may otherwise remain closed.

It’s about learning to embrace discomfort, to live in the present, and to embark on the powerful journey within.

In my book, Hidden Secrets of Buddhism: How To Live With Maximum Impact and Minimum Ego, I delve deeper into these concepts.

The journey, however, doesn’t end with 30 days; it’s just the beginning; the insights gained from silent meditation continue to resonate long after the practice ends.

I invite you to take a step back from the noise of everyday life and embark on your own journey within.

Whether it’s for 30 days or just 30 minutes, the profound power of silence is waiting for you!

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Lachlan Brown

I’m Lachlan Brown, the founder, and editor of Hack Spirit. I love writing practical articles that help others live a mindful and better life. I have a graduate degree in Psychology and I’ve spent the last 15 years reading and studying all I can about human psychology and practical ways to hack our mindsets. Check out my latest book on the Hidden Secrets of Buddhism and How it Saved My Life. If you want to get in touch with me, hit me up on Facebook or Twitter.

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