It’s June; a perfect time for a pause to rest, reflect and reset for the next half of the year.

We’ve chosen as our month’s theme. The ability to move past the bustle and chatter of life is where we can locate our internal source of power.

For those of us who are bombarded with daily stressors that leave us exhausted, silence is a tool that can be used to regain a measure of freedom.

We know the benefits. Yet in our hustle-bustle culture, taking the time to be still and reap the benefits of silence may be difficult.

In South Korea which has an intense work culture (people often clock in over 20,000 hours a year), some have taken to being locked in a prison to enjoy silence.

It is a unique retreat called Prison Inside Me, where people voluntarily lock themselves away to escape the pressures of daily life. Located in Hongcheon, northeast of Seoul, this facility mimics a prison environment but instead of punishment, it’s designed for mental detox and self-reflection.

Guests trade their phones, schedules, and social interactions for a small, bare cell with no mirrors, a simple mat on the floor, and basic meals like rice porridge or sweet potatoes. There’s no talking, no clocks, and no distractions, just solitude.

The idea came from co-founder Noh Ji-Hyang, whose husband, a prosecutor working gruelling hours, once joked that solitary confinement sounded like a break. That sparked the creation of this retreat, which has since welcomed thousands of visitors seeking a reset.

For many, the experience is freeing. Some describe it as a way to step back from the relentless demands of work and society, allowing them to reflect, meditate, or simply breathe.

I know many friends who have also gone for silent retreats to free their minds and regain a sense of equilibrium and sanity.

Silence.

I was not always a fan of it.

Instead, my mind is always on the go and my days packed with work and activities. I was usually the earliest at the office and worked extra hours because I enjoyed it.

On reflection, it was because I was busy escaping my unhappy marriage life and the loneliness. Occupying my mind and time was a survival mechanism.

As I embarked on my inner healing, my mentors and therapists recommended that I learn practice to enjoy silence. Some of the activities I tried and still enjoy: walks in nature listening to its sounds (minus music), painting (highly recommend this for those whose brains won’t stop talking like mine), mindfulness practices, short doses of silent retreats and daily meditations.

I like how silence also enhances our creativity. Here are a few key findings:

These studies reinforce the idea that silence isn’t just an absence of noise. It’s an active space where creativity flourishes.

Instead of waiting for a perfect and less busy time for a silent retreat, you can include silence in the here and now.

Some suggestions:

Which one will you choose to do in the next moment?

Silence is a source of great strength
– Lao Tzu