SEASON OF SILENCE: A Gentle Invitation to "Fade to Black"

A Foggy Mind and a Quiet Discovery

Recently, I realized something I could no longer ignore; my mind had become foggy.

Not in a dramatic, or an alarming way but, in a slow, creeping way. Ya know? That way where your thoughts feel cluttered, your focus feels scattered, and your spirit feels tired in a way that sleep alone can't fix.

One evening, I found myself alone in the quiet of my bedroom; no electronics, no noise, no obligations tugging at me and slowly, I began to feel myself winding down. Literally. (If that makes sense.)

And instead of resisting it, I leaned into it.

The Practice That Changed the Night

I became intentional about relaxing every part of my body, starting with my feet and slowly moving upward. I closed my eyes. I quieted my thoughts. I sat in total silence.

Then I slowed my breathing:

Breathe in — to the count of 4

Hold — for a count of 6

Release slowly — to a count of 7

(I'm not entirely sure my counts were "textbook correct" — but they worked.)

I took control of my thinking and determined to focus on nothing more than the darkness I saw beneath my eyelids.

And I rested.

Truly rested.

The Revelation: We Are Overstimulated

As I lay there in that quiet, it was impressed upon my spirit, clearly and unmistakably:

We are overstimulated.

Think about it.

Many of us work — whether at home, in the home, or outside of the home. All day long, we are engaging our minds, our emotions, our bodies, and our faculties.

And once we're "off the clock" (if that terminology even still exists, and honestly, since the rise of the internet and 'go with you everywhere' technology', I'd argue it's antiquated because we are never truly off the clock), we transition straight into the necessities of daily living.

Keeping our homes running. Keeping our families going. Being everything for everyone, all at once.

We are always engaging.

And our spirits are quietly begging us to stop!

The Invitation: Fade to Black

I have a niece who uses a phrase I've come to love. When she wants to disappear from socializing; when she needs to withdraw and simply be; she calls it "fading to black."

I absolutely love it! It has stuck with me, and I hope it will stick with you.

Recently, I was having a conversation with a 17-year-old, and I shared a memory that felt almost foreign to them. This memory was from a time when even the television knew how to fade to black.

There was a season, not so long ago, when television stations actually shut down for the night. The programming would end, the National Anthem would play, and then the screen would slowly transition — first to a pattern of horizontal or vertical-colored bars… and eventually, to nothing more than soft, quiet snow. (Tell me you remember that!)

There was a rhythm to it. A rest to it. A built-in permission to stop.

There used to be a time when the world shut down for the day — and in doing so, gave us permission to shut down too.

But that time is no longer!

The screens never sleep. The feeds never stop. The notifications never end. And somewhere along the way, we forgot how to fade to black.

So today, in this short and simple post, I want to encourage you to reclaim what the world has forgotten.

Fade to black. 

• Disengage — intentionally.

• Do nothing.

• Hear nothing.

• Be nothing to anyone — even if just for a little while.

Why This Matters

We must care enough about ourselves to not allow life to overwhelm us.

Yes — we love our friends. We love our families. We appreciate the invitations, the gatherings, the outings, the phone calls, the check-ins. Being thought of is a gift, and I never want to take it for granted.

But there must come a time when we favor the sanctity of our sanity over the feeling of obligation to please others.

I have learned, and I want you to hear this clearly:

SOMEONE will ALWAYS be having something. SOMEONE will ALWAYS be planning something. And you will ALWAYS be welcome to decline. 

The invitations will keep coming. The opportunities will keep flowing. Life will keep moving.

But you, your peace, your mind, your spirit all needs moments that belong to no one but you (and Holy Spirit).

The Sacred Reason for Silence

Here is the most true reason I want you to build silence into your days:

It is in the quiet that we hear the voice of our most precious Holy Spirit, without disruption. 

Not in the noise. Not in the notifications. Not in the endless scroll or the constant conversation. But in the still, small voice that only whispers when we finally stop long enough to listen.

Your Invitation This Week

I want to invite you, in each of your days, to create a Season of Silence. It doesn't have to be long. It doesn't have to be perfect. It doesn't have to look like anyone else's.

• Maybe it's 5 minutes before your feet touch the floor in the morning.

• Maybe it's 10 minutes in your car before you walk into the house.

• Maybe it's an hour after dinner where the phone stays face-down and in silent mode.

• Maybe it's an entire evening where you simply… fade to black. 

  
  

Whatever your season looks like, make it non-negotiable.

You are worth the quiet. Your mind is worth the reset. Your spirit is worth the stillness.

A Whisper Before the Silence

 

Give yourself permission today to disengage, to disappear (briefly), and to do absolutely nothing. Not because you're lazy. Not because you're antisocial. Not because you don't care. But because you cannot pour from an empty vessel, and the world will keep asking you to pour.

Fade to black, my friend.

Your mind will thank you. Your body will thank you. And most importantly… Holy Spirit will meet you there. 

With love and stillness,

Coach Kathryn

Renewing Your Mind Life Coaching 

There was a season, not so long ago, when television stations actually shut down for the night.