A story… A busy church minister once approached the psychologist, Carl Gustav Jung. He was overworked and close to a burnout. His average working day was 14 hours long. Jung’s “prescription” was simple. The minister was to work only 8 hours per day in future. He was to spend 8 sleeping and the rest of the day alone in his study. The first day the minister followed the instructions religiously and spent a few hours in his study reading and playing the piano. The next day he did the same.

On the third day he was back with Jung in desperation. The cure didn’t work. Jung questioned the minister and impatiently said the minister did not get the message. He was not to spend his time in the office reading or playing the piano. He had to spend the time with his own thoughts, in absolute silence. The minister’s response was that this was the worst company he could think of. Jung’s laconic answer was “Yes, and this is the company you expose your congregation to every day for 14 hours!”

Jung’s instruction of silent time for 8 hours a day is a bit much! I can understand why the minister felt bowled over. I would have been and maybe you too. The 8 hours is however not a necessity. Einstein once said “I take long walks on the beach so that I can listen to the voice in my head. If my work isn’t going well, I lie down in the middle of a workday and gaze at the ceiling.” Of course, it is not possible in the work environment of today, but the idea is to remove myself from others at times. You can start with 5 minutes a day.

Silent time spent with “Me, Myself and I” is a scarce commodity in our time. Our general lifestyle is set to almost prevent us from being silent and by oneself. Adults, teenagers and even children are addicted to their mobile phones, i-pads and TV screens… The cacophony of noise in our environment is hectic and overwhelming It is go, go and more go… The pressure is on!