The power of silence

CULTIVATING FOCUS BY 
DECLUTTERING OUR LIVES

VICTOR KANNAN reflects upon the connection among focus, silence, and space. The more we develop these attributes the more we understand ourselves and others at deeper and deeper levels. The deeper we go, the more our inner spiritual journey unfolds before us.

In our modern, fast-paced world, the ability to focus has become a rare commodity. Distractions are ubiquitous, ranging from cluttered physical spaces and overloaded digital screens to jam-packed calendars and emotional entanglements. However, there is a direct connection among focus, silence, and the space we create within ourselves and our surroundings. By intentionally managing this space, we can cultivate clarity, efficiency, and a deeper spiritual awareness.

Silence and focus

Silence is not merely the absence of noise; it is a state of being that allows us to access clarity and peace. When we reduce our involvement and interest in external distractions and random curiosities, we create a fertile ground for focused attention. Focus and attention are abilities that we naturally discover when we remove the intrusions that tend to stampede our minds.

When we take the time to pause and introspect, we can identify what serves us, and what is just a distraction. We can consciously reduce the proliferation of these unwanted and unnecessary attractions of sensory objects, ideas, events; even people. Make a list of these distractions. You will find them mostly related to your tendencies, which express themselves in your behaviors. In all of us, such behaviors are protected by our defensiveness and our lack of acceptance of the need to change.

Create space for silence  

Silence is inherently tied to the space we create, both externally and internally. Physically, an uncluttered environment fosters calmness and order. When our surroundings are chaotic, they mirror and amplify internal disarray. Organizing our spaces, whether our desks or digital devices, creates a sense of ease that enhances focus.

Internally, creating space involves letting go of unnecessary emotional baggage, outdated beliefs, and endless mental chatter. Heartfulness and Mindfulness meditative techniques, and journaling, are conducive ways of allowing us to observe our thoughts without attachment. The more internal space we cultivate, the more room we leave for silence and, in turn, for focus.

Consider this: A room filled to the brim with clutter or odds and ends can feel tiresome to stay in. It exudes the vibrations that caused the clutter. Are we hiding things under the bed? Are we stashing away things we never use in corners, to simply gather dust? These things represent fear, confusion, chaos, and lack of focus. These thought vibrations, protected by the things we have kept there, affect our mind constantly when we occupy those spaces. The space in our mind is constantly encroached. A cluttered mind, like a cluttered room, is a cacophony of fragmented thoughts and unprocessed emotions, which in turn create noise, contaminating the inner space, jamming the signals, and diminishing our ability to see clearly. Lack of focus becomes our permanent condition and state of being.

Avoid clutter: A holistic approach  

Clutter comes in many forms. Physical clutter, such as unused items or disorganized workspaces, distracts and drains energy. Digital clutter, like an overload of apps or notifications, fragments our attention. Similarly, an overcrowded calendar filled with commitments can leave little room for reflection or spontaneity.

Emotional clutter—lingering resentment, unresolved conflicts, and excessive emotional involvement—also takes up valuable internal space. Mental clutter, such as the constant need to impress others, or to recall unnecessary details, or add ifs and buts to more thoroughly explain a situation that is quite plain for everyone else, inhibits our ability to live in the present.

By avoiding clutter, we open pathways to silence, which enables focus. Minimalism, time management, and emotional detachment are not just practical strategies but transformative practices that create harmony in every facet of life.

Silence is not merely the absence of noise; it is a state
of being that allows us to access clarity
and peace. When we reduce our involvement and
interest in external distractions and random curiosities,
we create a fertile ground for focused attention.

The spiritual connection  

As we declutter and simplify, we naturally shift from superficial distractions to a deeper understanding of ourselves.

Our ability to focus is directly related to the silence we keep. Silence is directly related to the internal space we create in our hearts and minds, while space is directly related to the clutter we avoid by choosing a conscious lifestyle. The clutter we create and find ourselves in makes us wonder who let the dogs in but ourselves.  This applies to physical spaces, digital apps on our screens, events on our calendars, emotional entanglements, the tendency to form impressions, etc. The more of these we are able to filter out of our lives, the smoother our journey to spiritual betterment.

For more insight into these aspects, please read the chapter on “Less is More” in Daaji’s recent book, The Power of Paradox.

Illustrations by ANANYA PATEL