Silence can be golden . . .
when it’s chosen,
when it’s peaceful,
when it’s rooted in wisdom.
But silence imposed by circumstance?
Silence born of trauma,
stigmatization,
or oppression?
Silence that keeps you from saying what is right?
That silence is not golden.
It’s a cage.
A wound.
A theft.
When silence is forced . . .
by shame,
fear,
or injustice; it doesn’t protect.
It erases.
It robs the world of truth,
of healing,
of transformation.
So, say I: speak.
Even if your voice shakes.
Even if the world isn’t ready.
Even if silence feels safer.
Because your voice
might be the light someone else
needs to find their way out.
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Practical steps to break silence:
- Face the truth: Confront shame. Disown it. Truth sets you free.
- Speak: Start small — a word, a newsletter, a conversation.
- Accept difference: It’s okay to be different. Your opinion matters.
- Practice grace: Don’t beat yourself up. Self-compassion is the antidote to shame.
(Excerpt — Dr. Ivan Edwards)