Embracing the Power of Moving in Silence
Introduction
In the second episode of my podcast, I delve into the concept of "moving in silence" – a strategy for personal growth and healing that often goes against societal norms of constant sharing and validation. Basically, I took what I’ve always done as a thought leader and shared the concept with all of you.
Moving in silence in the preparation and planning phases is when I’m happiest, at my most creative, and can really tune into what God is asking me to do. We love it here!
Understanding the Foundation
Anytime you prepare to move into a new mindset shift, I believe it’s important to understand the foundation you’re currently standing on, no matter how shaky it seems. So, what about mine?
Well, I was starting with the foundation of being the former gifted child* and chameleon kid*, a recovering people pleaser and perfectionist.
Known for sacrificing all of myself for the happiness of others and being so excited about plans that I would spill about them before I was really prepared. This opened the door for people to project their ideals onto me which in turn crushed many dreams early on. The pressure to constantly excel and the fear of disappointing my parents, not one they intentionally placed on me, shaped my early years.
This foundation fueled my deep desire to keep my plans, and struggles to an extent, private, especially when navigating significant life changes, such as dropping out of college due to academic probation and financial burdens such as unemployment.
*Note: Gifted kid (n) - typically refers to a child who shows exceptional levels of aptitude and competence in one or more areas, such as intellectual, creative, artistic, and leadership capacities. These children often demonstrate advanced abilities in comparison to their peers, with a knack for learning quickly and holding space for an emotional depth that may not make sense based on their age. - Think: “You’re wise for your years.” - In the same breath, being a gifted kid has its own set of challenges, such as social isolation, heightened sensitivity to criticism, perfectionism, and the pressure to constantly meet high expectations.
*Another Note: Chameleon kid (n) - refers to a child who adapts their behavior, personality, and interests to fit in with different social groups or environments, especially concerning the stress levels of the adults in their lives. This adaptability can help them navigate various social situations very well. - Still, it can also lead to these kids struggling with self-acceptance, identity issues, an anxiety-ridden nervous system, and not allowing long-term personal growth.
The Journey to My Favorite Self
I saw somewhere earlier “Go be your favorite self”
— 📸 (@SierraChas) June 29, 2021
We are used to “higher” or “best”
But “favorite” leaves room for Grace.
I’m going to be the version of myself that I like right now in this moment.
While moving in silence, you may realize this means you’re often in a season of isolation surrounding your plans and journey. While not everyone enjoys being alone, as an introvert, it’s something I adore but still wanted to have a deeper confidence with my whole self and who I was becoming.
During that time, God was like “Let me slide this tweet in your line of sight” knowing I had not been on Twitter (now called “X”), in a hot minute.
I was immediately inspired to adopt the mindset of working toward my favorite self. It encouraged me to embrace all parts of myself, even those I previously deemed unlovable, and to stop trying to make myself consumable for others.
You know, that thing where you make yourself less and compartmentalize who you are but only to make others comfortable, not because God asked you to decrease so He can cook? Yeah, stop doing that.
What I love the most about the journey to your favorite self is you’ll often find yourself exploring things you loved as a child and dreams you had as a teen, but with more wisdom and less need for external validation. I mean, you don’t need that last part.
God knew you first. Period.
Obviously, She’s Spiritual
If you can’t tell by my recent content, I’m not shying away from talking to and about the Most High.
God was the first person I ever consulted about my purpose at a time when I was very far away from my spirituality. I recount the hours of what transpired and cracked myself wide open in Season 3 during “The Truth About Becoming A Founder.” I genuinely sobbed and had to pause the episode to pull myself together. You can hear it!
I believe my spiritual journey is why I’m able to move in silence, do all that I do, and connect so many people through the communities I’m either a part of or build in God’s name. And that everyone’s spiritual journey is personal.
I grew up in the church, felt judged and bothered in the church, and so being in a building didn’t make me any less likely to leave the church. I would explore my faith again in my 20s while in college, and end up serving in a church, only to find myself deterred again by how people treated, spoke, and behaved with people who didn’t share the exact same beliefs. I would find myself again at God’s doorstep after dating someone who was openly agnostic in my late 20s and trying to figure out how I identified with the religious world.
It wasn’t until my Jesus Year (Year 33), opting for a personal relationship with God instead of going to a physical church and built the muscle of faith in private that I even felt comfortable openly speaking with God again on my platforms.
Yeah, I talked about God amongst other women of faith, but sharing that relationship online? I hadn’t done that consistently in probably a decade.
And if you’re reading this, and don’t have a relationship with God, there’s no judgment here. I just spoke with my brother on the phone last night about how we both know people transcending different religions, industries, cultures, and we treat them with love, kindness, and respect.
I don’t talk to them all about God or speak life into them using the same language as I would someone of faith. I mean the first and only two things I remember teaching the kids in church when I served were “Love God” and “Love People.” That’s how I live my life.
Moving in Silence Applies to More Than Dreams
You’re allowed to move in silence about anything, especially when it comes to your well-being and relationships. You can tell who you want about when you start dating someone or getting to know someone, or you can not. You can tell people about your breakup, or you cannot.
I realized I prefer telling people in stages—those God tells me to include, and listening to when I’m supposed to divulge on that. It's my life, and I get to make that decision. I don't owe anyone an explanation or a share of my personal life.
Yes, even on a tell-all podcast. It’s my tell-all as in “I’ll tell you everything I want to.” My relationships are a good example.
Most people won't know who I'm dating unless they're very close to me. I don’t think most people knew I was in a relationship for 6+ years. It was never a shame thing. We were very happy for most of our relationship and we made an active choice after a conversation to keep it as private as possible.
Now, I’m on “it’s a me and God thing.” Like, my future husband will have to go through God to get to me and when he does, y’all will be lucky if I pop up on the gram right after I’m married talking about it. Again, I like my privacy.
Advice, If You’re Open to It
For content creators, influencers, and solopreneurs:
It's important to remember that you are the brand. There's a lot you don't have to share. You can stand up for your privacy and move in silence—not out of shame, but to protect your energy and give your endeavors the best chance to thrive on their own.
For everyone:
You're allowed to move in silence and define what that means for yourself.
Again, it's not about hiding out of shame but about protecting the energy around your personal life, your healing journey, your self-love journey, your spirituality, your sexuality, your career—whatever it may be.
The point of this reflection is to remind you that moving in silence is always an option, and you get to define it. This isn't about talking at you; it's about talking to you, sharing my experiences, and reminding you that at the end of the day, it's your decision.
