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It is finally Fantastic Friday.

We have made it another week, and I am thoroughly in a space of gratitude. Here's hoping you had the week that you

intended and if not here's to you bouncing back and being resilient. So today I'm going to be talking about self-compassion, being gentle with yourself,

and also reiterating the importance of seeing mindfulness as a lifestyle.

And it's funny because all three of these topics will be covered as I tell you about my

reentry back from a silent retreat.

I think we're all familiar with that popular saying.

All good things must come to an end.

Well, such was the case as the last day of my silent retreat was upon me.

I had spent the week at Big Bear Retreat Center in California, in mostly silence, and it was a most rewarding experience.

Being in silence at a meditation retreat has so many benefits.

Firstly, when I was in silence, I had no choice but to go inward, and this greatly helped me to deepen my meditation practice.

My meditation practice was also deepened because I was free of the usual

distractions. No social media for one and there also wasn't any television or any movies.

So with this minimal distraction, my focus and concentration was able to be enhanced.

And as I mentioned, what was also enhanced by the silence was my inner awareness.

I was able to connect with my inner thoughts and emotions on a deeper level, while also fostering my self-reflection.

Furthermore, the benefits of silence during the retreat helped me to improve my mindful listening skills.

Because I was in complete silence, I had no choice but to constantly listen to what was in my surroundings.

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