Quiet Momentum - When Silence Speaks.

Michelle V. Wolf
1 day ago
4 min read

Hello EmpowHer Community!

If you know me, you know I love to stretch myself. It’s how I grow - figuratively, mentally, emotionally… and spiritually too. All through the lens to fill my soul and being well.

So let me ask you this (actually, don’t answer it 😄): If you were to ask your younger self, “What’s the one thing you will never do?” - what would it be?

Here's my answer: A silent retreat.

And guess what? I just did one, and it was life-changing.

For the past ten years, I’ve been threatening to sign up for a silent retreat. I explored options all over the country, bookmarked them, considered them… and never fully committed. Until a dear friend (who is also a client and former colleague) came to me and said, “I did something I think you would really enjoy.”

I asked, “What?”

She said, “A silent retreat.”

And without hesitation, I said YES. I’m in.

What made this one feel different, and doable, was that it was just one weekend: two nights, three days. It didn’t feel like a stretch. Honestly, it felt like a gift. Not a vacation away from life, but an opportunity to tune in instead of out, and to continue deepening my relationship with myself and my spirituality.

The retreat took place at Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center, nestled in the foothills of Sierra Madre, just minutes from where I grew up. Being there felt incredibly personal - familiar land (since I would hike there with my family), familiar energy (I felt my sister Petra's presence on more than one occasion) - and somehow perfectly positioned to carry me into this new year.

You see, many people assume I’m only an extrovert - always social, always engaging, always on. But the more aligned I am, the more I intentionally I create space to reflect, rejuvenate, and reconnect. Silence isn’t the opposite of who I am, it’s where I meet myself more fully. And frankly, I love it.

Listening and tuning in is an important reflection of the soul. And in the quiet, that mirror and reflection became undeniable.

Here are five things I learned from being in silence, and the gift it gave me:

1. In silence, we find our answers.

When the noise falls away, clarity doesn’t need to be chased. The answers rise on their own - steady, grounded, and true.

2. Truth cannot be avoided in silence.

Without distraction, the truth becomes unmistakable. Silence removes our ability to bypass what the heart already knows.

3. Breath becomes awareness.

I became deeply aware of my breath - not as a technique, but as a companion. Breath regulated my nervous system, supported my heart, and reminded me how much wisdom lives in each inhale and exhale.

4. Silence is a form of expression and deep listening.

Without words, energy speaks. I felt more - people’s emotions, the pain they carry, and how that energy subtly reflects back to us. Silence teaches us to listen beyond language.

5. Sound, nature, and rhythm are medicine.

In contrast to the quiet, I felt the profound impact of sound, tone, and music on healing. Nature, too, played its role - reminding me of pace, patience, and presence. The land truly holds us when we allow it.

People have asked me was it hard? Quick clear answer - NO. They have asked what did you ? I said I was in heaven no one to worry about. I paused. Reflected. Wrote a ton from poetry to blogs. It was truly channeling through me. And guess what else? At one point, while journaling laying down on a metal park bench my eyes felt so heavy I fell asleep! Another participant captured this shot of me to give me once the retreat concluded.

If you know me, you know I don’t nap. Ever. But my body asked for rest, and I listened.

Rest is always good. And I promised my sister I would rest. This weekend, I kept that promise.

As we move into this year, and continue into Heart Health Month, I’m carrying this reminder with me: Momentum thrives in consistent practice of reflection, stillness, breath, and listening.

As I was leaving the retreat - I kept coming back to the same feeling: my soul felt full.

Full from listening to my Soul.

Full from breath.

Full from the remembering and coming back home to me.

And suddenly, it made perfect sense why the name Soul-Full landed the way it did. This experience reflected exactly why I created the upcoming Soul-Full Women's Wellness Gathering March 21 at Legendary Foods - a space for women to slow down, breathe, reconnect, and care for the whole woman: mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

May this be an invitation for you, too - to pause, to breathe, and to listen to what’s quietly asking for your attention.

Be Well. Do Well. If this speaks to you, I would love to have you join us. Learn more about the women's Soul-Full Women's Wellness Gathering here.

All My Best.

Coming up in February

Back to Canva Basics - Design Made Easy with Lilan Northan

Thursday, February 19 @ 9:30am

Rebuild your foundation. Whether you’re brand new to Canva or ready to strengthen your skills, this hands-on workshop brings you back to what really matters: clarity, confidence, and simple design that works for your business.

Pitch Perfect - Workshop with Tanya Memme

Thursday, February 26 @ 9:30am

Learn how to deliver a compelling elevator pitch, and communicate your value clearly, whether you're on video, in a meeting, or pitching your business.