Silent meditation retreats always intimidated me. What would it be like? Would I get bored? Antsy beyond belief? So uncomfortable I can't stand it anymore? Could I handle something like that? Do I even want to try?At the end of 2016 I released an episode called the Sweet Sound of Silence (Part One)—on the powerful calm and insight that stillness has brought into my life—before heading into a five-day silent meditation retreat for New Year's to ring in 2017. This week on the Pivot Podcast I share what the experience was like.And here's a haiku that came to me at the start of the retreat that I incorporated as a mantra to help me drop more deeply into meditation—try repeating it while releasing all the tiny muscles around your eyes, and any tension in your jaw, face or body:Melt, soften, releaseyour grip. Open hand allowsspace for everything.Topics We CoverWhat goes on at a silent retreat?Releasing our gripGratitude and living with our inner truthSoul speaks in stillnessReentry to the worldPodcast: What's a Silent Meditation Retreat Like? Sweet Sound of Silence (Part 2)Listen below or on iTunes, SoundCloud, Overcast, Stitcher, or Google Play Music: Resources MentionedPrevious Pivot Podcasts:How Meditation Re-Wired My BrainPost-Launch Pivot Point & Visit From the Furry Rest MonsterPost-Election Pivot Point: Find Order in ChaosSweet Sound of Silence (Part 1)After The Ecstasy, The Laundry by Jack KornfieldI Am That by Nisargadatta MaharajThe Seat of the Soul by Gary ZukavCheck out other episodes of the Pivot Podcast here. Be sure to subscribe via iTunes, Android or SoundCloud, and if you enjoy the show I would be very grateful for a rating and/or review! Sign-up for my weekly #PivotList newsletter to receive curated round-ups of what I'm reading, watching, listening to, and new tools I'm geeking out on.