Quiet Riot
“Quiet Riot”— one of the best-named bands of the 1980s, famous for its heavy metal sound and play-on-word lyrics like “Metal Health.” Although there wasn’t much quiet about this riotous band, what strikes me now when I hear “Cum on Feel the Noize” on the classic rock radio channel is the concept of the band’s name. Despite the apparent contradiction in terms, we may find a way for the juxtaposition to come together harmoniously. A quiet uprising, a still rebellion, a calm riot, a silent storm… all imply something both strong and subtle, and in fact, perhaps even more powerful in its tranquility… a riotous quiet, so to speak.
In recent history, we have witnessed moments in which quiet and calm strategies have resulted in epic and successful revolts. We are fortunate to have several well-known models of peaceful protest like Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Malala Yousafzai, etc., who find strength, conviction, and potential for change in their quiet yet fierce and fearless voices and actions. What we learn from these international heroes we might apply to our daily lives in meaningful ways. We discover that we may be able to hear and discover an authentic truth when things are still and silent. And we learn that oftentimes a purposeful whisper can resound more powerfully than the loudest of shouts.
Easier said than done? In this day and age we can’t seem to escape the riots that surround and engulf us—global threats, environmental crises, family stresses, demands of our daily lives, not to mention the expectations we impose on ourselves. However, there are ways to access and bring a tranquil quiet amidst the stormy riot. One of the most effective approaches is to invite stillness and calm through mindful breathing, meditation, or yoga practices. (Click here for suggestions.) Research indicates that these practices have a way of regulating the nervous system, lowering the surplus production of stress hormones, and promoting resiliency and emotional balance, which allow us to see more clearly and respond more accurately in a variety of situations. In our ability to practice ways that bring a sense of peace in the midst of stress and turmoil, we become more skilled at accessing these tools and we become the beacon of stability, not unlike a lighthouse on the point.
Accessing an inner peace and tuning in to the subtleties of the silence, we may discover a powerful force. Think about an ultrasound that provides us with the most amazingly accurate images of our internal bodies by monitoring sounds inaudible to the human ear. Those inaudible sounds offer us a glimpse into the most incredible inner intricacies: watching how blood flows through our veins, seeing our inner organs, observing a baby grow inside another body. Yet another example of riotous quiet, a silence so profound that it is revolutionary and life-changing.
As we exist in an often stressful and unpredictable world, we are challenged to observe the profound silences around and within us and reframe our perspective to view the riots that arise as positive opportunities for growth, change, and revolution. A “quiet riot.” Bridging these two concepts, as this classic 80s band did (if in name only), is to discover the ability to transform ourselves and the world around us.