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When Nothing Is Something
At times, we might have nothing to say to someone, but a truth about our present feelings shows on our face, gestures and bodily posture. Whether by intention of not, we communicate something to those who observe us. The better that people know us, the more our “nothing” is recognized as something worth noticing. We see this kind of truthful revelation in those whom we know whether they be people in one of the many communities in which we participate, such as those of family, friends, work, faith, or recreation, or in individual public figures of politics, entertainment, sports, or professions. We are quite capable of recognizing attitudes and feelings in others, even when their words do not reveal them and even when whatever they say does not correspond with our perceptions of those aspects of their behavior over which they do not have conscious control.
Rather than striving to manage this kind of unarticulated human behavior, we can reflect on some of our experiences and come to recognize with delight and joy how what we think of as being nothing is almost always something meaningful in all our relationships. With God, for example, we might sometimes spend time trying to pray but come away disappointed because we think that nothing happened. Very often, we expect to receive some inspired thoughts, however slight they might be, or some feelings of peace or even a slight disturbance as one might in bringing to God a painful memory. But “nothing?” It can seem like we had wasted time. But if we reflect honestly on what took place, while relying on our basic beliefs that God is always present and loves us no matter what we think or feel, we might then recognize and be satisfied that there has been no “fault” on our side or on God’s, and that nothing was amiss except our expectation of what should have happened.
When we are relating with others, especially as we listen to them and observe all those unconscious aspects of human interacting, we will have feelings within us, some of which might show in our own unconscious facial and bodily expressions. If we acknowledge our feelings instead of trying to constrain their visible expressions, we can choose to use the information they provide to guide us in whatever we choose to say or do. The little “nothing” of our feelings and the thoughts that elicit them, may lead us to a much deeper and higher quality of exchange when we consciously take them into consideration.
When we relate with others, what seems to be nothing could be something surprisingly valuable.
Last Updated 4/25/2026