I took a 2-day vow of silence and stopped using my phone—here's the No. 1 thing it taught me about happiness

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Inspired by the University of Pennsylvania 'monk class,' I put my phone in a drawer and stopped talking for 48 hours. It helped me learn a lesson on happiness.

I put my phone in a drawer, stopped speaking for 48 hours and learned a lesson about happiness.Specifically, I think about what's keeping me from being happy. Those obstacles can include delayed trains, dry contacts or ClassPass' $28 missed workout fee.

More often than not, it's my harsh inner monologue. My generation was raised on the idea that happiness is a choice, so I get mad at myself for feeling other emotions. That's why, when I heard about the University of Pennsylvania's "monk class" last spring, I wanted to test drive its curriculum. The formally titled "Living Deliberately" course requires students to "observe a code of silence" and "abstain from using all electronic communications" for a month, according to the university's website. Monks believe that silence frees up brain space, making you more available for religious epiphanies, Justin McDaniel, the class's professor,The point isn't to cure or prevent sadness, McDaniel said.

Whenever I start to feel overwhelmed, I usually reach for my phone, turn on the TV or listen to something. I'm not entirely sure why — maybe it's a hope that distracting myself for long enough will help me move past it.I recently started seeing a new doctor who, when looking over my chart, paused when she saw I reported struggling with anxiety and mild depression.

 

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