The Wisdom of Silence: “Keep Your Mouth Shut, Open Your Eyes”

Shut your mouth; Open Your Eyes.   These short, pithy sayings pack a lifetime of wisdom into a few carefully chosen words.  At first glance, this is pretty straightforward advice. Don’t babble; observe. However, as with all effective proverbs, its meaning extends beyond its surface meaning. Let’s unpack it a bit and see what treasures we can find hidden in its brief message.  The first part, “Keep Your Mouth Shut,” isn’t just about keeping quiet. It’s about practicing restraint. It’s about choosing your words carefully and, perhaps more powerfully, choosing not to speak at all. Think about it: How often do we say things we later regret? How frequently do we engage in discussions without fully grasping the situation? This part of the proverb urges us to resist that impulse. It encourages us to hold back, to listen more than we speak.  This holding back is not necessarily about being secretive or dishonest. It is about being prudent. It is about recognizing that sometimes silence is the best response. Speaking without knowledge can lead to misunderstandings, arguments, and even damage to relationships. Occasionally, the most respectful action is to remain silent. It recognizes that you may not know everything and that listening is more important than sharing your views.  Now let’s move on to the second part: “Open your eyes.” This advice is not just about physically seeing what’s around you. It is about observation in the broadest sense. It is about paying attention to detail, noticing the nuances of a situation, and understanding the unspoken dynamics at play. It’s about sharpening your perception and seeing beyond the surface.  Imagine a detective solving a case. They don’t just rely on what people tell them. They look for clues, observe body language, and piece together the puzzle by carefully analyzing what they see. Open Your Eyes challenges us to be detectives in our lives, paying attention to the subtle signs that can reveal hidden truths.  It’s also about learning. By observing the world around us, we gain knowledge and understanding. We learn from the successes and failures of others. We learn about different perspectives and ways of thinking. We learn about ourselves. Open Your Eyes encourages us to be lifelong learners, constantly striving to expand our understanding of the world.  So how do these two pieces work together? They form a powerful combination for dealing with life’s challenges. By keeping our mouths shut and our eyes open, we create space for observation and understanding. We avoid impulsive responses and instead respond thoughtfully and deliberately.  Imagine a negotiation. If you jump right in with your demands, you risk alienating the other party and missing important information. However, by remaining silent and keeping your eyes open, you can observe their body language, attentively listen to their concerns, and comprehend their motivations. Such insight allows you to personalize your approach and find a solution that benefits everyone involved.  The proverb also speaks to the importance of humility. By admitting that we don’t know everything, we create space for learning and growth. We become more receptive to new ideas and perspectives. We are less likely to judge others and more likely to understand them.  In a world that often rewards loud voices and quick opinions, the wisdom of “Keep your mouth shut, open your eyes” remains extremely relevant. It’s a reminder that true understanding comes not from incessant talking, but from careful observation and thoughtful reflection. It encourages us to be present, mindful, and aware of the power of silence.  So the next time you find yourself in a difficult situation, remember this saying. Take a deep breath, keep your mouth shut, and open your eyes. You might be surprised by what you discover. You might just find that silence, combined with careful observation, is the key to unlocking a more profound understanding of yourself and the world around you. You might even find that it is the key to navigating life with greater wisdom and grace.

What do successful people have in common?

Have you ever wondered what the richest and most successful people have in common? It is certainly not their place of birth, the color of their eyes, the color of their skin, whether they had divorced parents, etc. What they have in common is that they read books. And a lot of books. You must be wondering who these special books are. There is hardly a success bible. There are many different books specifically for financial success. The reality is that they can point you in the right direction. How to organize your budget and how to invest. Yes, they are also a factor in decent financial discipline. The truth is very different. There is a story hidden in every book. In this story, you can find an opportunity for your dream. Fall in love with an item or service that you can develop. Then sell this idea of yours. Try to read one book a week. Let them be in different genres. Figure out what exactly you like. Then read at least a dozen books in this genre. Think and conclude again. You don't lose anything. You learn a little more about life. There are books that motivate. There are stories that can unleash your potential. There is a character from the books that inspires. You have the opportunity to get an idea. Any book can give you a million-dollar idea. You only need one idea. It could be your key to a door you want to be behind. There are many ways to sell your idea. If the idea is brilliant, you will always find sponsors. May the idea prosper, for the benefit of people and nature. I just know that everyone can rediscover themselves by looking at themselves from different angles. Books help with that. As far as I know, there is no better friend than a book. The knowledge they impart helps you become successful in your endeavors. The conclusion is that what successful people have in common is books.

Author Sezgin Ismailov

What I consider to be a dream home

What is the ideal house for me?  Firstly, consider its location.  If possible, it should be on the border with a forest and a river. The sun must shine on it most of the time. Wood should be the material of construction, and it should feature large windows. Of course, there should be external and internal blinds. To become a completely passive house, there must be a minimum 15-kilowatt solar system on the roof or in the yard plus a battery for energy storage. This energy should independently supply all electrical consumers in the house. The house should have a heating and cooling system using a heat pump. The water for the house should be from a well. A direct connection between the well and the home system is required. The house should have at least 2000 square meters of land. In 1,000 square meters, if possible, plant various fruit-bearing trees. Five hundred square meters is enough for vegetables and a small greenhouse. A small home fishpond requires one hundred square meters. You can milk and let two sheep graze at the orchards. Honeybees reside in several hives. We keep a few hens to produce eggs. To produce additional food, inject a few logs with mushroom mycelium. Distribute the vegetable garden so that harvesting herbs and spices is also a possibility. You can sell the winter food you've prepared using the majority of the fruit or vegetable harvest and use the proceeds to pay for other necessities. Some items, such as salt or sugar, are beyond your production capabilities. You incur expenses for clothing or necessities you require. A passive house can reduce your energy costs by up to ninety percent. If such a house is not a dream, then everything else is a luxury and already enters the column of greed.  Perhaps in my fourth book, I describe something similar and give an example of a family that supports itself through self-sufficiency without external employment.

Author Sezgin Ismailov

There are different types of success, too.

 Success is a tricky thing to measure. Some people might say that success is achieving your goals, while others might say that success is simply being fulfilled and content with your life. There are a lot of different factors that contribute to success, and everyone has their own definition of what it looks like. Some people might measure success by how much money they make, while others might measure success by how many people they help. Success can be measured in many ways, and what matters to you is your choice. There are different types of success, too. Some people might find success in their careers, while others might find success in their personal lives. There’s no wrong way to find success, and whatever makes you happy is what matters. No matter how you measure success or what kind of success you’re looking for, remember that you can achieve anything you set your mind to. Just keep working hard ; never give up on your dreams.

Author Sezgin Ismailov