There’s a strange kind of silence that shows up when you’re not sure where you’re headed next. It doesn’t crash in like a storm, it seeps in quietly, like fog curling through an open window. I used to mistake that quiet for failure. If the map wasn’t clear, I assumed I’d taken a wrong turn. I’d push harder, plan tighter, fill the silence with motion just so I wouldn’t have to feel still. But here’s what I’ve learned: when the map goes quiet, it’s not punishment. It’s permissi