The Day Silence Won: Lesson in Power Beyond Shouting

In the crowded Outpatient Department of a city hospital, Bhavani (28), a senior nurse, realised a critical surgery file was missing. Her heart raced. If anything went wrong, everyone knew whose name would be called in the meeting: hers.

After a frantic search, she spotted the file on a nearby counter...last handled by Deepika (35) , a new junior staff member who was still learning the system.

Adrenaline hit.

Bhavani (shouting):

“ You Stupid Deepika! How can you be this careless? This is a surgery file, not a pamphlet! Do you even understand what’s at stake? ”

The waiting room froze. Conversations stopped; chairs creaked as people turned.

Deepika’s face flushed, but she didn’t snap back. She took a slow breath, fingers trembling slightly, then steadied herself. She looked at Bhavani with a small, gentle, almost Buddha-like smile...not challenging, not sarcastic, just…quiet.

Deepika (softly):

“You’re right, sister. I should have put it back immediately. I’m really sorry. I’ll come with you now and help explain the delay to the patient’s family, which happened because of many technical complex issues inside  ”

The words landed differently than Bhavani expected. No excuses. No attitude. Just calm ownership.

Her anger faltered, revealing the tiredness underneath.

Later, by the corridor window, Bhavani spoke more quietly.

Bhavani:

“I shouldn’t have shouted like that… It’s just… if I don’t push everyone, things fall apart.”

Deepika:

“ You’re handling so much. I made a mistake...that’s my wrong. Shouting was another wrong. Maybe… we can fix things together the right way next time? ”

For the first time that day, Bhavani felt less like a volcano, more like a human being allowed to be tired.

 Morals

• Shouting often hides some vulnerability. Bhavani’s anger is a cover for fear of blame and chronic overload.

• Calm ownership disarms escalation. Deepika’s soft tone, apology, and willingness to help meet Bhavani’s need for responsibility without adding fuel.

• Non-reactivity is powerful even without a “professional” role. You don’t need to be a psychologist to model regulation; any regulated person can shift the emotional climate.

• Two wrongs don’t create right. A genuine mistake plus aggressive correction increases shame, stress, and relational distance.

• Right response = responsibility + respect. When errors are met with firm but respectful behaviour, people are more likely to learn and less likely to hide mistakes.

• Key principle: Remain stable and respond the right way. Right vibrations, calm, clarity, and empathy...are what actually influence others to shift to the right side, not SHOUTING or FIGHTING