Rohan Vashist’s Post

In the last 50 hours, I experienced one of the most reflective and awakening periods of my life as a founder. It wasn’t planned, it was the result of an unexpected and painful road accident on my bicycle. The crash left me with multiple injuries: > A chin wound that wouldn’t stop bleeding even 12 hours later, > A left arm so sore I couldn’t even pull up my pants or open doors, > And an abdomen still aching from the impact. Red flag: 12 hours had passed from the accident but the bleeding in the chin didn't stop The doctor strictly advised me not to speak because the movement of the jaw muscles was causing the bleeding And then The Silence Experiment began, I committed to staying completely silent for the next 50 hours. I thought I’d spend this time reflecting on the thoughts in my head. But instead, the silence revealed something far more illuminating: the patterns in my speech and the thoughts that habitually came out of my mouth. I feel its relevant for a lot of men like me and thats why I want to bring it up; As men, many of us are conditioned to think aloud, assert control, or “problem-solve” through speech. In those 50 hours, I began noticing how often my words: > Reflected anxiety I wasn’t aware of, > Were rooted in a need to prove something to others, > Distracted me from deeper, unresolved feelings. Staying silent forced me to confront the why behind my words This accident taught me more than just physical vulnerability, it made me question the mental habits I’ve carried as a founder, as a man, and as a human being navigating challenges. By silencing myself, I wasn’t suppressing; I was allowing clarity to emerge. I feel this is something a lot of men especially those in high-stakes roles can relate to. We often don’t realize how much we’re speaking to validate ourselves or fill a silence that might reveal discomfort. My experience taught me the value of mindful communication not just with others, but with myself. If you’ve ever felt trapped in the cycle of reactive speech, try an intentional silence, even for a few hours. You might uncover truths you didn’t know you were avoiding.