The Word Solitude may fill you with fear or peace, depending on your perspective. Let’s start with some distinction; being alone and being lonely are very different. Solitude is quality time spent alone with yourself, without feeling lonely.
Most people share a fear of being alone; in fact, the whole construct of families is by design to avoid being alone, which historically was a matter of survival. Yet, in today’s fast-paced modern life, psychologist, business owners and spiritual practitioners alike advocate solitude or some form of self-reflection time. Practiced effectively, it has been proven to decrease stress, and increase personal awareness and power. Yoga and meditation have never been more popular, while other more industrialized methods are making their way into our everyday life, in a promise of greater comfort and gain.
A quick research of the benefits of solitude has revealed the following:
- Solitude improves concentration and as a result increases productivity
- Solitude re-boots your brain and unwind
- Solitude allows you to recognize your own voice, thoughts and emotions, which leads to
- Solitude inspires greater self-awareness and independence
- Solitude disconnects you from distractions and disturbances that cause stress
Each one of these points can make and deserves an article by itself, but for the time being we will stay focused on solitude, and how embracing rather than avoiding it will benefit you. I will use the following excerpt from David Schwartz’s best-selling book “The Magic of Thinking Big”:
“It is noteworthy that leaders spend considerable time alone, alone with nothing but their own thinking apparatus. The successful person in any field takes time out to confer with himself or herself. Leaders use solitude to put the pieces of a problem together, to work out solutions, to plan, and in one phrase, to do their super thinking. Many people fail to tap their creative leadership power because they confer with everybody and everything else but themselves. “
To embrace solitude, here are simple baby steps to get you started:
Start with spending 2 minutes alone in the morning and another 2 in the evening, and repeat the following statements: “I love spending time with myself” – “I am my own best friend” – “I am enough”, and think of things that make them genuine statements, and not just empty words! Then pause, be still, and listen to the silence within you.
Good luck, and good solitude times!
Shorouk Al Abdallah – ACC – Founder@emerge -Life and Youth Coaching & Certified Development Coach
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