When you sit by yourself, do you feel alone or lonely? Sometimes you may, but is it often and not very pleasing?
Well, we as humans often crave people’s presence sometimes the reason can be that we feel like socializing and sometimes because we fear our own thoughts and probably, we don’t understand ourselves enough. Sometimes your own thoughts may scare you, but who told you to listen to them? For your peace of mind, do not listen to everything your mind says, and do not forget that we always have a choice.
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Solitude is not about sitting alone; it is about sitting by yourself and not feeling alone but rather enjoying one’s own company. Solitude is addictive, once you learn how much you yourself can bring to you, no one else makes sense. But it demands practice and a lot of self-love!
How much time do you dedicate to your own self? Or in simple words how much “me-time” do you have? Most of us do not! And that is sad. We have time for everybody and if not then we take out time for things that are important to us but what about you? What about your session with yourself? Who will see to it? Who is responsible for your peace of mind and your happiness? Nobody except you, right?
Solitude won’t fix everything, but it will surely help. And when you talk to yourself, remember to do that with all the love in your heart because you are listening! Being alone has the power to fix you if you do it right. Some people can go for a walk or listen to music and feel that they are deeply in touch with themselves. Others cannot, but it is important to be connected to yourself first in order to connect with others and embrace them. Our digital devices often make us feel like we need to be connected 24/7. And all of the noise, activity, and hustle can wear you out (and ironically can leave you feeling lonelier than ever).
When you're by yourself, you make choices without outside influences. You can choose how to spend your time without worrying about anyone else's feelings. Making choices on your own will help you develop better insight into who you are as a person. Being alone will help you grow more comfortable in your skin as well. The more you know yourself, the better equipped you'll be to be your authentic self when others are around. It is said that solitude helps you improve your relationships with people and also to enhance your productivity as well as creativity because of the simple reason that it helps you calm down, focus more and think deeply as you are connected to yourself.
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While it's important to have joint goals with your partner, family members, or friends, you also need to make sure that you're living your best life as an individual. Be proactive about planning out your life, similar to the way you might plan for retirement or plan a vacation. Setting aside time to be alone can help you reflect on your goals, dreams, and aspirations. Take a break from the hustle and bustle to think about whether you're living life according to your values and whether you might want to make some changes. It will make you happier and also more sorted towards life.
Solitude isn’t a piece of cake, it requires effort, time, and energy. But, in the long term, there is nothing better for one’s mental health. You don't need to aside huge chunks of time to be by yourself in order to benefit from solitude. Just 10 minutes of alone time each day could be enough to help you rejuvenate from the daily grind. If you think you don't have time to sit quietly and think, you probably need alone time more than ever. The busier you are, the more likely you are to benefit from some quiet time. Whether you decide to meditate, write in a journal, or take a hike in nature, it's up to you. But, whatever you do, silence your electronics and allow yourself to be alone with your thoughts. You also might schedule an activity to do by yourself once a month. Go to dinner alone, take a long walk by yourself, or engage in an activity that you enjoy.
If you're not used to solitude, the silence and lack of activity can feel uncomfortable at first. But, setting aside time to be alone is an essential component of building mental strength and living a rich and full life. You are the perfect home to the imperfect you.
All the best! Sending good vibes your way :)
Nowhere can man find a quieter or more untroubled retreat than in his own soul ~ Marcus Aurelius