Have you ever felt like you just had enough of society around you? have you ever been
in a situation where you ask yourself "is this really where i want to be?"
Every hour of every day we are being bombarded with all sorts of information,
and most of the time it's information that we don't even want to know. With the rapid
rise of technology and the capitalist society we live in, we can often find ourselves overwhelmed
with what's happening around us because everything is changing so quickly and
all we do is just try to find a way to adapt to the situation that we find ourselves in.
In a society where the true value of oneself is what one has achieved,
we could even say that we have transformed from a human being to a human doing. We're
constantly striving for something more and are constantly driven by a strong desire to climb
up the ladder of success. That is why you might feel too much weight on your shoulders and think
that the real solution is to isolate yourself from the world around you and take a break.
Also, as a society, our rate of social interactions has increased significantly.
Everyone that you could ever wish to contact is just a click away, and we are given this
ability to establish communication in just a few seconds. The internet can connect us with
people from all around the world, but at the same time it disconnects us from ourselves.
This is because we are constantly speaking our thoughts and are being exposed to other
people's opinions. What we don't realize is that while we are hearing what other people think,
we rarely stop to listen to our very own thoughts. There's a creative genius
inside all of us, and in today's world it's really hard to realize your true potential.
And that is why solitude might be the solution to unlocking your true potential and offering
what you have out into the world. Solitude has been a practice that almost every intellectual
goes through and it's almost as if it's a necessary step to take in order to achieve
greatness. We can see that all throughout history the greatest minds had to go through
the same process of isolating and finding themselves in order to understand who they
really are and find what they are looking for. First and foremost it's important to mention
that practicing solitude does not mean feeling and being lonely. Sometimes, even though we are
surrounded by other people, we still do not feel like we have someone that can truly understand us,
and that can make us feel empty and lonely. In fact, most of the time the reason why we like
being alone is because we have the need to isolate ourselves from the people around us because it
drains our physical and mental energy, today often referred to as our ‘social battery’. That is why
we need to find ourselves and incorporate solitude as a practice in our lives. so,
what are the real benefits of practicing solitude? What kind of results can we find
throughout history? And, what can we do to incorporate solitude in our lives? well,
in this video we'll take a deep dive in exploring these questions and of course try to answer them.
Let's start with the benefits of solitude
Self-discovery and Personal Growth.
Solitude provides you an opportunity for introspection, helping you better
understand your thoughts, feelings, and motivation. It is only when we truly
understand ourselves that we can truly know our real potential and what we can achieve in life,
and solitude can really help us with that. That is why the famous Greek philosopher
Socrates often spoke about the importance of reflection and how much it's important for us
to explore our thoughts and try to find the truth deep inside of us. That is why he famously said:
"know thyself!" – a maxim that is being quoted to this very day. Socrates noticed that in order
for us to think for ourselves we need to take a step back and to “turn off” what everyone
else is saying and look inwards if we want to find the answers that we are looking for.
When we're by ourselves, without other people around to influence us,
we can think deeply about our thoughts, feelings, and what matters most to us.
This helps us understand ourselves better — our strengths, weaknesses, and what we truly want.
Emotional Balance
Marcus Aurelius, the Roman emperor and stoic philosopher, wrote about the value
of solitude in his work "Meditations." He often emphasized the importance of withdrawing
into oneself for inner peace and clarity. One notable passage reflects this idea:
"People look for retreats for themselves, in the country, by the coast, or in the hills...
there is nowhere that a person can find a more peaceful and trouble-free retreat
than in his own mind... so constantly give yourself this retreat, and renew yourself."
In this passage from "Meditations," Aurelius says that true solitude and peace comes from
within your mind, not from external places. He notes that people often seek peace by
going to nature - like the countryside or the beach. However, he believes the best and most
peaceful retreat is not a physical place, but a state of mind. By "retreating inwardly," Marcus
means that you should regularly take time to look inside yourself, creating a mental
sanctuary where you can think and find comfort. This involves focusing on your own thoughts,
values, and principles rather than getting distracted by what's happening around you.
The practice of looking inward is key to staying emotionally balanced. When
we focus on our inner selves, we can understand our beliefs,
emotions, and reactions better. We can see what truly matters to us,
make sure our actions match our values, and get to know ourselves more deeply. By doing so,
we become less dependent on outside things for our happiness. Life will always have challenges
and stresses, but having a calm and centered mind helps us handle these difficulties better.
3. Increased Level of Creativity and Innovation. Many creative individuals find that solitude
enhances their ability to generate new ideas and solutions without external interruptions.
One great example of this is the famous German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. Nietzsche is
famously known for his critique of society. He was highly critical of the conformity and herd
mentality, a notion when people follow what a larger group is doing or thinking without
really thinking for themselves. He found it to be prevalent in society and believed that individuals
needed to withdraw from those societal influences to develop their own values and beliefs.
He often retreated to the Swiss Alps and other remote locations to provide him
the tranquility and the isolation he needed to think deeply and write extensively. For example,
he wrote many of his key works, such as “thus spoke zarathustra” and “beyond
good and evil,” during periods of isolation. Furthermore, Nietzsche believed that solitude
was essential for the development of profound philosophical insights.
He saw it as a way to detach from societal norms and pressures,
allowing for original and independent thought. It is only through the process
of isolating ourselves that we can truly achieve greatness and show our creativity to the world.
4. spiritual growth Living in today's
world demands our full attention and we can oftentimes forget the bigger picture in life.
It can disconnect us from our real true being, purpose and meaning.
That is why many spiritual traditions emphasize the importance of solitude for meditation, prayer,
and contemplation, which can lead to deeper spiritual growth and understanding. as a testament
to that we have the eastern philosophical traditions. The practice of solitude in Buddhism
can be seen in various aspects of its teachings, meditation practices, and the monastic lifestyle.
Buddhism teaches us that it is through meditation that individuals can achieve deeper states of
concentration, consciousness, mindfulness and insight. They were able to successfully map
out the benefits of practicing solitude and show how much it's important to incorporate
it into our daily lives. One of the most important insights and benefits is the state of inner peace
and clarity. They also taught that it is through solitude that we actually engage in an intensive
spiritual practice which can lead to higher states of consciousness and, ultimately, enlightenment.
All these famous thinkers serve as a testament of the profound results and benefits that come
through practicing solitude. But, the real question still remains: how can I practice
solitude in my life? What are some steps that I need to take and what are the things
that I need to do to incorporate solitude in my daily living? Let's try to answer these questions.
The first thing that you might need to do is create a separate dedicated space for
solitude. Designate a specific area in your home where you can retreat to be alone. It
could be a separate room that you are no longer using, or perhaps a quiet corner,
or even a specific spot in your garden. The space should serve as a personal
sanctuary that you can always turn to whenever you are feeling overwhelmed or anxious. It's
important to ensure that the space is free from distractions, clutter, and noise. Yes,
even your phone and other electronic devices! If you have found that spot in the comfort
of your own home, you have achieved the first milestone in practicing solitude.
The next step that you might need to do is create a regular schedule for solitude. This can be
tailor made according to how much time you have and the lifestyle that you lead,
so it really depends on how flexible you can be. One effective schedule is to incorporate daily
activities and practices, as well as weekly retreats. For daily practice you should set
aside time each day for solitude, either in the morning or in the evening, for solitude. This
can be as short as 10-15 minutes at first, but can gradually increase to longer sessions, if needed.
For the weekly retreats you should allocate a day each week where you disconnect from all digital
devices and just be by yourself. Instead of being digitally hooked on that day, you might want to
spend some alone time in nature. You could take a hike through the woods, go for a stroll in a
local park, or if you’re feeling less energetic, just sit by a riverside and watch the world go by.
Spending time in nature is an important aspect of practicing solitude. Until very recently in
human history, nature was literally everything that surrounds us, which is why it's still so
important when trying to navigate today's world. Being in nature has been shown to reduce levels
of cortisol, the stress hormone. The calming sounds, sights, and smells of nature help
lower anxiety and promote relaxation. Nature offers a break from the constant noise and
stimulation of urban environments, providing a peaceful setting that calms the mind.
Just a simple activity out in nature like a walk or perhaps something more
adventurous like going on a hike can really promote our physical health,
which in turn supports mental well-being. Another great thing about spending time in nature is that
it can help us cultivate gratitude and provide a broader perspective on life. Observing the cycles
of nature can remind individuals of the simplicity and beauty of existence. That is because nature
is very good at highlighting the joy found in simple things, such as the sound of a birdsong
or the feel of the breeze, fostering a deeper appreciation for life's simple pleasures.
But, it's not enough to simply take some time off of the day and sit in silence or
even spend some time in nature. That is why the next step you might need to do is engage
in solitary activities. One activity that you can do is mindful meditation.
We already talked about Buddhism and how they used meditation to practice solitude,
and that is why this activity does not come as a surprise. Practicing meditation cultivates a
sense of inner calm and focus, and can also make us feel like we are truly living in the
present moment. Giving yourself some time for meditating in today's world can really
make us feel more than what everyday life has to offer. Mindful meditation is all about observing
without any judgment. It involves being fully present and aware of your thoughts,
feelings, emotions, as well as bodily sensations and the environment around you.
Another solitary activity that you can do is journaling. Sometimes keeping
a journal can be very important because you can easily reflect on your thoughts,
feelings, and experiences. Writing can be a powerful tool for self-discovery
and emotional processing, and journaling can help us with that.
Psychological findings and analysis show that people who keep a journal have a much deeper
understanding of themselves and the experiences and interactions they encounter. That is because
we often have the tendency to process a certain situation on an emotional level
without having to think about it rationally. As a result, we can find ourselves feeling
confused and sometimes even miserable. But, it is only when we finally put those emotions on
a piece of paper that we can truly understand what we are feeling and even find out what we
are actually thinking. A wise man once said that when we write things down we give them
power and that is especially true when it comes to understanding yourself. That is why journaling can
really be beneficial when practicing solitude and why every single one of us should keep a journal.
Last but by no means least, you would need to limit your social obligations. While practicing
solitude, the general practice is that you would need to lower the social interactions that you
have on a daily basis and stop giving your time to others, but give it to you instead. While
practicing solitude it's important to remember that you need to prioritize your well-being
and not fulfilling somebody else's wishes and desires. That's why sometimes it's important to
start saying no. You might find this difficult at first, but it’s definitely a skill worth learning.
You need to learn to say no to social invitations that do not align with your need for solitude.
Instead, you need to engage in intentional socializing. Even though socializing should be
lowered, it does not mean that you should exclude it completely. Socializing is a healthy practice
and it's definitely an essential part of our lives. However, that doesn't mean that we should
engage in any type of activities that we are asked to do. Instead, what we need to do instead is make
every interaction and socialization meaningful and intentional, and ensure yourself that
it doesn't overwhelm your need for solitude. Practicing solitude in the modern world requires
intentionality and dedication. By creating spaces and routines for solitude, engaging in solitary
activities, minimizing digital distractions, and prioritizing self-reflection, you can cultivate
a fulfilling and enriching solitary practice. Solitude can lead to greater self-awareness,
inner peace, and personal growth, making it an invaluable part of a balanced life.
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