Solitude

The primary indication, to my thinking, of a well-ordered mind is a man’s ability to remain in one place and linger in his own company. — Seneca

Retreating into solitude is peaceful, powerful and nourishing for the soul. When was the last time you were all by yourself for long periods of time? First, we must understand that being lonely and being alone are two different experiences. The constant demand for someone’s company, virtual or otherwise, does not give you the time, space and energy to think, process and act in the interest of your work and life.

If you look at the positive side, the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021 were quite the events for us to experience the power of solitude, recalibrate our thinking and get our acts right. There are numerous cases of people who found new passions and built totally new careers after the lockdown. Probably the silence was the trigger to reflect on life choices. Just killing time is not really staying in solitude. We have to kill the very demand to kill time. In this era of social media, ubiquitous technology, and information abundance, it is extremely tough for us to experience and harness the power of solitude, when we’re prey to numerous distractions from all corners.
  
Here are four benefits of practicing solitude.

Introspection

When in doubt, retreat into solitude and make it a regular practice to introspect your thoughts, decisions, actions and goals. This is an opportunity to sharpen your intellect and also silence the mind. If you can think alone, you’re respecting yourself, by owning your time, making your life choices and taking the time to carefully plan your future. 

Introspect to sharpen your intellect.

Focus

Building your dreams can take years or decades. However the effort to fulfil your dreams should be put in every single day. The intensity of your focus can lead to better outcomes. If there is no consistent focus, you’re just postponing success. Occasionally disconnect from the world to connect with yourself and your purpose. We can accomplish great work only when we build systems that help us focus and be more productive. 

Learn to say no! 

Patience

Most of life’s sufferings leave you be, all by yourself. Building the courage to be in solitude for extended periods of time will gift you mental toughness and the patience to embrace reality and nurture a neutral perspective during good and bad times. We can learn to stay with little means, desires and company. Alone time gives you a good chance to clear the mind of any negative emotions, level your thoughts and strengthens your life’s purpose. Clear the mind to make space for yourself. 

Make it a practice to declutter your mindspace, heartspace, and soulspace.

Creativity

The more you consume information through the bottomless feeds of social media, the mindless television chatter and the quicksand like internet, you’re subconsciously changing into a different person. Every piece of information is more or less, designed to influence and change you. One should know what, why, when and how much to consume. The more content you consume, the lesser you can express your originality. To stay original, you need to think original. 

Consume less, create more. Consume content with clear intent.

Conclusion

The intellectual man is alone, but never lonely. Their thoughts and work is their constant companion. On the other hand, the average man is never alone. He joins the herd at the slightest opportunity, as he seeks comfort in collective thinking, talking and doing. The average man is never alone, but forever lonely. Solitude and silence are powerful experiences. It's like being one with the cosmos.

The right dose of solitude can do wonders to your life.

Take refuge in silence. You can be here or there or anywhere. Fixed in silence, established in the inner 'I', you can be as you are. The world will never perturb you if you are well founded upon the tranquility within. Gather your thoughts within. Find out the thought centre and discover your Self-equipoise. In storm and turmoil be calm and silent. Watch the events around as a witness. The world is a drama. Be a witness, inturned and introspective. — Ramana Maharshi

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