Peaceful Solitude

The beauty of peaceful solitude. Have you experienced it yet? Solitude can be your best friend or worst enemy depending on who you ask. This post is about the joys of peaceful solitude.

1 + 1 = You

There are usually 3 camps of people where solitude is concerned:

Solitude Champions– Lots of introverts hang out in this camp and relish the peace that it brings
Part Timers– This camp is full of people who dabble in alone time but also like a good hangout
Never Aloners– The idea of alone time sends chills down the spines of those that fall into this camp

Where you fall depends on how you are wired or maybe even how much inner work you have done. I am a solitude champion. Solitude restores me and soothes my soul.

Beautiful Distractions

When you are alone you are forced to spend time with yourself and your issues literally. This can be too much for some people especially if you aren’t comfortable in your own skin. For those who resist solitude, being alone equals not having enough distractions to block out the things that you may not like about your life. Distractions help people run from the truth, rather than sit in it, and face their fears.

On the other hand, people who crave solitude enjoy it for just that reason. It allows them to reflect, assess, and purposefully direct their energies. For them it is restorative.

What does solitude mean to you? What feelings come up when you think about being alone? Fear or wellness? If the answer is fear, ask yourself if you are running from something. Only when we face our fears are we ever able to conquer them.

But haven’t we always been alone? We come into this world as a single entity, and we will leave the same way. You are all that you’ve got, and you complete yourself. That being said, spending time alone (in moderation of course) should bring you more peace if anything.

Why Solitude Is Cool…

Being alone gives you a moment to quiet your mind and tune out all of the distractions that we encounter on a daily basis. We are the recipients of so many external stimuli (work, school, traffic, finances, etc.) that have the ability to impact our day, that it can feel overwhelming at times. When you take a step back and sit in your own company, it allows you to decompress and focus on your inner life.

If you are interacting with others constantly it tends to drown out your inner voice. When you get quiet, your inner voice becomes louder minus the distractions.

Being alone also gives you the opportunity to process your emotions. Some of the inner work that I’ve done over time is to take a look at the situations that trigger me, and the emotions that are attached to them. Only by taking the time to reflect upon this have I been able to find a path toward inner peace. You need quiet reflection to do this kind of work, and that is why I love solitude. I see it as a value add, always.

In addition, when you take the time to listen to what your inner voice is saying, your inner strength will grow by default. You will be able to figure out ways to reduce the incoming stress/negativity and implement positive changes in your life.

How Solitude Changed Me

Self Confidence

As a result of spending time in my own company, I grew as a person. Many of the answers that I had been looking for began to come from within me. This was the result of me quieting my world and listening to my gut. I remember the days when I used to consult at least 3 of my friends to help me make major decisions. I no longer do that. I feel confident in my internal compass, and my codependencies became a thing of the past.

Self Reliance

The bottom line was I couldn’t rely on myself before because I truly didn’t trust myself. I would depend on others to point me in the right direction.

Inner Peace

I also gained so much in terms of inner peace. If I felt overwhelmed by the day’s events, I would step away and use that time to center and calm myself.

Restoration

As a result of quieting my mind, I became much less anxious about the stressors in my life. Peaceful solitude gave me the power to make sense of it all.

Self Discovery

What is important to you? If you spend enough time alone, you will definitely find out.

Freedom

Loving yourself and being comfortable in your own skin frees you from external validation because you will always find your truth within.