[nabentre] solitude

[Loren Wakefield]

Does being alone have to mean loneliness? I don't think so. In fact, I think we all could use a certain amount of solitude. How much time do you spend alone, and how do you use this solitude?

 

If you live with others, time alone may sometimes seem like a precious commodity. However, it is important that you arrange to have some time alone, now and then. Not just a few minutes or hours, either, but a significant chunk of time you can call your own.

 

If you live alone, you may feel isolated and lonely. Perhaps you try to fill your time with company or busy-work to keep yourself distracted.

 

But solitude, if you use it wisely, presents some wonderful opportunities for self-knowledge and growth that you really can't get in any other way. Time alone, spent positively and thoughtfully, gives us a chance to explore our own values, develop a personal philosophy, and discover what is really important to us, without having to contend with other people's expectations.

 

Now, this isn't something you can do in one sitting and it's not necessarily easy, either. But it is exciting and meaningful, and when you ask yourself the right questions, the answers you come up with can change your life. For example, what contribution do you want to make to the world? What's missing in your life? What's there too much of? What are your passions, what really gives you joy? Where is your life out of balance? What would you like to accomplish before you die?

 

With a weekend coming up, maybe now would be a good time to set aside some moments of solitude and let those things you've been pushing away - because you have told yourself that "I don't have time right now" - come to the surface. Give them some thought-time, and perhaps allow an insight or two see the light of day.

 

Getting to know yourself takes time, but I guarantee you that the effort you make will be well worth it. 

 

Lou Tice

The Pacific Institute