Issue 68: The Importance Of Solitude
THE LEAP
BY QUANTUM ORANGE
GROW, EXPAND & EVOLVE
ISSUE 68 | THE IMPORTANCE OF SOLITUDE
Each week The (Quantum) Leap summarises a key aspect of success into what you need to Think, Feel and Do to create a personal shift.
A man can be himself only so long as he is alone; and if he does not love solitude, he will not love freedom; for it is only when he is alone that he is really free.
~ Schopenhauer
THINK
Many people avoid being alone, either because they don’t feel comfortable with their own thoughts or because on the surface, solitude can look like loneliness.
In truth, solitude is a universal experience that is vital for our growth and wellbeing. Choosing to be alone can be a very positive experience, if you know how to make the most of the space.
- How often do you create space to be alone?
- What does alone time look like for you?
- Do you give yourself permission to ‘check out’ for a while?
Deliberate solitude is a state of peacefulness where you have the space to reflect, work through things and rejuvenate yourself. It will benefit your personal growth, your feelings of contentment, your creativity and your relationship with yourself and others.
FEEL
A study completed in 2023 sought to find out who feels good in solitude and discovered that it takes certain personality traits and a unique mindset to actually like spending time alone.
The study revealed some people have a solitude friendly personality due to being exposed to it at an early age. These people reported using solitude as an opportunity to recharge and recover from social situations that demanded a lot of time, effort or energy.
Others thought enjoying solitude was essential to developing their inner confidence and independence; while still others were grateful for the ability to self-reflect and address important thoughts, uncomfortable feelings, memories or problems rather than trying to avoid them by limiting alone time.
Ask yourself these self reflection questions to find out if you are ‘solitude friendly’:
- Do you feel good being alone?
- Do you feel discomfort when you are alone?
- If discomfort exists for you when alone, explore what the source of that discomfort might be.
- What are your predominant emotions when you are alone?
- What do you need to do so that you can genuinely feel enjoyment in solitude?
DO
There are a few easy strategies you can use to maximise the impact of your alone time once you have chosen it.
Here are a few to action this week:
- Deliberately differentiate between solitude and loneliness in your self-talk.
- Disconnect from social media and focus only on yourself.
- Do something you enjoy, like listening to music or going for a walk.
- Go on a date with yourself - we have been conditioned to enjoy ourselves in the company of others, but often struggle when alone.
- Treat yourself - perhaps buy flowers or get a massage. Random acts of kindness illustrate your love and respect for yourself.
- Compliment yourself - and mean it! Doing so will help you focus on the positive aspects of your day rather than the negative.
- Seek out daily activities or interests you can enjoy alone. Try cultivating a new hobby that is just for you.
Don’t let solitude intimidate you. On the surface it can look like loneliness, but you are really just choosing yourself.
Solitude gives you time to recharge with no strings attached. Build some alone time into your schedule and watch your mental health improve.
