The Gift of Solitude

Solitude. What does it mean to you?

A recent walk got me to thinking: What is the difference between being alone and being in solitude.

Here’s what I came up with, and tell me if any of this resonates with you.

Being alone is purely physical. You are physically by yourself, separated from others, isolated. Different, of course, from lonely which is more emotional than physical, a feeling of being disconnected from others.

But, oh solitude. Like loneliness, solitude is an experience, a state of mind that you get to control.

Solitude can be quite powerful, and spending time in solitude, as I do on my daily walks, can bring with it a whole range of benefits. Carving out times of solitude will help you see more clearly, will open you up to possibilities. While alone is neutral, and loneliness can be debilitating, solitude is spacious and supportive, productive and sustaining.

I am usually practicing solitude in nature. It is in solitude that I explore my creative side, my deep thinking side. Surely the two are connected, nature and solitude, the perfect combination for creativity and deep thoughts.

Simply put, solitude helps me to explore that inner world at my pace. Oftentimes, this can be after a deep conversation with a friend that brings out some of my hidden fears. The solitude gives me a chance to go deeper without having to share all of the scary stuff.

Solitude is quiet and let’s me hear my inner voice. There is not other noise to distract me – no social media, no news, no googling – just me and me. It’s much easier to get to the meaningful stuff and since it’s just me and me, I am totally honest, without any pretense. And while I’m blessed to have loved ones I can be myself with, there are no filters with solitude.

Perhaps most important to me, solitude is essential to my spiritual practice. I feel closer to spirit in solitude than at any other time. That may, again, be related to nature as I am acknowledging the sacred aspects of the world around me.

It’s important to intentionally plan for alone time each day. I am aware that not everyone is comfortable with solitude, and if that’s you, I encourage you to try. Let me ease you in with some ideas of how to spend this time:

• • Write in a journal, leaving any filters behind
  • Listen to classical music, as it has its own benefits
  • Take a walk in nature
  • Garden
  • Read an uplifting book
  • Cultivate a creative hobby

Solitude helps me be the best version of me. I am grateful for my time in solitude and I know not everyone has access to this gift.