Solitude

The ability to be alone is powerful. Not being able to be alone for periods of time hurts personal growth and is also a reflection of how you currently view yourself. If you are scared to be alone with yourself, ask yourself why.

The ability to be alone is a learned skill that needs to be utilized to achieve maximum potential. I firmly believe spending time in solitude, with your own thoughts, in environments fostering deep work, are the most important parts of your days.

Not everyone likes being alone. Some people believe they need the presence of others to feel whole. I argue they do not know what they are missing. I find solitude in early morning runs. Getting lost in my thoughts or having my mind go completely blank when I am alone are some of the main reasons why I enjoy running. The solitude granted in this personal activity is hard to replicate in other places of my life.

I use solitude to work through my problems, come up with new ideas, and reset from the day before. I use solitude as time for myself and the time that I need.

Solitude is a non-negotiable for high achievers. Periods of solitude carve greatness out of you. You can find solitude either in the early mornings or late at night, sometimes both. In an age where we have phones with us all the time blasting constant notifications, getting up before anyone else can make solitude much more accessible in your life.

The more I practice the use of solitude in my life, the more I support the purpose of being alone with myself. I am most productive when I am in solitude. Early mornings before anyone is awake I find it much easier to mark items off of my to-do list and establish the groundwork for the rest of my day. I am the most “present” when I am in solitude. The boredom you may find in solitude is freeing and allows you to ponder the questions of your life while simultaneously uncovering the answers.

Solitude can present itself at any time of the day and in nearly any aspect of your life. You just need to make deliberate choices to seek it out. It could be an afternoon walk around your neighborhood with your phone on Do Not Disturb. It could be an early morning sitting at your desk before the world is awake. It could be driving alone with the radio turned down as you watch a sunset. Find something you enjoy, and do it alone without distraction. See what thoughts come into your mind or what thoughts leave your mind. Solitude makes the rest of your life that much more enjoyable.