Solitude isn’t about avoiding being with other people. It’s about being all by yourself, quietly reading a book, painting, enjoying the sight of the goldfish swimming in the little aquarium of yours, all without a single care of the world.
Solitude is the state of being alone without being lonely. It is a positive and constructive state of engagement with oneself.
There is a vast difference between solitude and loneliness.
Loneliness is a negative state marked by a sense of isolation. It’s about feeling empty like something is missing, helpless, uninspired. It is possible to be with people and still feel lonely – perhaps the most bitter form of loneliness.
“In order to understand the world, one has to turn away from it on occasion.”
Albert Camus, The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays
The more time we spend in solitude, the less lonely we feel as we’ll know how to handle being alone.
By consciously taking the time to be in isolation, it allows us to find balance. Whether you’re an extrovert thriving primarily on social life, or an introvert who can stand being alone much better, we all need a certain amount of solitude to find harmony.
So, find some time alone now and then. Whether it’s meditation, going for a long walk in nature, locking yourself away for hours with just paper and pen, or just being at peace with yourself, it will teach you to become a better observer of your life and see things as they are.
