Rita Watson: Time alone helps tend the soul
Special to The Journal
Jun. 28, 2015 at 12:01 AM
In a technology connected world, we often forget the value of alone time. Researchers are suggesting that Facebook is impacting self-esteem and social media is becoming addictive. In an effort to see what our friends are doing, we oftentimes forget to look at what it is that we are doing. Have you ever thought of making a date with yourself and spending three hours alone?
With our busy schedules, making time to be alone can be both difficult and a bit frightening. People are often afraid of silence and solitude because it feels too much like loneliness. But there is a vast difference between alone and lonely that you come to appreciate once you make a date with yourself.
Several years ago the Philippine Journal of Psychology reported that students were asked to make a date with “the self.” They were told to think that on the date they would not be “alone” but that rather they would be going with a very special companion, themselves. We were not surprised to learn the results: Students appreciated the time alone and found that it gave them a sense of inner peace.
To experience the meaning of solitude it is important to set aside time, as if you were going on a date. Whether you choose your quiet moments at home, outdoors, or in an uplifting environment, turn off all electronic devices.
To find solitude at home you may need to set the stage before embracing silence:
- Read a few words of poetry if it helps you to set the mood.
- Express gratitude for yourself, your home, and the people in your life.
- Breathe and listen to the rhythm within you.
- Make a list of your positive qualities.
- Practice creative visualization by conjuring up images, scenarios or positive possibilities.
If you decide to seek solitude away from home, try to:
- Reconnect with nature by taking a meditative walk.
- Listen for the birds or even the sounds of the city. Express gratitude for what you hear.
- Find a quiet spot in a park, on a beach, or along a hiking path and just sit and observe.
- Go to a museum and marvel at the treasures that have been preserved.
- Walk into a flower shop or find a garden and reflect on the beauty of the petals.
Solitude has invaluable benefits. Solitude allows us to take a journey inward — a place where the inner workings of our soul may come in touch with the outer realities of the world beyond our vision. Once we become accustomed to an occasional date with ourselves, it will become easier to allow our heart’s desire to unfold.
Copyright 2015 Rita Watson