“Whosoever is delighted in solitude is
either a wild beast or a god.” – Aristotle
I love solitude. I have always been
great at disconnecting with the world around me and disappearing. Friends can
vouch for this emphatically. It’s almost like a religious hibernation, without
which I feel disoriented, pressured and all jumbled up in my head.
The merits of solitude have been celebrated for
centuries. As Pascal said, “All man’s miseries derive from not being able to
sit quietly in a room alone.” Yet over the past decades, with the advent of
social media and smartphones, we started developing an aversion to being on our
own, and the idea of solitude became confused with loneliness – both of which
were shunned vigorously. However, if we have no understanding of solitude and
the virtues it brings, we start to equate loneliness with isolation and social
stigma. This gradually translates into an impoverishment of our experience. If
we don’t comprehend the advantages of solitude, we are left only with the perceived
panic of being alone.
Solitude is a vital
component of creativity. Most creative people across multiple domains are
usually introverts. This is probably because introverts are comfortable
spending time alone, and solitude is an essential and undervalued ingredient
for creativity. Some of the greatest artists, scientists and thinkers including
Darwin, Picasso and Goethe worked in utter solitude and praised its virtues. “The best thinking
has been done in solitude” said Thomas A. Edison; “Without great
solitude no serious work is possible” quoted Pablo Picasso; “Talent is nurtured
in solitude … A creation of importance can only be produced when its author
isolates himself, it is a child of solitude” quipped Johann Wolfgang Von Göethe.
Research now proves that group brainstorming does not produce the best ideas, and instead people
working alone generate a greater number of innovative and creative thoughts.
Dialogue can augment comprehension, but solitude seems to be the core of brilliance.
The more powerful and inventive a mind, the more it will tilt towards the creed
of solitude.
So how can you start taking advantage of
solitude to increase your efficiency and creativity:
1.
Learn to Value Silence - Switch off from the external
and digital world. Find a few quiet minutes every day for yourself. Once you
start feeling secure in a completely silent atmosphere, you can start using it
to your advantage.
2.
A Penny for your Thoughts - For many, ‘me-time’ seems like
a waste of time. But our brain must get an opportunity to halt and sort out all
that’s going on around it 24X7. All you need is 10 minutes each day to enable
your brain to relax, reboot and restart. Those 10 minutes can be a complete
game-changer.
3.
Know yourself Better – Take time out to do something
you love. Go to the opera alone, hike through the mountains on your own, spend
a weekend by yourself by the beach. Switch off your gadgets and give yourself
some respect. This could be the recipe for finally getting to know your true
self better.
4.
Quiet your Mind – Meditate! You will be
surprised by the long term benefits that meditations can bestow on your body
and mind. Yes, it’s tough initially, but keep at it. It really pays! The more
you practice, the more you'll become fully aware, and awaken your inner
consciousness. The pause can help take your mind away from the grief of the
past or the concerns about the future, and simply BE in the current moment.
While I am not advocating becoming a recluse,
there are many benefits to spending at least some time alone. Reflecting on your
actions, and focusing on future personal improvements are the cornerstones of
productive solitude. Carving out time to do these things can help make you
happier, stronger and more accountable. The process allows you to step back,
then return to your work with more insight, compassion and vigor.
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