One might think that only an unsociable, reclusive person would choose a solitary life. Many find it hard to believe that solitude can be enjoyable. And it seems utterly incredible that solitude can become a tool for personal development!
Like everything in the world, solitude has its advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages of Solitude
Freedom and Independence
The life of an ordinary person is associated with many commitments related to family, children, and more. Raising children is certainly a joy, but it is also one of the most difficult and responsible tasks we face in life.
Some people live their entire lives alone, without a family, but more often, people find themselves alone after a divorce or after their children have grown up and left the family home. After many years of caring for and being responsible for others, a time comes when they can dedicate time to themselves and achieve what they have always dreamed of.
Now you are responsible only for yourself; you bear full responsibility for all your decisions. And this is a very pleasant feeling.
Living alone gives you the experience of personal growth, which in turn contributes to the formation of social connections. One can be very sociable and popular within their community.
Free Time
Living alone gives us free time. And we can finally do things that were previously unavailable to us. For example, go on vacation when we want to and where we want to. And much more.
Self-Discovery
There is no better way to get to know yourself than to spend time alone. We can finally sort out our feelings, understand in which direction we should develop, realize what we truly strive for, and what we need to achieve it.
New Quality of Communication
When you live alone, you begin to truly appreciate social connections. Now your meetings with family or friends will take place on a qualitatively different level.
At Peace with Yourself
Loneliness values silence. You experience less stress and less pressure from other people and commitments. You build your world and fill it with your favorite music, scents, and books. Not only that, but you cook based on your personal preferences. Furthermore, you live in harmony with yourself and the world.
Disadvantages of Loneliness
Loneliness is associated with many prejudices and misconceptions. Lonely people are often pitied. In reality, especially if solitude is a personal choice, there are very few drawbacks.
However, if you find yourself alone not by choice, but due to life circumstances, it is a completely different situation. In this case, a person may experience sadness and even fall into depression.
A lonely person may suffer from fear, a sense of isolation, or boredom, especially with low self-esteem. To remedy the situation, it is necessary to seek help from friends or relatives.
Our well-being is also influenced by good, balanced nutrition and daily physical activity. You can join interest groups and look for like-minded people. Everything is possible; happiness is in your hands!
Remember that living alone means you are responsible for your physical and mental health.
Recommendations for People Living Alone
It’s very important that your solitude is conscious and your choice. After all, there’s nothing tragic about it, and it’s pointless to associate solitude with sadness, a misconception that is very common in our society.
After spending some time alone, you may want to connect with another person again. But ideally, it’s better to learn to be happy and self-sufficient alone than to convince yourself that you are happy just because you are not living alone.
Solitude will open up a whole world of new opportunities for you, as it allows you to fully control your life. And if you find happiness deep within your soul, you won’t need others to avoid feeling empty.
You will radiate harmony and self-confidence. And maybe, one day, you’ll want to share all this with someone. Or maybe not!
This content reflects the author’s personal opinion.