Solitude vs Loneliness
This time in 2020 most of the world experiences enforced “isolation” or solitude. Stay away from other people and hunker in your homes. You may feel even more loneliness then usual.
In solitude we may feel loneliness. We may feel cut off from some of our family members. They or we may feel unwell. We want them to be safe and stay healthy. We no longer have the same physical connection we had before.
According to an NPR survey 2020 more than three in five Americans suffer loneliness. They feel left out and lacking companionship. They feel separate from others and themselves. This is before the coronavirus entered our lives.
Do you enjoy solitude? Very few enjoy solitude. In reference to loneliness only about 1 out of 10 people look for ways to overcome loneliness. The good news is you can use solitude to feel more connected within yourself and with others, if you choose.
Some of us know how to connect to some degree in outer world circumstances. Yet we kept caught up in the busyness of our outer life activities. This gave us little time to look inside ourselves.
Now the virus forces us to stay inside and it gives us a great gift. What can we learn about our inside world of emotions, feelings and thoughts?
Solitude
Solitude for me means being alone in my own private space, without interruptions.
- It means going inside myself and noticing my thoughts & feelings.
- It gives me an opportunity to be alone with in an inner space.
- This is different to distracting or entertaining myself with outside activities.
In solitude I get to explore my inner world. I get to know me. I get to enjoy me.
Solitude can force us to notice how we interact or react to our family and children. Reactions show the triggering of an inner trauma/wound within.
Relationships serve as mirrors showing us a reflection of our inner worlds. For the most part most of us avoid looking at those mirrors. We avoid by blaming our spouse, family or friends. It is all their fault we feel so angry or miserable.
Relationship Mirrors
We can look inward at what the mirror of relationships says about us, however, unpleasant. These reflections show us who we are.
- They also show us what our childhood wounding patterns and trauma.
- If we choose, we can begin to heal these wounds.
- Many of these wounds exist on a subconscious level.
- Even deeper on the unconscious they run our lives without us even knowing.
Now we have no excuse. We can use this time of solitude to discover our inner selves. What are the emotions that run our lives most of the time? Anger, fear or lack etc. We may regard these as enemies to avoid or fight to get rid of.
We could take another approach and consider them as potential strangers to get to know. They do live in the same house as us – our bodies. We have had them as far back as we can remember anger, fear and lack or not feeling good enough.
Is The State of Presence Devoid of Emotional Content? https://youtu.be/QBDlW3H5ZQQ
See Difference Solitude vs Loneliness Part 2 https://www.emotionalhealthtips.com/solitude-vs-loneliness-2
Michael’s Books:
Emotional Health: The Secret for Freedom from Drama, Trauma & Pain This book provides ways for improving emotional health, easing pain and stress, healing physical and emotional abuse, and spiritual awakening. See book on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615479170
Self-Esteem: A Teen’s Guide for Girls (Also for Women & Parents)
(Available on Amazon) Michael as a previous Residential and Self-Esteem Coach and Mentor has over 15 years’ experience teaching teen’s self-awareness, self-esteem, and self-reliance. See eBook Self Esteem- A Teen’s Guide for Girls This book is valuable for women also. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009L4JLMO
Michael also conducts personalized hiking tours in Sedona for emotional and spiritual breakthroughs. https://www.emotionalhealthtips.com/sedona-healing-spiritual-hiking
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