The Wonderful Sound of Silence

by WiredBerries Editors — November 19, 2007

Solitude. It's a word that may sound dreamy or frightening, depending on your personality, but it's something that the experts agree we should all learn to embrace to some small degree. If you don't regularly get complete solitude, try giving yourself at least one or two days (or even just a few hours) a month of ZERO outside "noise." This doesn't have to be a "boring" day. In fact, once you get into the habit, you'll probably start looking forward to it.

The rules for true solitude are that you must be by yourself. (If you have a family, this can get tricky, but you'll figure something out. Have your honey take the kids to go visit Grandma, for example.) You can go somewhere in nature, or be by yourself at home. If you stay in, just make sure to keep the TV turned off. Don't do any of your regular "work," which will keep your mind "busy" and defeat the purpose of the day. Unplug the phone or let calls go to voicemail.

Why would you do this strange thing, you ask? Because in today's world there is so much noise, so much input and stimulation that it's a miracle we can still hear our own thoughts! This practice may not seem like much, but over the course of a lifetime, some quality solitude in which you allow yourself to meditate, read inspiring books, listen to beautiful music, and so on can give you the precious opportunity to reconnect with yourself, to pay attention to your own thoughts, and to notice your own current state of being. You can't expect to have long-term energy and joy if you never decompress. This is a highly effective way to reset your energy levels and perspectives, and it's also a powerful preventative measure to keep from getting "burned out."

The idea isn't to start shunning companionship, especially since studies have shown that having close friendships is good for one's health. The idea is to simply enjoy a little bit of peaceful time each month to yourself--without any outside demands and distractions weighing you down.

Psychologist Ester Buchholz, puts it this way: "Now, more than ever, we need our solitude. Being alone gives us the power to regulate and adjust our lives. It can teach us fortitude and the ability to satisfy our own needs. A restorer of energy, the stillness of alone experiences provides us with much-needed rest. It brings forth our longing to explore, our curiosity about the unknown, our will to be an individual, our hopes for freedom. Alone time is fuel for life."