Loneliness expresses the pain of being alone and solitude expresses the glory of being alone.
Paul Tillich
A quiet room or space that doesn’t require you to respond, react or do anything at all is an appealing option after a busy day.
After a day of constant connection …
- getting the kids ready for school
- checking email
- navigating relationships in the workplace
- running errands
- checking email
- answering voicemail
- Twitter and Facebook
- checking email
- getting dinner on the table
- watching the news
- checking email
… we crave solitude but fear loneliness. If we spend time alone, will we still be loved? relevant? connected?
And what if at the heart of all of this connection is complete disconnection. Emptiness and loneliness aren’t always recognized in a busy day or busy life, but it’s there. There is greater chance for true, genuine connection if you allow yourself a little silence, time to putter, and space to be quiet.
Better connect by disconnecting
Unplug. Start with an hour and then aim for a day a week. No computer, iPad or email. Your brain needs a break.
Media fast. Challenge yourself to a week away from the news and other media. You’ll be surprised how much better you sleep with a week away from drama, advertising and heightened anxiety.
Be a good friend. Let your friends, especially your draining, negative friends know that you are taking a week off. Tell them you need a little time for yourself and you’ll check in after a set amount of time. Use that time to evaluate your friendships and take steps to spend time with people that lift you up more often than they drag you down.
Start with silence. Instead of squeezing in quiet time, start your day with 5 minutes all to yourself. Give yourself that gift, so you can give more freely during the day.
Struggling with loneliness is more and more common in the digital age. We miss deep connection, quiet time and space to think and breathe slowly. Maybe your lonely is a subtle, nagging feeling or perhaps more evident. Either way, accept it and move through it. The world needs you and your wonderful gifts.
