Solitude…
Loneliness is part of the recovery process...there seems to be no way around it. However, loneliness and solitude, while often used interchangeably, are two completely different things…it’s all about perspective.
Loneliness is a subjective feeling, typically accompanied by other feelings such as anxiety, depression or panic and it can be hard to manage these emotions in early stages of recovery. We are often scared of where silence will take us and this time of introspection can intimidate us. Part of the process is learning to manage these emotions and turn this quiet time into a time of solitude, a space that can seem extremely uncomfortable and scary, but that most of us underestimate how powerful it can be.
Solitude is not loneliness. It is a time to recharge your brain without energy draining distractions that are constantly demanding your attention. It is expansive and a catalyst for personal growth. It gives us the opportunity to connect with ourselves in silence, it gives us a space to practice new ways of seeing and being and it gives us perspective on our ideas and our relationships to the things that surround us. It is a time to disconnect from the chaos of life, regroup and step back into the world with a fresh mind, ready to be a better person and do better things. Harnessing this stillness allows you to find answers to questions and solutions to problems; it stretches you and illuminates you.
It takes great inner strength to sit in solitude. That strength is a muscle that we must exercise daily through deliberate practice and the only way to overcome the fear of solitude is to face it. Find a quiet space that brings you joy, ease yourself in with a few minutes each day. You will soon find that the discomfort will eventually ease and that the choice to seek solitude is now a part of your existence.
I will sit in solitude with you and provide you the tools needed to combat feelings of loneliness. With this guidance, the next time you start to feel lonely in your recovery process, you will know it is not loneliness you are feeling, it is simply your soul telling you it needs to be replenished and enriched by you and you alone.
The answers we seek to our most important questions are not found outside of ourselves. They are only found within ourselves and when we find strength, rather than fear in solitude, we live far richer lives with others and most importantly with our self. When we are purely connected internally we can manage almost anything that comes our way, grow stronger and ground and center ourselves in our purpose.
Find your place of peace, spend time there and embrace the magic that happens within.