Solitude Is Necessary if You Want to Achieve Great Things
Spend time alone and create the world around you
It's no question that facing our fears comes with a price. A price often most of us are unwilling to pay unless we become obsessed with our work. Purpose and passion give this experience meaning.
One common trait that geniuses of all ages had was that they worked in secret and lived a life in solitude. Why is such a choice necessary? Who would want to be alone on their long journey here on Earth?
It's evident how distracted we are all in our daily lives. There are always new ways that cause us distraction. This distraction has made time our enemy. Discipline turned time into an enemy and we became so reliant on this system that it made us crave this slavery. The most precious commodity you have is slipping under your fingers.
It makes me think of people that live on the saying that hard work creates results, but at the same time, spending an extra 2 hours in the office doesn't make you a hard worker. It proves that you have become an expert time-waster.
Geniuses in solitude
Intelligence grows with solitude. People need time alone to discover the depth of their souls and remember the reason why they chose to be here. They need to indulge in work that matters to them even if they don't share it with the world. The way you experience life is far too personal and you need not indulge others with it unless both sides have something to gain. Your work has to be in tune with your soul's which is never and will never be in tune with society.
People don't dare to be different because they fear becoming outcasts. Who would want to be one in today's world? A world where everyone is looking for acceptance and a sense of relief from others that tell them they are doing the right thing.
If you're looking for validation, why is it necessary to come from others? Is it so hard to find beauty and importance in your own work?
Marcus Aurelius wrote “Meditations” after he retired to the countryside, with no one other than himself. He contemplated the lessons his life taught him. His work was never meant to be published but it did. It left us with one of the most remarkable philosophic books of our time.
Newton isolated himself during the Great Plague of London and he used his time wisely. The works that have put his mark down in history as one of the greats was a period he called “Annus Mirabilis”: the year of wonders. He thrived without the presence of his professors.
Leonardo Da Vinci left his home at the age of 23 and vanished for years. What he discovered was himself after a series of experiences that brought him closer to his purpose. Although his journey is a mystery, the teachings he left behind affected our progress.
"The mind is sharper and keener in seclusion and uninterrupted solitude. Originality thrives in seclusion free of outside influences beating upon us to cripple the creative mind. Be alone — that is the secret of invention: be alone, that is when ideas are born." — Nikolas Tesla
Social influence leaves you unsatisfied
I grew up in a time where social influence was a small part of life. Long gone are the days when human interaction brought happiness. Being out in the world, playing in the dirt and coming up with games to pass the time. Much has changed since then. The world wanted to globalise and connect in every way possible. The irony of this plan is that it made us more divided than ever.
Social gratification does not come from virtual interactions. People believe they are fearless behind the screen. The moment they set foot in the real world, the inner struggles they have brushed aside rise up to the surface. They find the smallest interaction difficult to handle and look with haste to turn back to their screen for that false sense of comfort.
Take a look at what this screen is telling us. That the world is always in chaos. Terrible things are happening everywhere, things that are out of our control. Your "friends" seem to always enjoy their time. All their posts are a testament to how great their life is. But we never take pictures of dark times. We take pictures at a wedding and never at a funeral. The agony you are causing yourself is a result of seeing a small part of a much bigger picture.
The universe is ready to unravel itself to you but you need to quiet yourself to hear the messages she brings.
“You need not leave your room. Remain sitting at your table and listen. You need not even listen, simply wait, just learn to become quiet, and still, and solitary. The world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked. It has no choice; it will roll in ecstasy at your feet.” — Franz Kafka
Don't be lonely when you are alone
If you spend too much time on your own, anxiety can kick in. A depressive state can take over you, a state of fear. If you consider your surroundings, they are empty. You are sitting with yourself and you're uncomfortable in your skin. A time of turmoil is upon you. This turmoil only comes from yourself and no one else. Have you paid attention to yourself recently or were you too busy judging others and the life they choose to share? The world is not as dark as you believe. The stories that trouble our minds are a small part of life on this planet.
Solitude is not the same as loneliness. When you are in tune with the light, the whole universe is with you. Nature and experiences around you grow as you do. Animals get closer, plants grow healthier and the colours around you become sharper. The sheer beauty around you reflects the beauty within you.
Reality changes because you've changed. You begin to realize that the quality of experiences is much more important than their quantity. Through these experiences, you find an inspiration to keep going. A true purpose that serves you and everything around you. A calling that your soul can no longer ignore. Then you follow the path, everything starts to make sense and you can't help but be in awe of what you have the power to create.
“One can be instructed in society, one is inspired only in solitude.” — Goethe
