For people who don’t know the joy of being alone, being alone is like staying in a desert without food and drink and being left to die.
But for those who understand the power and joy that comes from being alone, it is like a river of endless bliss and adventure.
In this article, you will learn about the power and benefits of being alone.
There’s so much discovery and fulfillment in learning to be alone no matter who you are or what stage of life you are.
I know there are two types of people (extroverts and introverts) and I know it has been said that one of them likes their solitude while the other doesn’t.
But I also know that learning to be alone is not limited to just introverts, because there are so many benefits attached to loving your own company.
I’m not saying you should isolate yourself from your loved ones, friends, and family.
Rather, I’m saying you should learn how to love your company.
If you’re wondering if there’s a difference between being alone and being lonely, let me help with that.
The Difference Between Being Alone and Being Lonely
Being Alone is a choice. An intentional choice to stay away from others, so you can learn about yourself and what is important to you.
Being alone is a lifestyle that must be adapted and practiced for the rest of our lives.
Being Lonely is a feeling that comes from being too attached to people or from disengaging from someone or people you used to be attached to.
It can also mean feeling displaced or isolated even in the midst of people and not feeling good about it.
Being lonely is a temporal feeling that might go away as soon as you learn to cope with it.
And you can cope with it by seeing the positive side (learning to love your solitude) or by finding someone to fill the vacuum.
The former is better.
Most times their best is not your best and it is important that you know what you want and go for it, know what you don’t want, and say a big fat NO.
One surefire way to discover this is by being alone.
You will be able to learn about yourself, your likes and dislikes, your principles, and your values.
These are what will make you stand out in life and you cannot know them in the company of many men.
Sarah olaleye – The Avid Inspire
10 Powerful Benefits of Being Alone
#1 You discover yourself
Who are you? Who do you want to be? Why do you want to be this person?
These are life questions you must know to live life to the fullest.
No one ever knows these things if they are always surrounded by people.
You must learn who you are.
What makes you happy? What makes you tick?
What do you enjoy doing?
Can you be alone in a place for a long time without company?
Do you enjoy your own company?
There are many things you will never know about yourself if you don’t learn to be alone every now and then.
Just like a relationship with a friend, family member, or partner, you also need a relationship with yourself.
You must make time for yourself, learn about yourself, and do things for yourself.
This will not only help you love yourself, but it will also help you have a great relationship with others.
Because by knowing yourself, you can tell the kind of company you want to keep.
You get to know your likes and dislikes.
And you can tell when someone is not treating you right or when they are not for you.
Being alone helps you discover yourself.
Editor’s pick: Why you must live alone at least once in a lifetime.
#2 You see who you really are
If you’re always with people and you never get a chance to be with yourself, you might not know your true self.
You will live your life focussed on their opinion, their idea of you, and what they know about you.
You will never truly see who you are or have an opinion of yourself.
This can be quite confusing because different people in our lives have different opinions of us.
It can be difficult to listen to everyone’s opinion about you without knowing what you want and what you think about yourself.
#3 Being alone helps you reflect
After a long day with others, I like to sit by myself and check how I’ve been throughout the day.
How did I speak? How did I react or respond to others?
What has changed about me? What new thing did I discover about myself today?
This is what being alone does for you. It helps you reflect on your life, your day, and your choices.
You need a minute to yourself, preferably every day.
Because every moment you give to yourself is worth it in the long run.
#4 Being alone helps you recharge
Have you ever had a long day with friends or family and by the time you’re sitting alone for a second, you feel exhausted and breathless?
Probably because you’ve been talking for the whole day or because you’ve been laughing a lot?
Yeah! That feeling!
That is the feeling that comes with being with others. But when you go back to being alone, you regain your strength.
You hear your thoughts and you renew the energy you expended while talking, laughing, and being with others.
#5 You will know what you want and what you don’t want
This is an important aspect of life. In a world where everyone (especially the people who love you) thinks they know what’s best for you.
You must know yourself enough to know what you want and what you don’t want.
Especially in a world driven by stereotypes and societal ideologies.
A world where women of a certain age are pressured to marry and men of a certain age are pressured to have a certain amount of money.
It can be daunting to know what you want and what you don’t want.
The people who love you think what they want for you is the best but is it really the best?
Most times their best is not your best and it is important that you know what you want and go for it, know what you don’t want, and say a big fat NO.
One surefire way to discover this is by being alone.
You will be able to learn about yourself, your likes and dislikes, your principles, and your values.
These are what will make you stand out in life and you cannot know them in the company of many men.
#6 Being alone fosters productivity
I know a lot of creatives, including me, who can’t produce great work when people are around.
Another thing I’ve noticed about myself is that I tend to be disorganized when I live with people or when people are around me.
Editor’s pick: Why you must live alone at least once in a lifetime.
I don’t know why that happens, it’s just what I’ve noticed and what I’m constantly working on.
But when I’m alone, I work and live more productively.
I work without distractions. I put the house in order. I make everywhere look neat and tidy knowing there will be no one to disrupt my arrangement.
I also get work done seamlessly.
Are you also like this?
If you don’t know then you’ve probably never had the opportunity to be alone and you should.
Being alone helps you enjoy your own company and helps you do what you have to at the right time.
People who get work done easily and productively are mostly people who work in isolated places away from distractions of people.
If I write in the midst of people, I get triggered by their little sounds: the sound of their footsteps, words, devices, etc.
And these little sounds can steal away a vital idea from me.
Unlike when I work in an isolated place.
#7 Being alone gives expression to your creativity
Have you ever had a moment where you were sitting alone and suddenly got an idea?
That is what happens when you learn to be alone.
Your creativity will find expression and you will get more creative ideas.
This might not be the case when you’re always with people.
Because you’re either talking or focussing on them or what they’re saying and it might be hard to hear your thoughts.
But when you’re alone, your thoughts become clearer to you. It becomes easy to work with that idea in your head.
#8 You won’t be anxious
Anxiety is the most common negative effect of being with others.
One advantage of being alone is peace.
You will be less anxious.
You will only worry about the things you choose to worry about.
You will have your time to yourself and you will do things at your will and pace.
That is the best feeling ever – Being in control and in charge of your life, time, thoughts, and activities.
It wads off anxiety and gives you peace.
#9 It boosts relationships with others
If you’re the type that loves being with others, you will like this one.
When you learn to be alone, you will learn how to improve yourself so you can be a better person to others.
Understanding yourself will help you understand other people and give them the benefit of doubt.
You will enjoy other people’s company because they are not taking all of your time and you can always recharge and reflect when you’re on your own.
You will also value the company of others and be more empathetic towards others.
You will enjoy other people’s company because it will no longer feel one-sided but balanced.
#10 Being alone helps you make important life decisions
When you love being alone, you will get to make better choices because you’re not making them to please others or because someone said it’s a good choice.
Rather, you’re making your decision because it is what you want.
And the benefit of making decisions for yourself is that even if it doesn’t end well, you will know it was what you wanted at the time and not what anyone made you do.
Some ideas for being alone
- Wake up early.
- Stay awake while others are asleep.
- Take a walk.
- Go to a place you’re not known.
- Go on a vacation.
Related post: My Solo Trip to Osun State. Top Tourist Attractions in Osun State.
- Stay locked up in your room.
- Go to work or school earlier than everyone else.
- Stay back at home while everyone is away.
- Live alone – Why you must live alone at least once in a lifetime.
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The ultimate tip I will give you to help you love being alone is this:
Find your place
I used to have a place while I was at the university. It was the most beautiful place I had ever been.
It was the highest place in my school which no one ever went to.
I would climb high and scary places to get there and when I got to the top, it was always worth it.
It was so high that no one could ever see me up there.
But I could see everyone else in the whole school.
I enjoyed going there at night and I’d just lie down and look up at the sky.
It was a beautiful sight to behold.
It always felt like I could reach out and touch the moon.
Sometimes it felt scary like the stars were raining down on me.
I could also see the trees and the world closely and clearly.
I miss that place. It was my place. I felt secure and powerful. It felt like my dreams were reachable.
I felt calm and peaceful there.
Also read: Stuck In a Rut?! 10 Ways To Get Out Of a Rut.
And I really hope to find a place like that again someday.
You should also find your place.
You will not find it by sitting in a place. You need to go out.
Take walks. Look beyond places everyone can see. Seek that place.
Because, when you find your place, you have found solace.
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I hope you enjoy your company and these powerful life-changing benefits of being alone.
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Kindly share your being alone experience with me♥️
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