How Solitude Can Change Your Brain In Profound Ways
Unravel the mysteries of solitude and its profound impact on the human brain. Discover how isolation, often perceived negatively, can actually foster creativity, enhance mental strength, and reshape neural pathways. Prepare to redefine your understanding of solitude and its transformative potential.
Solitude is a crucial and underrated ingredient for creativity
We are so intensely connected to each other and the world, that disengaging even for a brief period can feel nearly impossible.
- Being alone is uncomfortable at times and often difficult-hence the impulse to reach for an electric shock rather than having to sit alone with thoughts.
- But moments of solitude, when self-imposed, intentional, and fully appreciated, can have profound effects on our productivity and creative thinking.
Julia Cameron takes this notion a step further
She offers an exercise she calls the “artist date,” a time once a week when you make sure to do something inspiring and creative by yourself
- “A weekly artist date is remarkably threatening-and remarkably productive,” writes Cameron
Solitude and Loneliness Are Not the Same Thing
Often we confuse solitude and loneliness, but they are not the same thing
- Solitude is a description of a fact: You are on your own
- Loneliness is a negative emotional response to it
- People think they will be lonely, and that is the problem
Building these moments into our daily lives is important
According to Sherry Turkle, researcher and founder of the MIT Initiative on Technology and Self, it’s important for people to intentionally set aside time each day when they abstain from “social snacking” activities like texting, tweeting, and Instagram.
Solitude
Solitude is where you find yourself so that you can reach out to other people and form real attachments.
- When we don’t have the capacity for solitude, we turn to others to feel less anxious or to feel alive. When this happens, we’re not able to appreciate who they are.