Long-Form Blog; Titled - The Art and Importance of Being Alone

Hey reader!

So, last week I introduced you all to my newsletter, while this week I am here with a new subject, the art of being alone.

I have been an introvert all my life, while saying “all my life” may sound too exaggerated, as I am just 22! Yet, I have gained my experiences and maybe saying such won’t be inappropriate.

But anyways, firstly I want to clarify things.

Being an Introvert does not mean that you are a shy person who won’t have any friends, rather in the eyes of academic psychology, of which I am a graduate, it is a trait which if you have may result in making you recharge your batteries when you are alone, and such shall lead you to be drained when you are in the company of many people.

So, yeah, in that sense, I have been an introvert, and by the way, by the virtue of you spending most of the time alone, as you enjoy it, you may become shy, which has been the case with myself too.

But being an introvert has also made me more creative, as I am able to reflect on different problems, and has also enabled me to self-reflect leading me to improve constantly as I am able to talk to myself, and dive deep into what’s going in my mind of which I wasn’t even aware of until I began self-reflecting or self-analysing.

Therefore, spending time with yourself is important, and should be a part of your daily, or at least weekly routine.

Only you, and trust me, only you can solve your problems completely and you can only find the solutions to these problems once you start looking for them and trust me, most of these solutions are lurking in some corner of your mind, where you haven’t looked at all yet.

Most people I think fear being alone, or just can't spend time alone. Being alone feels like a punishment and they can’t resist themselves to quickly go and check their phones, or talk to someone.

I don’t mean that taking advice from someone is wrong, but ultimately even for that advice to sink into your brain, you have to give some time to it and this shall take place only when you spend alone time.

This has been recommended by various philosophers and philosophies, such the Dhyana Yoga philosophy of the Bhagavad Gita, or the Meditations suggested in certain scriptures. Although the concepts of such are very deep, vast and advanced but it all begins with talking to your own self.

Now, obviously you might be fearing a monster which lurks in your mind when you think of spending alone time and that in layman terms, is called, “overthinking”. Here, overthinking simply means negative thoughts, or the thoughts of what has happened in the past, or the anxiety of what might occur in the future.

Therefore, even spending time alone is an art which you shall learn.

You may simply begin by finding a quiet place, it might be your room, your balcony, terrace etc.

Then, you may relax and calm yourself by asking “how are you your name”.

Once you start feeling that you are talking to your most trusted and closest friend, that is the day you know that you have learnt and mastered this art.

Once you greet yourself, from there on there should occur a free flowing conversation.

You may do such in your mind, or out aloud, or you may use a journal to such, but once you begin doing this, trust me you shall not be the same person anymore. Your perspectives shall change, you shall become more creative and most importantly you shall have a companion on whom you can blindly trust, and who shall never be a brutus to you, or who shall never betray you.

We may talk more about this, and other things going forward in the upcoming newsletter, so be by my side, just the way I am by yours.

I am all ears to any questions you have.

Your ever well-wisher

Priyank Mehra