Darling I Promise, You Are Not Alone
How to Use Silence to Promote Reflection…
In today’s fast-paced, Internet-driven society, we’ve become accustomed to filling the uncomfortable aspects of silence with fluff. We turn to distractions such as eating unhealthy foods or binge-watching Netflix as a means of escaping feelings of idleness or boredom. However, there’s one underlying problem. The main thing we wish to elude is loneliness. Solitude does not have to be alienating or lonesome. In fact, solitude and loneliness are distinctly separate.
The death of a loved one or the inability to find people who understand you can leave you feeling isolated. And it seems that Valentine’s Day brings out the romantic in every single person you follow on Instagram. Webster’s dictionary plainly describes loneliness as “being without companions.” It’s natural to experience an emptiness while longing for love or acceptance. Loneliness is, therefore, an emotive state that can be experienced whether or not one is physically alone.
It was Geoffrey F. Fisher who said, “In cities no one is quiet but many are lonely; in the country, people are quiet but few are lonely.”
We tend to fill loneliness with all types of distractions. For example, some single women would rather spend a Friday night with a man they have no genuine interest in than to spend the night alone. Doing so provides a temporary way of killing time while awaiting the man they are actually seeking. Then there are young adults who are involved in cliques where they can’t really relate to their companions. However, they would rather feel accepted on a superficial level than risk feeling outcast. So what is it about being alone that scares us?
Do not be spooked by the unfamiliarity of silence. In fact, take this time to reflect back on the version of yourself that was left behind so that you’re able to embrace the mega woman you’d like to become. Silence can be an amazing thing. The art of silence teaches you how to truly listen. It teaches you to pay attention to what’s going on inside of you. Only when we are alone, can we have space and peace we need to think without being outwardly influenced. Therefore, it becomes easier to make important decisions as well as identify whatever feelings are culminating within.
Get in touch with yourself so that you can make conscious decisions rather than simply react to emotions. Learn to appreciate the time you have to yourself. Let the peace and understanding you find better equip you for the commotion of today’s world.
The article Darling I Promise You Are Not Alone first appeared on Live Well Be Fabulous on February 5th, 2020.
