As a child, I had a lot of time on my own. While there are some obvious cons when it comes to solitude, there are also many surprisingly unexpected benefits. Here are some listed below.
1. It makes you more creative-
Some of the most creative minds tend to be one of the loneliest too. Sharon H Kim, a professor at Johns Hopkins University, discovered that people are likely to be more creative if they feel socially rejected (even if no real rejection takes place, and they simply feel rejected in some way).
According to Kim, creativity is the ability to form new associations between unrelated topics. However, it is particularly the lonely and socially rejected who are the most capable of doing this.
Solitude, whether intentional or circumstantial in the form of loneliness, also gives the mind more time to wander and a chance to come up with associations of unrelated concepts. So one of the best ways to kickstart your inner creativity, according to science, is by consciously experiencing solitude.
2. Makes you more empathetic
Surprising research published in the Social Psychology journal has found that introverts and those socially isolated are apparently better at noticing and interpreting social behaviors. In other words, they are more emotionally perceptive. Some of the speculations for this astonishing contrast may be that introverts incline to be quiet within social events, hence they are more observant instead of actively participating in conversations. Consequently, they become better at understanding social behaviors and hidden body language cues[1]. Another reason may be that because introverts contribute less socially, they as a result have more time for contemplation. Most people don’t have the time to reflect on themselves, the choices they make, and the way they behave So the alone time of introverts may also lead them to have a better understanding of themselves, their behaviors, and their quirks. When people begin to understand themselves well, they also start to understand others as well.
Cody Delistraty, a writer and historian, states, ‘‘Not everyone safely returns from loneliness, but those who do – those who retreat into themselves and successfully reemerge into society – return with a far greater understanding of themselves and of others. In loneliness there is thus a balance to be struck; it poses at once the highest risk and the highest reward.’’ He also suggests that lonely or introverted people are subconsciously more observant of people’s grief. The speed of mental recognition of emotional distress is found to be much greater in comparison. Thus suggesting that lonely people have a greater tendency to be more empathetic. So consciously engaging in solitude from time to time can considerably make one more empathetic and socially perceptive.
While engaging in deliberate solitude might not sound very pleasant, it has profound benefits that counter the cons. Solitude, be it mindful or in the form of loneliness, can enhance our self-awareness significantly, making us better equipped at grasping ourselves and the world around us. That makes it a remarkably beautiful experience. 💕
References-
https://aeon.co/essays/how-loneliness-generates-empathy-and-shapes-identity [1] Gollwitzer, A., & Bargh, J. A. (2018). Social psychological skill and its correlates. Social Psychology, 49(2), 88–102.
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