Embracing Solitude

Our various roles and identities help us navigate through life’s journey and form valuable connections with others. However, we can become overly identified with these roles to the extent that we lose ourselves when these roles change. In this session, we look deeply at how and why the ego constructs these identities. By becoming more aware of the transient nature of these identities, we learn to evolve when they no longer serve us. We also begin the journey of finding out who we are without these roles. This is a critical component of embracing our time alone. Music: “Transcendence” by Chris Collins at Indie Music Box

We easily hide behind our routines, habits, addictions, and indulgences. While entertaining and social activities bring us joy, we can easily let them dominate to the point of excess. When we use certain activities to escape the unwanted, eventually we’ll have to face them. Without awareness, our distractions and hurried lives leave us impatient and longing for arousal. We leave little room for reflection and demand for meditation to have a shortcut. We can’t sit still and wonder why our brains excessively process when we leave room for quiet. To help train our brain to focus, this session will introduce a breath practice to aid in concentration. Music: “New Mindfulness” by Chris Collins at Indie Music Box

We all have felt lonely at one time or another. Whether it’s temporary or chronic, the pain of loneliness is a sign for us to do something. We have a choice—we either find communities that want us, or we can open ourselves to being alone. The second choice can actually help us with the first. Once we are comfortable being alone, we’re no longer depending on others to “take our loneliness away.” We allow others to be free to come and go as they please, but this freedom to be is liberating in a relationship. Our writing practice will help us look at our lives through the lens of self-compassion. Music: “Infinite Calm” by Chris Collins at Indie Music Box

Time in solitude gives us time for self-discovery. This is when we become aware of our shadow, and we ask it to point out areas that need reconciliation. Slowly, we chip loose the layers of attachment that have kept us bound over the years. This might take a long time, but we learn to trust ourselves. We no longer fear to take a good look at what keeps us attached so that we can be free from them. It is here we begin to feel our authentic selves emerge. We’ll also integrate the practice of Examen to help us pay attention to our lives as a whole. Music: “Cosmic Harmony” by Chris Collins at Indie Music Box

When we no longer feel the pull of the various advertising and marketing emails, we know we’re on the right road. Solitude allows us to feel more genuine in our response to life because we don’t feel the need to put on a show. Although we still feel the tugs of the false self, we’re no longer letting it call the shots. We also feel less inclined to invite distractions into our day, but if they come, they don’t disrupt our inner solitude. We feel more at peace while alone, and we can take this peace with us when we encounter others. It’s not that we isolate ourselves continually, but we recognize moments in our lives when the frenetic pace of the world saps our energy. We learn when it’s time to retreat into our quiet space in solitude. We develop our personal plan for solitude using some of the methods described in this course. Music: “Magic in 528 Hz” by Chris Collins at Indie Music Box