Solitude
The Facebook generation prides itself on connectedness. This hyper-socializing in two dimensions has its social and personal applications and advantages. Loneliness and alienation can be partially avoided through virtual connection.
The down-side to the social network mentality can be an aversion to developing a routine use of solitude for personal growth. Time alone is essential for personal creativity. The undistracted and concentrated mind can find peace within itself. This can become the bedrock of personal practice for a mindful and compassionate life.
Watching TV, surfing the Web, perusing your iPhone are not uses of solitude. They are distractions from solitude. Intentionally walking alone in a natural or urban setting (without earphones on) is a constructive use of solitude to develop mindfulness. Being present in you environment while alone and silent opens up a world which the device-distracted ignore: A strange land of real, interactive people, noises, smells and sights.
For the novice, I suggest planning a simple circular route from your front door and back. A two-mile route takes about 45 minutes to walk at a moderate pace. Google maps are a great help in planning the route, but carrying a GPS device on the walk is discouraged. Plan the route and rely on your memory to guide you. This will require your attention and heighten your awareness. Repeatedly walking this same route over a few weeks will be a worthwhile exercise in solitude and mindfulness.
There are a few side benefits to this practice. You will build in 45 minutes of aerobic exercise. Errands can be accomplished along the route if you include a commercial district. You will earn an increased sense of belonging to a community within reach of your home. The changes of light and weather will increase your awareness and appreciation of living on a planet with natural cycles and changes.
Experiencing your own environment alone, in solitude, allows you to develop a realistic sense of self. It provides you quality time to get to know yourself better. This is a first step in developing any daily practice for increasing your mindfulness and compassion, the qualities of a progressive human being.
The down-side to the social network mentality can be an aversion to developing a routine use of solitude for personal growth. Time alone is essential for personal creativity. The undistracted and concentrated mind can find peace within itself. This can become the bedrock of personal practice for a mindful and compassionate life. Watching TV, surfing the Web, perusing your iPhone are not uses of solitude. They are distractions from solitude. Intentionally walking alone in a natural or urban setting (without earphones on) is a constructive use of solitude to develop mindfulness. Being present in you environment while alone and silent opens up a world which the device-distracted ignore: A strange land of real, interactive people, noises, smells and sights.
For the novice, I suggest planning a simple circular route from your front door and back. A two-mile route takes about 45 minutes to walk at a moderate pace. Google maps are a great help in planning the route, but carrying a GPS device on the walk is discouraged. Plan the route and rely on your memory to guide you. This will require your attention and heighten your awareness. Repeatedly walking this same route over a few weeks will be a worthwhile exercise in solitude and mindfulness.
There are a few side benefits to this practice. You will build in 45 minutes of aerobic exercise. Errands can be accomplished along the route if you include a commercial district. You will earn an increased sense of belonging to a community within reach of your home. The changes of light and weather will increase your awareness and appreciation of living on a planet with natural cycles and changes.
Experiencing your own environment alone, in solitude, allows you to develop a realistic sense of self. It provides you quality time to get to know yourself better. This is a first step in developing any daily practice for increasing your mindfulness and compassion, the qualities of a progressive human being.
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