Solitude, a different concept from loneliness

Historically, responding to our nature as social animals, we have sought companionship. At first, it seems that this interest in the other had a rather affective motivation: to provide warmth in the support system.

This interest changed; Thus, concepts were born that refer to exchange relationships –quid pro quo– with a more materialist or instrumental basis. In opposition, there is the concept of solitude. A state of loneliness in which the other is not needed and also allows us to develop at different levels.

Currently, the concept of liquid society refers to the fluid and changing state of society, in which uncertainty, due to the dizzying speed of changes, has weakened human ties. In this context, company with a materialistic purpose is predominant and loneliness would be an unwanted circumstance: an evil to eradicate.

The difference between solitude and solitude

In contrast to materialistic company or liquid love, there are two types of loneliness states in the Anglo-Saxon language: the one we know with negative characteristics and those that have positive characteristics, solitude.

The main difference between loneliness and solitude is that this is a sought-after solitudewhich allows us to have moments of relaxation, distraction or insight. In short, with positive consequences. It’s not bad to want to be alone when we need it most.

Despite the negative connotations that loneliness may have, it is necessary. In the frenetic pace of life today, it is not strange that many people decide to spend some time in this type of positive solitude or solitude.

Solitude is necessary and therapeutic in many cases, like syndrome burnout. It goes without saying that a person subjected to chronic stress seeks solitude and enjoys it. However, this search for solitude does not define what loneliness is. solitude.

Incorporate moments of solitude into our daily lives

Furthermore, this concept is characterized because people enjoy incorporating moments of solitude into their daily lives. Sometimes, being accompanied at all times is not positive for development. Human beings have the need and the right to be alone, with the positive consequences of it.

Author Virginia Thomas, expresses Solitude in a Social World, -Solitude in a social world-, that due to different factors, most people have lost their ability to dedicate themselves to themselves and meet their needs, without falling into anxiety. Perhaps, for this reason, now the solitude it is more necessary.

Lack of time or being constantly in company could be factors that limit the natural manifestation of the solitude. Find it or create a space to enjoy solitude improves our emotional system, allows us space for reflection and generate ideas or thoughts that we would not otherwise have.

Solitude promotes contemplation

Solitude fosters a contemplative situation and therefore can be related to the contemplative state of the mindfulnes. Contemplation consists of seeing things as they are, being present and with focused attention. Something that can be difficult when we work under high attentional demand and a tendency to multitask. Even in our free time, we are with the TV, the tablet and the phone screen projecting stimuli to us at the same time.

In 2018, Nguyen, Ryan and Deci showed that solitude has the ability to balance our high and low arousal states; That is, whether the emotion is negative or positive, solitude helps us calm down and regulate ourselves.

Precisely one of the objectives of the practice of full attention or mindfulness is to lower that level of excitement and get us out of a mental return with no apparent end to what worries us. Mindfulness is not only a relaxation technique, but also taking a more relaxed attitude to life. The solitude promotes the setting for its exercise.

One of the main benefits of solitude is that derived from the absence of the intrinsic limitations of the presence of the other. In a way, the person when he is alone is also free. One of the benefits that can bring solitude is creativity, since it seems to find a better fertilized field when there is greater freedom.

A study carried out in 1994 by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi showed that adolescents who are less accustomed to living with loneliness also demonstrate less creativity. As Virginia Thomas expresses, the solitude It is the art and science of solitude. –The art and science of being alone. Whether it is an art or a science, the saying of being alone better than bad company makes more sense when we refer to the concept of solitude .

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