In our last post, we talked about what solitude is, and now we will talk about the benefits of solitude. But what does science say about it? Many thinkers, writers, and scientists have valued solitude as a space to think, to create, and to listen to their own inner life.
Science talks about the benefits of solitude
The scientific journal Nature has reported on brain research about rest. A resting, “do nothing” brain is far from idle: it stays active, and researchers are exploring how this activity may help us process and integrate our experiences.
According to Ester Buchholz, a psychologist and psychoanalyst and the author of The Call of Solitude, solitude is an important and normal part of human existence, and it is also essential for creative work.
Solitude has been associated with building our identity. It can help people become more self-reliant and learn to know themselves better.
Solitude can also help people avoid burnout, because they can rediscover their natural rhythms and arrange their lives accordingly. It can help with problem-solving. It is widely recognized that it is often useful to get away from everything to think things through.
However, there is a catch to all of this. Researchers who study solitude point out that it tends to be beneficial only under certain conditions: when it is voluntary, when a person can regulate their emotions effectively, when they can join a social group whenever they wish, and when they keep positive relationships outside of the time alone. When these conditions are not met, solitude can be harmful.
The difference between solitude as rejuvenation and solitude as suffering is the quality of self-reflection one can generate while in it and the ability to return to social groups when one wants to.
Solitude is not the same as isolation or loneliness. If you find yourself withdrawing from people because you feel sad, hopeless, or afraid, or if time alone leaves you feeling worse, reach out to someone you trust and consider talking with a professional.
Solitude and God
Here I want to speak of solitude not only as a psychological skill but as a spiritual discipline, because I am convinced that solitude finds its deepest meaning in God. Psychology often studies solitude without asking about its spiritual dimension.
I believe solitude is part of the Creator’s plan, an invitation to connect with Him and to worship Him, and to know and be known.
So solitude is not only a psychological theory or exercise. It is part of the journey of a man or a woman toward the Creator. In the words of Augustine’s Confessions, God has made us for Himself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in Him.
He was suggesting that part of the restlessness people feel may be a longing for God. For these reasons, we believe that solitude is not just a form of loneliness, but a spiritual discipline to connect with the Living God.
The benefits of solitude in our life
This is why we seek solitude by ourselves, even when we do not know that it could benefit our relationship with God. We try to escape from the daily noise, the rush, the crowded places, and the places with a lot of pollution to find “peace and refreshment.”
Now, imagine what could happen if you dedicate that time to reconnecting with God. If you dedicate time to building a solid foundation for your relationship with Him, it can make a big difference, not only in your being, but in the way you feel God in your life. It can help you draw closer to Him than ever before.
Solitude is a wonderful gift God has set aside for us, so that we can reconnect with Him, with ourselves, and with others.
Do you save some time during your day to be in solitude? If you do, what would you say is the most important thing that has come to you while you were alone with God? God bless you.
Would you like to talk with a professional? Call (407) 559-7093 (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern) or find professional help here. For general questions that are not an emergency, write to drduany@zodugroup.com. Please do not send health information by email.
If you are in crisis or thinking about hurting yourself, do not wait. Call or text 988 (988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, 24 hours a day, free and confidential). If there is immediate danger, call 911.
This article is for education only. It does not offer diagnosis or personal advice, does not replace evaluation or treatment by a health professional, and reading it or writing to us through this site does not create a therapeutic or pastoral counseling relationship. This site is not an emergency service and is not monitored continuously: do not send health information through comments or public forms. The author is a licensed psychotherapist and pastor, and is part of ZODU.
Sources
- Smith, K. Neuroscience: Idle minds. Nature (link in the text; the article was not reopened for this revision).
- Buchholz, E. S. The Call of Solitude: Alonetime in a World of Attachment.
- Augustine, Confessions, Book 1.
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