Solitude is often misunderstood as loneliness, but it's so much more than that. In solitude, you're not actually lonely. You're with the most interesting person you know: yourself.
The best way to get to know someone is to have a conversation with them in a quiet place, talking about their hopes, dreams, and what makes them who they are. It would be quite rude to scroll on your phone, text a friend, or watch videos during such a conversation. Yet we rarely give ourselves this same courtesy.
When by ourselves, we flood ourselves with stimuli - short videos, social media, and endless notifications. These distractions consume hours of our time, leading nowhere productive. Ironically, the more we try to connect with the outside world, the more we lose touch with the world inside.
Great work requires sustained focus and deep thought, both of which are nearly impossible to attain in a state of perpetual distraction. Try doing nothing for a few seconds right now; you’ll feel restless. But, given enough time, your thoughts will begin to wander, connect, and innovate in unexpected ways.
It’s more important now than ever to intentionally create moments of solitude. In a world that never seems to stop talking, don't be afraid to listen to the silence. It's in the quiet moments that we truly hear ourselves.