Resumo de All By Myself - Raksha Bharadia

ALL BYMYSELFCan you be alone with yourself? Moreimportantly, do you like your own company?What are you when you are alone?Some people, when alone simply cease to exist. Inundatedwith knowledge, entrapped in attachments, smothered in work shifts, we arerunning ? physically, psychologically, every moment in our lives. We aresurrounded by people and activity. We sometimes attend to phone calls even inshower! Yes, we have kept up with the world, but have lost touch withourselves. We generously permit solitude to thecreatively disposed but, when the rest express the desire to be alone, webecome suspicious immediately. Is one antisocial, melancholy, depressed, orpeculiar? If not, why the need to be alone? Allcurrent meanings of ?alone? imply a lack of something. To some, solitude meansabandonment. For others, it brings on the pangs of loneliness and insecurity.For still others, it brings to light stuff they have successfully sealed andforgotten ? grief, hopes, desires, fears, and hopelessness. Solitude, then, isjust not unproductive and a waste of time; it becomes uncomfortable too.We flee solitude. We work hard tofight it off. We fill schedules and minds with work, chores, TV, music ?anything. But, solitude is essential. It heals calms, enlightens, refreshes andempowers. Solitude deserves a rightful space in our everyday lives, howeverovercrowded our calendars may be.What really is solitude? It is the state of being alonewithout being lonely - a positive andconstructive state of engagement with oneself. The key to select a time foryourself, when you can think, sing, aloud, scrub the floor or whatever----alone.The benefits It leads to self-examination, forone. We shun life?s chattering distractions and simply notice what is left: ourselves.We learn our deepest feelings, opinions and attitudes. Talents and abilitiessurface, hopes and desires come up. We re-evaluate what is important and whatis not. It is in these quiet, yet deep moments with ourselves, that we face thequestions ?Who am I?? and ?Why am I here?? Itenergizes, heals fatigue and prevents weariness. Solitude brings peace andharmony with oneself and restores energy. According to Peter Suedfield, apsychologist, who has studied solitude, we are living in an age where we arechronically stimulated, both socially and physically. His studies on sensorydeprivation (the ultimate alone time) have shown that, after just one hour in afloatation tank, people show lower blood pressure, higher mental functioning,enhanced creativity and a more positive outlook. It nurtures creativity. Solitudehelps to tap the natural creativity that exists, to someextent in all of us. ?To a mind that is still,? wrote Chuang Tzu, ?the wholeuniverse surrenders.?It promotes well being. Solitudegives us the power to regulate and adjusts our lives. It teaches us fortitudeand the ability to satisfy our own needs. When you are around others, each andevery daily decision is influenced, to some degree, by them ? from therestaurant you go for dinner, to the new haircut you plan on getting. With noone to answer to and no one else?s feeling to take into account, alone time isyour chance to do all things you truly enjoy. It betters relationships. Handlingrelationships involves managing emotions in both us and others. We can be morepatient and understanding with our family if we work out equations withourselves first.Find time for solitude * Start small, with 15 minutes here or there. Use the time towatch the sunrise, sip a cup of tea, or go for a rejuvenating walk in the park.Set an earlier bedtime for your children; let your partner watch his eveningnews while you take off for your mental retreat. Read a book, listen to music,paint your toenails, or sip a cup of coffee.* Go for a long drive by yourselves. Take your favorite CDalong. Take time to visit quiet places, temples or churches, libraries,bookstores, cafes, and seashores.* Meditate. Concentrate on your breathing or get a CD for asession guided meditation. *Treat yourselves to a massage. Put your thoughts, feelingsand lessons into your diary.Nietzsche said, ?Our greatestexperiences are our quietest moments.? Find out for yourselves.

Resumos Relacionados