The magic of solitude

The world is a noisy place. Ringing phones, beeping texts, demanding children, TV-in-your-face gyms, traffic-laden commutes, and crowded walks on city streets. You can't really go anywhere without some form of marketing in your face - even if, in the "age of content" - you may not realize that it is marketing (if it's good, that is). From billboards to your phone, dressing rooms to grocery carts, it can be hard to turn it all off. Have you ever stopped to notice the amount of quiet time that you have? It's probably not a whole lot.

Quiet time is important for our minds to settle on what we really need. Solitude allows us to sit with ourselves and find the best answers to life's variable challenges. With no one else’s opinions, we can really hear ourselves and get to know what we want, what we believe to be true. Doing so can make you a better worker, leader, friend, parent. It's important to find your quiet, even when it seems impossible. Put down the phone, take the dog for a walk, sit on the beach alone or take a drive (turn off the GPS, the phone, the radio). Try a meditation/yoga class (even if it feels weird), cooking (alone) or jumping on a real bike for a spin.

You might be surprised at what you discover when you embrace solitude.