Creative Success Comes From How You Spend Time Alone

How to use solitude to succeed in creativity

Solitude is the key to your creative success.

May sound bizarre, but it’s true.

As Arthus Schopenhauer wisely states:

“A man can be himself only so long as he is alone; and if he does not love solitude, he will not love freedom; for it is only when he is alone that he is really free.”

Now is the time to befriend solitude and get to know yourself on a whole other level of understanding, kindness and compassion.

Here’s how I’m basking in solitude while being the most creative I’ve ever been — now you can too.

Dance like nobody’s watching

Let go and follow your flow! I blast my music every morning (to my neighbour’s discontent), and dance like nobody’s watching.

When it concerns dancing, there is a multitude of benefits! Research shows dancing improves:

• The condition of your heart (I feel my heart healing, that’s for sure!).
• Our balance and spatial awareness (as well as spiritual awareness, I’d say).
• Muscle tone, strength and stamina.
• Psychological and general well-being.
• Confidence and self-esteem (we all need this boost now!).

Considering we can’t go out to a club, dance around your living space and sense the satisfaction and self-love it brings you.

Bask in isolation and smile all the while. Then:

Call loved ones

Although we physically can’t be in people’s company for long, loved ones are only a phone call away. Don’t forget that. When in a relationship, it’s easy to put some friendships to the side; I certainly did. But now I’m making an effort again.

One friend I hadn’t spoken to in a few years appeared back in my life after she took part in one of my yoga classes; she is now on my fourth 21-day meditation course. Rekindling our friendship has participated in the healing of my heartbreak.

Friends and family help me understand my current situation and somewhat take away the pain. You know what they say:

“A problem shared is a problem halved.”

So get in touch with people you may not have had contact with for a while and speak the truth! Now is the time to open up and be yourself.

Although you’re alone and maybe going through tough times, doesn’t mean you need to suffer in silence.

Loved ones are there to listen, advise and even cry with you. When telling a friend over Facetime all the heartbreak going on in my life right now, she burst out crying. I was shocked and touched. Her tears were because she’s so proud of me for healing my heartbreak by writing and publishing a book — those words brought tears to my eyes.

That’s when I realised I could also feel proud of myself. Special people in your life validate your feelings and accomplishments, so use them in this time to heal and bask in your solitude! The creativity for a story, a piece of art will follow…

Then:

Sit still and notice how you feel

Above all, I’ve been sitting with myself and feeling every emotion rise and fall. I’m a feeler. I’m also a believer in acknowledging and not attaching yourself to emotions (yes, I’m a yoga and meditation teacher!).

I guess you could say that’s why I haven’t fallen into some sort of depression considering everything that has been unfolding in the past few weeks. Not to mention, my faith in God has given me hope.

Pray, meditate, breathe — whatever may make you settle into the bliss state of solitude, do it. Embrace it with all the love you have stored within yourself for hard times. I have come to love my presence and find stillness. After my break-up, I quickly came to notice how I hadn’t been alone for a long time. I’m a very independent person and relate on every level with Audrey Hepburn when she said:

“I have to be alone very often. I’d be quite happy if I spent from Saturday night until Monday morning alone in my apartment. That’s how I refuel.”

Take this time as a “refuelling” stage of your life and bask in your solitude!

Lastly and most importantly:

Treat yourself like a friend

My friend set me this ‘goal’ for 2020 after I was so hard on myself last year when moving countries, starting a business and never praising myself for how much I had achieved in a matter of months. I needed to give myself credit because let’s face it:

A lot of us forget to; it’s ordinary in our on-the-go lifestyles.

So I stick by this goal every day and train my brain to speak kind words. Every morning when I teach a yoga class, I take a mantra through the practice. In other words, a phrase or chant. Mantras are robust and work like magic.

Research shows a mantra is a short prayer, spiritual energy that reaches into the state of consciousness within. They strengthen, encourage and motivate me. One of my favourites is:

“I am getting stronger every day”

Mantras, quotes or whatever you want to call them, allow you to bask in solitude. They also evoke a kindness to treat yourself like a friend — of which we should all be doing! When negative thoughts arise sometimes, I think to myself — “I would never talk like this to a friend”, so it’s a good rule to follow when basking in solitude.

And there you have it — how I’m basking in solitude, and you can too include calling loved ones, sitting with feelings, treating yourself like a friend, and dancing like nobody’s watching! I’ve healed my heartbreak in a matter of three weeks (I still cry every day but shh) and now want to share this newfound peace with others.

Thanks for reading and stay blessed. ❤ Buy my short self-help book on how to cope with changing times and check out my daily donation-based online yoga classes.