Spend More Time with Yourself
How much time do you spend with yourself? Have you ever thought about it? Try this. Make a list of your day tomorrow and account for every hour. By doing so, you can really pay attention to what you do with your time daily. You will recognize what keeps you engaged from the time you wake up, to the time you go to sleep. At the end of the day, check to see how much time you spent alone with yourself, without being entertained by other people, television, social media, your cell phone or other distractions. This exercise is for you to see how much time you spend with yourself, without any distractions.
Are you comfortable being all alone when no one is around? And if you’re not comfortable with yourself or you’re bored with yourself, you should ask why that is so. Do you enjoy the quiet and solitary moments without feeling the need to call someone on your cell phone or check social media, watch tv, play music, etc.? Have you ever asked yourself these questions?
Every day throughout our modern lives, we are bombarded by an atmosphere that is constantly seeking our attention to sell us something or prepare us for their benefit. If you don’t pay attention to what you spend your time on, you might be living your entire life just responding to external stimuli instead of really living your own determined life.
There are many benefits to being alone while not feeling lonely. If you can enjoy more time with yourself without distractions, your self-esteem will increase. If you can enjoy the peaceful quiet moments when no one is around, you will be less dependent on others for your psychological well-being. You will build mental strength and you will certainly save a lot more money. Solitary time will increase your productivity and might even increase your creativity. This quiet time will also give you a break from the world and present the opportunity to plan your future. And most importantly, solitude will help you get to know yourself!
I encourage you to spend more time with yourself, by yourself. Spend more time meditating, relaxing, and enjoying nature. Sit in a quiet garden, near a waterfall, on a beach (just watching the waves), or go to the mountainside (just enjoy the view and take it all in). Look at the stars at night. Go for a walk or a jog. Paint, make pottery, or plant a garden. All of these are enjoyable ways to be by yourself!
In all these experiences, just enjoy the experience and don’t try to be perfect. Let the activities happen naturally with or without your input. Do this more often and you will enjoy a peaceful state. You will love it, and when you start loving it, you will start loving yourself as you are. Your blood pressure will be reduced and this will cause your stress to be reduced. Don't waste too much time on social media, or on your cell phone. Don’t spend too much time trying to impress other people.
"Spend more time by yourself, impressing yourself. You are already impressive.”
As I had mentioned before, people spend a lot of time that they don't have to earn money they don't really need, to buy things that they really don't want, or to impress people they don't like. Don’t be one of these people. Be the one who is happy by himself or herself even when no one is around. Then, you will see that it is easier to be happy among people, while never being dependent on them for your own happiness. When you get there, no one can take your happiness away, because you’re not dependent on them for your happiness. All you really need to be happy is you. Change your lifestyle. Just be your happy self.
Om ShantiH ShantiH ShantiH.
-Sri Rajaji