The Importance of Staying Connected - With Yourself
“Let him who cannot be alone beware of community... Let him who is not in community beware of being alone... Each by itself has profound perils and pitfalls.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together
When was the last time you spent more than 24 hours alone and completely “disconnected” technologically from the world (no cell phone, television, etc.)? While the foundation of the PeerRxMed process is interconnection, wisdom literature across many cultures indicates the necessity of regular time alone in solitude (and often in the natural world) if one is to attain psychological resilience and spiritual depth. Yet such guidance is antithetical to our “always connected” culture.
In fact, being alone without external stimuli can, for many, cause great psychological angst. A study done with college students published in 2014 found that participants were so averse to spending 15 minutes sitting quietly in a room by themselves that many preferred to administer electric shocks to themselves as a distraction, even though they had indicated previously that they would pay money to not be shocked. Fifteen minutes!
This past week I have spent significant amount of time alone, including being disconnected for extended periods of time. This is not the first time I have done this, but it’s been a while. Part of my daily ritual involved pre-dawn writing and meditation followed by an hour of stand-up paddleboarding by myself on a lake at sunrise. It was during these times, more than any other, that I found that I had quieted myself enough to be able to hear what I would consider my “soul’s voice.” And according to that voice, we were “long overdue for a chat.”
As we have become re-acquainted, what I have heard has spanned the continuum from disturbing and annoying to humbling and challenging and finally to empowering and life-giving. Indeed, I have heard some things which will catalyze a refocus and reprioritization of some of my present professional work. Most of all, like reconnecting with a dear friend from your past who knows you “almost too well,” there’s been a depth and richness to our conversation that has been grounding and “heartful.” As I return to work today, I feel like more of my “true self” again and am looking forward to connecting with my PeerRxMed partners to share what I’ve heard.
How about you? In the midst of all the “swirl” of the world, are you carving out some extended, undisturbed time to be sure you’re hearing your “soul’s voice?” If not, what’s keeping you from doing so? In this time of “The Great Reprioritization,” ( Link ), regularly clarifying what is important to you and living from that place is more vital than ever. And that can’t happen without some undistracted space to be able to listen. It may take more than 15 minutes, but the only “shock” will likely be that you find your own soul is much wiser than often given credit for … and hopefully that will prompt you to schedule a regular buddy check with your “original” PeerRxMed buddy!