Mindfulness and Solitude

Know the world in yourself. Never look for yourself in the world, for this would be to project your illusions. (Ancient Egyptian Proverb)

People who walk the healing journey know, if we go for the bottle of wine after the workday is over, we don’t open up to our feelings—we drown them instead. Everyone who suffers from addictions or recovers from traumatic experiences has to face these uncomfortable visitors before they can move on to living a more ‘normal’ life. Psychology and therapy can help us bringing these feelings to the surface and work through them, as can spirituality.


Many people have their coping system to deal with their uncomfortable feelings. The screaming match in front of the TV when the favorite team is playing. The wild night out on a date, or a girls-night out; a shopping trip, or binge eating and drinking. People who are willing to work on themselves add meditation, hobbies, yoga or nature walks to the mix and are thus a step nearer to the healing of the underlying problems rather than just escaping from them.


We spiritual folks may be wise or disciplined enough not to escape from our undigested feelings in meaningless activities, yet there is escapism even in our community. It is quite subtle though. Some feel lethargic and paralyzed, and are put off by the perceived hostile real world, while others seek refuge in positive thinking and excessive purposeful doing. Neither is the Way! No, just like we are encouraged to practice meditation in order to mind the endless chatter in our head, we also need to be honest and bold enough to just sit there in solitude of our being and open up to what is bubbling beneath the hood.

I had a wake-up call when I left behind my busy life-style of working in the financial industry while also moon-lighting in the spiritual community. I felt like being on the top of the world in those days, but I also projected what was bothering me inside into workaholics and my upbeat spiritual writing. Now that I am a full-time author and spiritual coach I have plenty of time at my hands and I face solitude. My first instinct was to fill-up my calendar once again to satisfy my ego but then I realized that this period is about opening up to all the stuff that is still hiding beneath the surface. My soul tribe will find me, the clients will come, but for now solitude is just what the doctor orders.

If you want to get anywhere on your spiritual path, face your feelings! Don’t drown out anything. Just sit there and let it come to the surface. Life will come to your rescue and will encourage you to let go of the burdens of the past but you have to face this unpleasant encounter first otherwise you will always find ways to avoid dealing with the wounds of the past.