Living By Yourself

From Flowers To Trees

Spending a lot of time by yourself can be good and bad. Alone time allows you to fully experience your true self without putting up any barriers. This helps you feel free and live life on your terms. You don’t have to worry about someone telling you to wash the dishes, get the groceries or clean the house.

Living by yourself allows you to establish patterns and rituals which help you feel happy and comfortable; all the power lies in your hands! You become accustomed to doing things your way. This feels very rewarding because you become more in tune with yourself; you learn more about what you like and dislike.

But too much time by yourself can also backfire! When someone comes into your life, you may feel like your space is violated and start to dislike their presence. For instance, your kitchen may be picture perfect, but after somebody visits you, things may be arranged differently which suddenly annoys you.

Why does this happen? You’re usually not annoyed by people! But this is the problem with being by yourself for too long of a time; you become enclosed within a bubble. And anyone who is coming into your bubble is contaminating it; you become defensive and territorial!

This can lead to ruined relationships, not because you dislike others, but because you have become rigid and inflexible. Unconsciously, you take out your discomfort onto others for violating your space. But in reality, they are not violating anything; it’s your mind which needs to revert back to accepting the presence of others who enter your space.

After all, friends and family are there to provide support and love. Remind yourself that nothing is more precious than shared love. The love for yourself will always be there, but without others’ love, it can only grow so much. Rather than keeping your bubble solo and immaculate, allow others into it and risk some discomfort.

You grow best in the presence of others: a single flower can wither away while a family tree can last many years to come.

Are you Ready? (This is Defeating Stigma Mindfully)