Cynthia Djengue discusses how solitude can be beneficial for personal growth and creativity. She notes that as people pursue holistic lifestyles, it can become harder to connect with others but that periods of solitude allow for self-reflection and discovering one's gifts. Using imagination during solitary time is presented as another advantage, helping to visualize goals and dreams. While loneliness stems from a lack of connection, solitude is a choice that can facilitate connecting with oneself.

1. You are not Alone by Cynthia Djengue
You might be like me, a person who has been a “drifter” or as my
mother told me once, a ‘tumbleweed’. I have moved around a lot,
am not near my family and most of my friends. I have chosen,
whether rationally or by fate, to follow paths that have led me
to deeply challenge myself. It has pushed me to find new
connections wherever I go.
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2. This wasn’t that hard in my youth when I was in college, Another way to use solitude to your advantage is to become
participated in volunteer activities, or could go to any immersed in imagination. Contrary to popular belief,
nearby drinking hole and find some others in a similar sit- the imagination of a child is not stronger or greater,
uation. Yet, as I matured and aged and decided a holistic although some only children (like my daughter) may start
lifestyle was important to me - down to the way I clothed to use their imagination more vehemently at an early age
and bathed my child and what I put in my mouth - finding and thus move on to create great works of imagination as
others to connect with has not been as easy. Sometimes suggested in the book, Solitude - A Return to the Self by
the energy we put into our health and wellness takes us Anthony Storr. Immerse yourself in your dreams, as none
away from the familiar and a period of solitude can be are too small. Rick Hanson, author of Just One Thing
necessary for growth. And, yet, in this solitude we can - Developing a Buddha Brain One Simple Practice at a
find ourselves, our gifts and our purpose. Time, directs readers to develop a dream board, cutting out
pictures of what you want in your life, and then putting
“Solitude is as needful to the imagination as society as dates near obtaining those dreams in your life. And, visualize,
wholesome for the character.” James Russell Lowell “...let your dream live in you. Feel into the wholesome
heart of a dream - how it comes from deep within, how it
Writers, artists, spiritual leaders and perhaps healers is healthy, how it will serve you and others. Give yourself
know the feeling of being alone intimately. In the book, over to your dream. Let your dream be a friend to you.”
“The Artist’s Way” two friends are discussing being writers
and their creations. One says to the other, “I need to set Creativity and imagination are some of the benefits of
my own pace. And that pace is not this city’s. I need to solitude. Solitude and loneliness are quite different. If
take long walks and have great bolts of quiet and solitude. you are lonely you are experiencing an emotion from lack
I need to turn off the phone and turn down most of my of being connected, whereas solitude is a choice towards,
invitations.” There are many holistic mothers who can perhaps, connecting with yourself. There are many per-
relate, yes? Some of you are turning your garden’s soil, sons who may choose to spend a lot of time alone but can
assisting children with homework or their newest musical have excellent relationships with others when they choose
passion. You are delicately delving into the newest raw to connect with them. Yet, as described above, there are
food recipe or carefully combining an essential oil mix advantageous side effects of solitude and it may be a time
you just found on Pinterest. Some of you, and I, are do- for you, fellow mothers, to get more inspired to be who
ing all of that and working for someone else, too. And, yet you are meant to be on this great Earth.
we are asked to put on yet another hat. No wonder our
creative selves want to come out to play. No wonder you, Cynthia Djengue, BA, MSW, CHC lives in Phoenix, AZ and works in healthcare market-
ing. She is a certified Holistic Coach, a Young
and I, want to retreat into solitude. It becomes a place of
Living Oils representative and believes in all things
heaven on Earth. spiritual and holistic. Cynthia most enjoys writing
on spiritual topics and her Facebook business
page can be found at www.facebook.com/heal-
“Solitude is such a potential thing. We hear voices in
inghealthcoach.
solitude, we never hear in the hurry and turmoil of life;
we receive counsels and comfort, we get under no other
condition…” Amelia E. Barr
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