“All man’s miseries derive from not being able to sit quietly in a room alone” — Blaise Pascal

Modern society has developed some negative associations with the idea of being alone.

When kids misbehave, parents send them to their rooms to sit in silence as a punishment for their bad behavior. Staying at home alone on a Friday or Saturday night is frowned upon. You’d be considered a “loser” for doing so and your friends would ask if you’re okay.

We’ve been wired to believe that solitude is our enemy.

We’ve also confused “being alone” with “being lonely”. But that, of course, is not the case.

Being alone doesn’t necessarily cause loneliness and many people can feel lonely despite being in the constant presence of other people. Author Amy Morin describes it best when she says: “loneliness is about perceiving that no one is there for you. But solitude is about making a choice to be alone with your thoughts.”

The truth is, solitude is necessary for our well-being and potential success.

Every year, Bill Gates takes two “Think Weeks” to spend them alone in a cabin in the woods. He does it to escape the noise, read books, reflect on his progress and engage in deeper creative thought.

About six months after my accident, I took some time off for myself. I flew to Sri Lanka on a solo trip and spent a week on a silent retreat. It was bold and scary and — as an extreme extrovert — I never thought in my entire life that I would one day be committing to a week of silence.

But that experience was eye-opening. It set me on a path of greater self-awareness and gave me a much better idea of where I wanted to take my life. I left the week in a peaceful state of mind, with more clarity and three clear goals that I wanted to accomplish — and I did.

The point I want to make is this: it’s essential for your mental health and personal growth to learn how to spend time alone. And perhaps the greatest benefit to solitude is that it gives you a chance to learn more about yourself.