“The monotony and solitude of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind.”
Albert Einstein
Beyond the Quote (73/365)
In lieu of recent events, it seems as though many of us are going to be experiencing more monotony and solitude than we otherwise might have expected or wanted. And while, yes, the unknowns associated with the Coronavirus (COVID-19) are certainly nerve-wracking and have been demanding our full attention, if you find yourself in a position of isolation or solitude—rather than looking at it as a prison from exploring the outside world, why not try looking at it as an opportunity to explore the depths of your inside world?
Maybe, granted that you and your family are safe, some monotony and solitude could do you some real good? Maybe we could use this time to slow down, reflect and relax, look around the walls of our home and just spend some quality time? Maybe we could pick up and begin some of those books that we keep putting off? Maybe we could start that journal or blog or website that we’ve been quietly thinking about starting? Maybe we could take up an online course and actually finish it all the way through? Maybe we could give our house that good, deep clean that it has been craving? Maybe we could get back to our art/ our form of expression that got put on the back burner? Maybe we could finally start that side hustle that we’ve been wanting to start? As Albert Einstein reminds us, monotony and solitude stimulates the creative mind. Don’t just suppress or avoid the creative mind with distractions and passive entertainment. Embrace the space that’s given.
One thing that we have certainly gotten better and better at is avoiding boredom. With the invention of the smart phone and access to the internet 24/7/365, boredom is always avoidable if we want it to be. But, my instinct is that we need more boredom. We need more time without the distractions. Not only is that how we produce our best work, but that’s the only way we ever go from being an “amateur” to turning “pro.” When it comes to being an amateur, Steven Pressfield elaborates and explains, “The amateur has a long list of fears. Near the top are two: Solitude and silence. The amateur fears solitude and silence because she needs to avoid, at all costs, the voice inside her head that would point her toward her calling and her destiny. So she seeks distraction. The amateur prizes shallowness and shuns depth. The culture of Twitter and Facebook is paradise for the amateur.” The professional, however, embraces the quiet, confronts the monkey mind, practices deliberately, and focuses for longer periods of time. And if long periods of quiet time come raining down on you? …Maybe this could be your moment to begin.
Of course, it’s hard to focus on anything in the midst of a rapidly changing landscape when there are new developments being broadcasted every hour. And of course, we want to stay informed so that we can be safe, proactive, and ahead of this thing as best we can. But, if you find yourself in a position of solitude—whether from Coronavirus or from a different circumstance in life—try looking for the silver lining. How can chunks of solitude best be used in your particular situation? What might you start? How might you embrace your boredom? Make a list of all the things that you “never have time to do” and start prioritizing what’s going to get your undivided attention first. This could very well be the opportunity that you’ve been waiting for. I hope everybody stays healthy and safe and my thoughts and prayers go out to all those who have been affected. Full disclosure: As I write this, I’m also hoping things get back to normal ASAP. But until then, in addition to washing my hands and using all of the willpower in my body to not touch my face, this is what you’ll find me doing.
Don't Let the Motivation Stop There...!
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