The magic of solitude

The Magic of Solitude
By: Brian Tracy

The greatest men and women of all ages have practiced solitude
regularly. They learned how to use silence to still their minds and tap
into their superconscious powers for answers to their questions.

In this newsletter, you learn how you can apply this wonderful technique immediately to improve the quality of your inner and outer life.

The Magic of Solitude
Your feelings, your emotions, are the access point to your inner powers of mind. The most important part in the process of getting in touch with your feelings is to begin to practice solitude on a regular basis.
Solitude is the most powerful activity in which you can engage. Men and women who practice it correctly and on a regular basis never fail to be amazed at the difference it makes in their lives.

Most people have never practiced solitude. Most people have never sat
down quietly by themselves for any period of time in their entire lives.
Most people are so busy being busy, doing something-even watching
television-that it's highly unusual for them to simply sit, deliberately, and do nothing. But as Catherine Ponder points out, "Men and women begin to become great when they begin to take time quietly by themselves, when they begin to practice solitude." And here's the method
you can use.

To get the full benefit of your periods of solitude, you must sit
quietly for at least 30 to 60 minutes at a time. If you haven't done it
before, it will take the first 25 minutes or so for you to stop
fidgeting and moving around. You'll almost have to hold yourself
physically in your seat. You'll have an almost irresistible desire to get up and do something. But you must persist.

Solitude requires that you sit quietly, perfectly still, back and head
erect, eyes open, without cigarettes, candy, writing materials, music or
any interruptions whatsoever for at least 30 minutes. An hour is better.

Become completely relaxed, and breathe deeply. Just let your mind flow.
Don't deliberately try to think about anything. The harder you "don't
try," the more powerfully it works. After 20 or 25 minutes, you'll begin
to feel deeply relaxed. You'll begin to experience a flow of energy
coming into your mind and body.

You'll have a tremendous sense of well-being. At this point, you'll be
ready to get the full benefit of these moments of contemplation.

The River of Ideas
The incredible thing about solitude is that if it is done correctly, it
works just about 100 percent of the time. While you're sitting there, a
stream, a river, of ideas will flow through your mind. You'll think
about countless subjects in an uncontrolled stream of consciousness.
Your job is just to relax and listen to your inner voice.

At a certain stage during your period of solitude, the answers to the
most pressing difficulties facing you will emerge quietly and clearly,
like a boat putting gently to the side of a lake. The answer that you
seek will come to you so clearly and it will feel so perfect that you'll
experience a deep sense of gratitude and contentment.

Trusting Yourself
When you emerge from this period of quiet, you must do exactly what has come to you. It may involve dealing with a human situation. It may involve starting something or quitting something. Whatever it is, when you follow the guidance that you received in solitude, it will turn out to be exactly the right thing to do. Everything will be OK. And it will
usually work out far better than you could have imagined. Just try it
and see.

You must learn to trust yourself. You must develop the habit of
listening to yourself and then acting on the guidance you receive.

Action Exercises
Here are three steps you can take immediately to put these ideas into
action.

First, select a specific time and place to sit quietly and practice one
full hour of solitude. Don't put it off.

Second, take small periods of silence and solitude during the day,
especially when you feel overwhelmed with problems or responsibilities.

Third, take action immediately on the ideas and insights you receive
while in solitude. One good idea can save you months and years of hard
work. The key is trust.

Edited by: Lawyer Asad