I was alone in my Solo Together last weekend. And I know I wasn’t truly alone.
For context, I had created an event via Eventbrite, inviting people to do 24 hours solo (at home, in nature, wherever) which would be supported by a pre and post collective call.
While no one officially signed up, I received messages that affirmed the impact of the invitation.
- A busy entrepreneur in the fashion industry saw my post and realized it was exactly what she needed—so she went to the mountains the next day.
- A new dad on parental leave saw it as an opportunity to gather his Vipassana meditation friends for a shared experience.
- Others told me they couldn’t commit to 24 hours but would try a few hours.
- A superyacht captain shared that the older he gets, the more he cherishes his alone time.
Time alone can both entice and intimidate us in equal measure.
As an introvert, I need solitude to recharge—a walk in nature or a long bike ride are my go-to activities. Yet, the solo time I’m talking about, and offering, is different.
It’s about intentionally disconnecting from our usual routines to welcome the unknown. It’s about slowing down, embracing stillness, and finding silence to counteract the habits of rushing, doing, and consuming.
Distractions, Demands, and Dramas
With so many distractions and competing demands on our attention, we can easily lose balance—dragged from one conversation or crisis to the next. We become reactive rather than responding from a place of presence and authenticity.
We may not even consider going solo. Free time is rare, and when we do have it, we understandably want to prioritize socializing, catching up with loved ones, or engaging in familiar comforts.
Even if we do find ourselves alone, we might see it as a negative experience or worry about how others perceive it. Or we might use the time to numb ourselves, avoiding the quiet voice within urging us to make different choices for our mind, body, and soul.
Self-imposed isolation may also bring up memories of forced isolation—like during the pandemic—or past experiences of rejection, abandonment, or feeling like we don’t belong. And while we may crave solitude, logistical challenges, especially for single parents, can make it difficult to prioritize.
Ruthless Compassion
Through Vipassana meditation and vision fasting, I’ve learned that creating intentional, sacred, and ceremonial solitude requires ruthless compassion. When we do it, it becomes a profound gift—to ourselves, each other and the earth that is our home.
This isn’t about escaping; it’s about re-engaging with a deeper knowing.
That’s why I call it Solo Together—because it serves both the individual and the collective. These practices aren’t just about personal growth; they enhance the lives of those we love and lead. (And ultimately it is because we are all one, and never alone).
An intentional solo experience offers an opportunity to reset. We do this by engaging in three phases of change:
Letting go: We disconnect from our day to day. We let go of our normal life including its distractions and obligations.
Being in the unknown: We paradoxically create structure to open to an unstructured period of solitude. To be in the unknown and with wider mystery.
New beginnings: We come back and integrate our insights into our daily life and leadership.
The Benefits of Going Solo
If you’re curious, give it a try. I have a number of solitude practice articles on the blog such as Solo Time (in nature). And I have a resource kit with additional tips if you want to engage with it — just reach out, and I’ll email it to you. I can also support you in the preparation and integration process.
Every solo experience is unique and yet will undoubtedly help you:
- Regain Balance: through stepping away from external noise and reconnecting with your true self.
- Cultivate Clarity: free from distractions, you will hear the whisper of your inner wisdom.
- Strengthen self-leadership: you will see how it strengthens self-regulation, self-awareness, and the confidence to lead from a grounded place.
Will you give it a go?
Notes:
Just reach out to penelope@earthconverse.com for the resource kit/support.
I wasn’t here in my solo but I have been wanting to use this photo somewhere on my blog. “Thru link to peak” by artist Shane Woolridge, on the shore of Lake Whakatipu, Queenstown, Aotearoa/NZ – a place made for beautiful solotogethers.