Scholar-Journalist of the Week: ‘Finding solace in solitude’

Pallvi, who is pursuing her MBA from Apeejay Institute of Management & Engineering Technical Campus in Jalandhar, describes herself as a kind-hearted person. Having a knack for trying new things, Pallvi leaves no chance to have an adventurous experience. And that’s why she also has a list of hobbies, which she enjoys to pursue, such as dancing, painting, reading, crocheting, journaling, and scrapbooking, to name a few. 

The free-spirited personality loves the idea of solitude and that’s what she also described in her recent article Finding solace in solitude. She wrote, “There’s a type of freedom that lives in a space of solitude. The mind is free to roam without seeking permission, and at that moment, you find yourself more available and readily able to choose yourself without feeling guilty or selfish.”  

It was two years back when she realised the importance of solitude and from her point of view, “Solace is that friend, who is needed for lifetime, so that even when you have no physical being around you, you will not feel lonely.”  Read edited excerpts of the interview from this week’s Apeejay Scholar-Journalist series: 

Why did you write an article on this topic?

This topic was very personal to me, and when I realised the importance of it, I thought there might be a lot of people who also need to realise the same. 

In your article you have mentioned that sometimes one has to be alone to discover what truly matters. But many are often scared to be alone. How to deal with this dilemma?

Every person is scared to be alone, be it in their sadness or happiness. We want people around us all the time. That is why we get dependent on people;  their validation and presence are the only things that matter. But when you take a step out of your boundaries that you created for yourself, you’ll realise there’s another world waiting for you. There is no hard and fast rule to deal with this dilemma. You just have to believe in yourself because you yourself don’t know what kind of power you are holding inside. 

Read This: Finding solace in solitude

So, what are the benefits of falling in love with one’s own company?

When you learn to love your own company, you no longer need people to validate your feelings or your emotions. You set your boundaries straight, you have that confidence which will reflect in your aura. Also, a person who is not afraid to be alone is a kind of person people get attracted towards. And the more you spend time with yourself, the more you’ll develop a better understanding of who you are and what your purpose is.

In a different context, do you like to read? What kind of books do you prefer?

Yes, I love reading, and I prefer books that give me the ability to think differently. I believe that I want to read books not because they’ll teach me something or it is a good hobby, but because I will get the ability to think from different perspectives. Some of my favourite books are The Alchemist, Psychology of Money, It Ends With Us, Her, Men are from Mars Women are from Venus. 

Any upcoming articles you are working on? 

I keep writing articles whenever I get free time. 

Your advice on how to find solace

Be daring and go out alone, be it dining, a road trip, any exhibition, or anything that you love. Give it a shot once and when you’ll know that yes you can survive alone too, that will be your first step towards finding solace in solitude.