Word for being happy alone

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Are you currently single and feeling down about it? Or maybe you’re considering the idea of being alone, but worry that it will be a lonely or unfulfilling experience. Rest assured that you are not alone in your thoughts! Many people have found joy and contentment in the solo life, and there is a plethora of inspiring quotes that confirm the possibility of being happy alone.

Whether you’ve already decided to embrace your independence or seeking encouragement in your loneliness, this collection of 90 inspirational quotes on being happy alone is bound to uplift your spirits and provide you with the motivation to live life to the fullest.

It’s time to open your mind to the wonderful possibilities that the solo life can offer, and embark on a journey towards discovering the happiness and fulfillment that can be found in being alone!

Can you be happy alone?

Yes, it is absolutely possible to be happy alone! While being alone can feel lonely at times, it can also be a great time for personal growth, self-discovery, and finding inner peace. A healthy relationship can add to your happiness but it’s not an integral part of it.

Spending time alone allows you to explore your passions, find things that spark your interest without an external influence from another person. You get to learn more about yourself, accept yourself just as you are, and find the simple things in life that make you happy.

Contrary to common belief, being alone doesn’t necessarily mean being lonely.

See it as an opportunity to reflect on your life, set goals for the future, learn to trust yourself on a deeper level, and cultivate a stronger sense of independence. You can still have a rich social life, spend time with your lovely friends and family, but also value your alone time as a way to recharge and reconnect with yourself.

It’s important to remember that happiness ultimately comes from within, and there are many fulfilling activities and hobbies that can be enjoyed solo, such as reading, writing, hiking, meditation, and so many more! Whether you’re currently alone or thinking about leaving a bad relationship, know that you have the power to create your own happiness and find fulfillment in your own unique way.

Most relatable quotes on being happy alone

Many successful and influential individuals throughout history have embraced the solo life and have found immense joy and satisfaction in doing so. Which means, if you’re feeling sad about being alone, draw comfort from knowing that you’re in good company!

Read these words carefully and let them encourage you to enjoy your alone time instead of feeling blue.

These are the best relatable quotes about being happy alone:

1. The best part about being alone is that you really don’t have to answer to anybody. You do what you want. – Justin Timberlake

2. Being single used to mean that nobody wanted you. Now it means you’re pretty sexy and you’re taking your time deciding how you want your life to be and who you want to spend it with. – Carrie Bradshaw

3. It is better to be unhappy alone than unhappy with someone. – Marilyn Monroe

4. Alone time is when I distance myself from the voices of the world so I can hear my own. – Oprah Winfrey

5. Solitude is the soil in which genius is planted, creativity grows, and legends bloom; faith in oneself is the rain that cultivates a hero to endure the storm, and bare the genesis of a new world, a new forest. – Mike Norton

6. The capacity to be alone is the capacity to love. It may look paradoxical to you, but it’s not. It is an existential truth: only those people who are capable of being alone are capable of love, of sharing, of going into the deepest core of another person – without possessing the other, without becoming dependent on the other, without reducing the other to a thing, and without becoming addicted to the other. – Osho

7. I don’t need a man to rectify my existence. The most profound relationship we’ll ever have is the one with ourselves. – Shirley MacLaine

8. Single is no longer a lack of options – but a choice. A choice to refuse to let your life be defined by your relationship status but to live every day Happily and let your Ever After work itself out. – Mandy Hale

9. It was the first honest emotional connection I’d had in a while. So I immediately panicked and had to leave. – Candace Bushnell

10. When you are feeling sad and lonely because you are single, remember that there are a lot of people stuck in bad relationships who wish they could be in your shoes. – Pamela Cummins

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Quotes on being happy with your own company

Being alone is nothing to be sad about. Use it as an opportunity to further connect with your inner self and uncover who you want to be as a person, besides being someone else’s significant other.

By finding ways to enjoy life alone and discovering what brings you happiness, you may even notice that being alone is something that makes your days more meaningful.

Let these quotes inspire your inner confidence to enjoy your own company!

11. You cannot be lonely if you like the person you’re alone with. – Wayne Dyer

12. When we cannot bear to be alone, it means we do not properly value the only companion we will have from birth to death – ourselves. – Eda LeShan

13. The most powerful relationship you will ever have is the relationship with yourself. It is in this relationship that you set the standard for all others. – Steve Maraboli

14. Being with no one is better than being with the wrong one. Sometimes those who fly solo have the strongest wings. – Nitya Prakash

15. If you don’t love yourself, you’ll always be chasing after people who don’t love you either. – Mandy Hale

16. Being single doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means that you’re strong enough to wait for what you deserve. – Niall Horan

17. Until you are happy with who you are, you will never be happy with what you have. – Zig Ziglar

18. I don’t believe I shall ever marry; I’m happy as I am, and love my liberty too well to be in any hurry to give it up for any mortal man. – Louisa May Alcott

19. There are some places in life where you can only go alone. Embrace the beauty of your solo journey. – Mandy Hale

20. If you’re not happy single you won’t be happy married, happiness comes from within not from women or men. – Gugu Mofokeng

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Learn to be happy alone quotes

Quotes on learning to be happy alone can be your source of inspiration whenever you feel lonely, as they remind you that happiness is something you can find within yourself. They will encourage you to embrace your individuality, practice self-love, and appreciate your unique qualities.

Let these inspiring quotes encourage you to at least try to be happy alone!

21. The greatest thing in the world is to know how to belong to oneself. – Michel de Montaigne

22. A busy, vibrant, goal-oriented woman is so much more attractive than a woman who waits around for a man to validate her existence. – Mandy Hale

23. I think it’s very healthy to spend time alone. You need to know how to be alone and not be defined by another person. – Oscar Wilde

24. Loneliness adds beauty to life. It puts a special burn on sunsets and makes night air smell better. – Henry Rollins

25. In order to be open to creativity, one must have the capacity for constructive use of solitude. One must overcome the fear of being alone. – Rollo May

26. Single is not a status, it’s a word that describes a person who is strong enough to live and enjoy life without depending on others. – Unknown

27. The strongest actions for a woman is to love herself, be herself and shine amongst those who never believed she could. – Unknown

28. Living alone makes it harder to find someone to blame. – Mason Cooley

29. The single relationship that is truly central and crucial in a life is the relationship to the self. – Jo Coudert

30. Being alone has a power that very few people can handle. It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are. – E.E. Cummings

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Quotes about spending time alone

Spending time alone is not a burden, but a gift that you can give to yourself. It’s an opportunity to do whatever you want without taking into consideration anyone else’s desires.

Let these quotes remind you that you are a wonderful person, inside and out, and help you appreciate the beauty of your own company. You might realize that being alone allows you to be more creative, productive, and inspired!

31. If you make friends with yourself you will never be alone. – Maxwell Maltz

32. I’ve never been lonely. I like myself. I’m the best form of entertainment I have. Let’s drink more wine! – Charles Bukowski

33. The more powerful and original a mind, the more it will incline towards the religion of solitude. – Aldous Huxley

34. I am my own muse. I am the subject I know best. The subject I want to know better. – Frida Kahlo

35. Be able to be alone. Lose not the advantage of solitude, and the society of thyself. – Thomas Browne

36. All men’s miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone. – Blaise Pascal

37. It’s beautiful to be alone. To be alone does not mean to be lonely. it means the mind is not influenced and contaminated by society. – Jiddu Krishnamurti

38. When everything is lonely I can be my best friend. – Conor Oberst

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Quotes that prove alone life is happy life

When you’re alone, you have the freedom to dance around your living room like nobody’s watching. And a solo movie night means you get to choose the film, the snacks, and the volume!

There is plenty of benefits to living alone, other than just being able to clear your head and relax. Make the most of your happy alone time as there is no guarantee you are going to be alone forever!

39. I restore myself when I’m alone. – Marilyn Monroe

40. Some people are happily single. Some are unhappily married. – Mokokoma Mokhonoana

41. Aloneness and all-oneness is our authentic nature. We are always alone and all-one. We came into this planet alone and all-one. We will leave alone and all-one. – Premlatha Rajkumar

42. We read to know we’re not alone. – William Nicholson

43. You can be happy in a relationship, but you don’t need a relationship to be happy. – Unknown

44. I would rather be a beggar and single than a queen and married. – Elizabeth I

45. Happiness is not something you can postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present. – Jim Rohn

46. Look at the sky. We are not alone. The whole universe is friendly to us and conspires only to give the best to those who dream and work. – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

47. Some people are severely lonely, all they can do is accept the single life as an example of being free and happy. – Anthony Liccione

48. You only grow when you are alone. – Paul Newman

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49. We often are alone without feeling lonely and feel lonely when we are not alone, as when we are in a crowd of strangers or at a party of people we do not know. – Dalai Lama

50. Loneliness is designed to help you discover who you are… and to stop looking outside yourself for your worth. – Mandy Hale

51. It is far better to be alone, than to be in bad company. – George Washington

52. I’m all alone, but I’m not lonely. – Haruki Murakami

53. Being single doesn’t mean you’re not capable of finding love. It means you’re strong enough to wait for it. – Unknown

54. The time you feel lonely is the time you most need to be by yourself. – Douglas Coupland

55. Loneliness is the poverty of self; solitude is the richness of self. – May Sarton

56. If you are lonely when you’re alone, you are in bad company. – Jean-Paul Sartre

57. You can’t stay locked in your room and expect either you to find love or love to find you. – Michael Bassey Johnson

Encouraging quotes when you feel alone

58. Don’t let society fool you into believing that if you don’t have a girlfriend or boyfriend then you’re destined for a life of misery. The Dalai Lama has been single for the last 80 years and he is one of the happiest people on earth. Stop searching for happiness in places outside of yourself, and start finding it where it has always been: within you. – Miya Yamanouchi

59. We’re born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we’re not alone. – Orson Welles

60. Singleness isn’t an excuse to take a back seat on life but an opportunity to wholeheartedly pursue your own purpose. – Michael Todd

61. The day you realize you don’t need a relationship to be happy is the day you will be strong enough to have a relationship. Don’t base your happiness on anyone but yourself. – Unknown

62. You don’t need a relationship to make yourself happy. You need to make yourself happy first. Love will always find a way, when you least expect it. – Debra Pry

63. I am stronger than depression and I am braver than loneliness and nothing will ever exhaust me. – Elizabeth Gilbert

64. Don’t let ignorance blind you. Open your eyes, heart and your mind. And if you’re feeling alone, know that the world can be a lonely place, but it would be lonelier without you in it. – Hayley Williams

65. Being brave enough to be alone frees you up to invite people into your life because you want them and not because you need them. – Mandy Hale

66. I’m having fun. I’m being myself. I’m doing what I love. That’s all that matters. – James Charles

67. ‘Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. – Alfred Lord Tennyson

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Quotes on being alone and sad

68. When you are lonely for a while don’t get restless, if you had born alone, you are going to die alone then for sometime you can certainly live alone. – Amit Kalantri

69. That feeling you get when you want to tell some one you love them, and there is no one there. – Melody Carstairs

70. There were the endless birthday nights and New Year’s Eves of just you in your bed and no one else. There was the welling up at weddings, the glittery eye-prick, when all the couples would get up to dance. Sometimes it felt like your heart was crazed with cracks like your grandmother’s old saucers. Sometimes the sight of a Saturday afternoon couple laughing in a park would splinter it completely. – Nikki Gemmell

71. When you’re away, I’m restless, lonely, Wretched, bored, dejected; only here’s the rub, my darling dear, I feel the same when you’re near. – Samuel Hoffenstein

72. Being single is like being an artist, not because creating a functional single life is an art form, but because it requires the same close attention to one’s singular needs, as well as the will and focus to fulfill them. Just as the artist arranges her life around her creativity, sacrificing conventional comforts and even social acceptance, sleeping and eating according to her own rhythms, so that her talent thrives above all else, nurtured the way a child might be, so a single person has to think hard to decipher what makes her happiest and most fulfilled. – Kate Bolick

73. The trouble is not that I am single and likely to stay single, but that I am lonely and likely to stay lonely. – Charlotte Brontë

74. I was free. And that is exactly why it was so horrifying. – Abhaidev

75. “You’ll meet someone soon. No one knows what’s round the corner.” How many corners, because I feel like I’ve turned them all. I meet people all the time. It never works out. I don’t know why. – Carrie Adams

Quotes on being alone and strong

76. Being single is not a curse, it’s an opportunity to live life on your own terms and not apologize. – Mandy Hale

77. Personally, I’d rather grow old alone than in the company of anyone I’ve met so far. I don’t experience myself as lonely, incomplete, or unfulfilled, but I don’t talk about that much. It seems to piss people off – especially men. – Sue Grafton

78. Alone had always felt like an actual place to me, as if it weren’t a state of being, but rather a room where I could retreat to be who I really was. – Cheryl Strayed

79. As I get older I’m more and more comfortable being alone. – Sienna Miller

80. Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. – Lao Tzu

81. What women are concerned in is developing their own individuality, and hence they refuse to call any man master, be he husband or spiritual guide. Personal freedom is more precious to them than the protection of the best men. The women they envy are not those who are simply wives and mothers, but those who by honest intelligent work have attained distinction in any line of effort, and whose creed has been self-reliance. – Neith Boyce

82. You don’t walk away to prove your worth. You walk away because you allowed someone else to dictate your value and you found yourself believing it. – Shannon L. Alder

83. Maybe part of find what you wanted was recognizing what you didn’t want. Maybe there was hope for me yet. – Claire Cook

84. To live alone is the fate of all great souls. – Arthur Schopenhauer

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Quotes on being alone and happy

85. Hope for love, pray for love, wish for love, dream for love… but don’t put your life on hold waiting for love. – Mandy Hale

86. Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions. – Dalai Lama

87. I’m very happy alone. – Octavia E. Butler

88. I refuse to settle… it would be nice to find a partner, but I’d much rather remain single than settle for someone that’s undeserving. – Evette Dionne

89. The fact that someone else loves you doesn’t rescue you from the project of loving yourself. – Sahaj Kohli

90. Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present. – Jim Rohn

Final thoughts on being happy alone

Finding happiness within yourself is a journey you have to go through alone, but it doesn’t mean you can’t use support from other people and resources. Let these 90 inspirational quotes on being happy alone serve as a reminder that you’re not the only one navigating this path.

With the wisdom of philosophers, poets, and modern-day thought leaders, you can find encouragement, inspiration, and positive affirmations that will help you along the way. By embracing the perspectives and insights shared in these quotes, you can learn to enjoy the company of the one person who will always be there for you – you!

In today’s world, we are constantly surrounded by other people.

We often feel like we need to be with a group of friends to be happy.

But what happens when you find yourself alone?

This is why the ability to be content with yourself and your own company is a key life skill.

It can help you avoid making bad decisions in life, as well as keep you from feeling lonely when you need it the most.

This article will go over 101+ happy being alone quotes to help you find contentment in solitude.

Let’s get started!

Being Alone Is Good Quotes

Being alone Is good quote

“It’s far better to be unhappy alone than unhappy with someone — so far.” — Marilyn Monroe

“What a lovely surprise to finally discover how unlonely being alone can be.” — Ellen Burstyn 

“I live in that solitude which is painful in youth, but delicious in the years of maturity” — Albert Einstein

“Sometimes, you find yourself in the middle of nowhere, and sometimes, in the middle of nowhere you find yourself.” — Unknown

“Standing alone doesn’t mean I am alone. It means I am strong enough to handle things all by myself.” — Unknown

”Associate yourself with people of good quality, for it is better to be alone than in bad company.” –— Booker T. Washington

”I used to think that the worst thing in life was to end up all alone. It’s not. The worst thing in life is ending up with people who make you feel all alone.” — Robin Williams

“The thought of being on my own really terrified me. But then I realized being alone is really a cleansing thing.” —  Lindsey Buckingham

Never search your happiness in others, it will make you feel alone. Search it in yourself, you will feel happy even when you are left alone. — Unknown

“Loneliness expresses the pain of being alone and solitude expresses the glory of being alone.” — Paul Tillich

“Your life will get better when you realize it’s better to be alone than to chase people who don’t really care about you.” — Unknown

“Being alone has a power that very few people can handle.” — Steven Aitchison

“Sometimes, you just need a break. In a beautiful place. Alone. To figure everything out.” — Unknown

“Associate with noblest people you can find; read the best books; live with the mighty. But learn to be happy alone. Rely upon your own energies, and so not wait for, or depend on other people.” — Thomas Davidson

“No one help you in our difficult times. Nowadays remember that we should start learning how to fight alone.” — Unknown

”Nothing else so destroys the power to stand alone as the habit of leaning upon others. If you lean, you will never be strong or original. Stand alone or bury your ambition to be somebody in the world.” — Orison Swett Marden

“Once you start loving your own presence, you stop chasing people in your life.” — Unknown

“I would rather stand alone in the light of truth than in the crowd filled with error.” — Adrian Rogers

“Standing alone doesn’t mean I am alone. It means I’m strong enough to handle things all by myself.” — Unknown

”If you wanted to do something absolutely honest, something true, it always turned out to be a thing that had to be done alone.”  — Richard Yates

”People who do a job that claims to be creative have to be alone to recharge their batteries. You can’t live 24 hours a day in the spotlight and remain creative. For people like me, solitude is a victory.”  — Karl Lagerfeld

“Don’t fear walking alone. Fear walking in wrong direction.” — Garima Soni

”If you are never alone, you cannot know yourself.”  — Paulo Coelho

“Sometimes you need to sit lonely on the floor in a quiet room in order to hear your own voice and not let it drown in the noise of others.” — Charlotte Eriksson

Being Alone And Single Quotes

Being alone and single quote

“Single is no longer a lack of options – but a choice. A choice to refuse to let your relationship status define your life but to live every day Happily and let your Ever After work itself out.” — Mandy Hale

“Being single is better than being in a relationship with someone who fills your heart with doubt.” — Unknown

“Being single used to mean that nobody wanted you. Now it means you’re pretty sexy and you’re taking your time deciding how you want your life to be and who you want to spend it with.” — Carrie Bradshaw

“Being single doesn’t make you weak, it means that you are strong enough to be on your own.” — Xavier Zayas

“Being single doesn’t mean no one loves you. It just means that God is busy writing your love story.” — Unknown

“My alone feels so good, I’ll only have you if you’re sweeter than my solitude.” – Warsan Shire

“I love being single because I can do whatever I want, when I want, with who I want. And that makes me happy.” – Unknown

“Being with no one is better than being with the wrong one. Sometimes those who fly solo have the strongest wings.” — Nitya Prakash

“The man who follows the crowd will usually get no further than the crowd. The man who walks alone is likely to find himself in places no one has ever been before.” – Alan Ashley-Pitt

“Love yourself first, because that’s who you’ll spend the rest of your life with.” – Luigina Sgarro

“If you really are going to be a happy single, you have to stop treating being single as the annoying time that you pass between relationships and embrace it. Rather than focusing on what you lack, focus on what you have—you.” — Natalie Lue

“I am thankful for my singleness because it’s given me the opportunity to learn more about myself and who I am without the distraction of another person.” – Unknown

“Singleness isn’t an excuse to take a back seat on life but an opportunity to wholeheartedly pursue your own purpose.” — Michael Todd

“When asked why I am single, my reply is simply I consider myself a black pearl rare in my authenticity, adding a mysterious beauty to the select few who can recognize and even fewer who appreciate my worth.” — Sanjo Jendayi

”Never give importance to anyone more than yourself, because once that person becomes important, you become nothing….” — Viren

“You’re single not because you are not good enough for one, it’s that you’re too good for the wrong one.” — Chris Burkmenn

“Too many women throw themselves into romance because they’re afraid of being single, then start making compromises and losing their identity. I won’t do that.” — Julie Delpy

“Single is not a status. It is a word that describes a person who is strong enough to live and enjoy life without depending on others.” — Prixie

“If we seek paradise outside ourselves, we cannot have paradise in our hearts.” – Thomas Merton

“I’m not single. I’m not taken. I’m simply on reserve for the one who deserves my heart.” — Unknown

“If you aren’t good at loving yourself, you will have a difficult time loving anyone, since you’ll resent the time and energy you give another person that you aren’t even giving to yourself.” — Barbara De Angelis

“When we cannot bear to be alone, it means we do not properly value the only companion we will have from birth to death: ourselves.” — Eda Leshan

“The poor wish to be rich, the rich wish to be happy, the single wish to be married, and the married wish to be dead.” — Ann Landers

“Being single entitles you to not ask someone’s opinion before you do something to mess up your own room, your credit report, or even your life.” — Sayali Patil

“‘Happily single’ is recognizing that you don’t need or want to be rescued from your life by a handsome prince because your life is pretty awesome, as is.” — Mandy Hale

“Single lady, the man you want might not necessarily be the man you need.” — Martha Macharia

Being happy and alone quote

“It takes nothing to join the crowd. It takes everything to stand alone.” — Hans F. Hansen

”Until you get comfortable with being alone, you’ll never know if you’re choosing someone out of love or loneliness.” — Mandy Hale

“I’m fascinated with myself and love hearing the sound of my own voice. I’d like to hear what I have to say. A lot of people don’t like being alone because they truly don’t like themselves, but I love me.” — Gene Simmons

”We need quiet time to examine our lives openly and honestly – spending quiet time alone gives your mind an opportunity to renew itself and create order.”  — Susan L. Taylor

“It is very important to be happy alone” – Unknown

“Being alone is better than being ignored.” — Narendra Singh Dhami

“If you want others to follow, learn to be alone with your thoughts.” — William Deresiewicz

”When you learn how to be alone you’ll discover the difference between alone and lonely.”  — LJ Vanier

“Remember: the time you feel lonely is the time you most need to be by yourself. Life’s cruelest irony.”— Douglas Coupland

“The greatest thing in the world is to know how to belong to oneself.” — Michel de Montaigne

“Inside myself is a place where I live all alone and that’s where you renew your springs that never dry up.” — Pearl Buck

“A man can be himself only so long as he is alone; and if he does not love solitude, he will not love freedom; for it is only when he is alone that he is really free.” — Arthur Schopenhauer

“Loneliness is such an omnipotent and painful threat to many persons that they have little conception of the positive values of solitude and even, at times, are frightened at the prospect of being alone.”— Rollo May

“It’s okay to be happy being alone. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying your own company.” – Unknown

“It is better to be lonely than allow people who are not going anywhere keep you from your destiny.” — Joel Osteen

“I am happy being alone. I don’t need someone to complete me. I am whole by myself.” – Unknown

“In solitude the mind gains strength and learns to lean upon itself.” — Laurence Sterne

“A season of loneliness and isolation is when the caterpillar gets its wings. Remember that next time you feel alone.”  — Mandy Hale

”I was lonely. I felt it deeply and permanently, that this state of being on my own might never disappear. But I welcomed the loneliness, which had everything to do with being anonymous. It’s never loneliness that nibbles away at a person’s insides, but not having room inside themselves to be comfortably alone.”  — Rachel Sontag

“Some people can’t stand being alone. I love solitude and silence. But when I come out of it, I’m a regular talking machine. It’s all or nothing for me.” — Celine Dion

“The only time we waste is the time we spend thinking we are alone.”— Mitch Albom

“It takes a strong person to remain single in a world that is accustomed to settling with anything just to say they have something.” — Anonymous

“Whoever is delighted in solitude is either a wild beast or a god.”– Aristotle

“The best part about being alone is that you really don’t have to answer to anybody. You do what you want.” — Justin Timberlake

“Being alone & actually sitting with our own thoughts can lead to such growth and realizations that are rare in our everyday busy lives.” — Kourtney Kardashian

“To make the right choices in life, you have to get in touch with your soul. To do this, you need to experience solitude, which most people are afraid of because in the silence you hear the truth and know the solutions.”— Deepak Chopra

“I like being alone. I have control over my own shit. Therefore, in order to win me over, your presence has to feel better than my solitude. You’re not competing with another person, you’re competing with my comfort zones.” — Horacio Jones

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I Enjoy Being Alone Quotes

I enjoy being alone quote

“I will fill myself with the desert and the sky. I will be stone and stars, unchanging and strong and safe. The desert is complete; it is spare and alone, but perfect in its solitude. I will be the desert.” — Kiersten White

“Sometimes you have to stand alone. Just to make sure you still can.” — Unknown

“It’s easy to stand in the crowd but it takes courage to stand alone.” —  Mahatma Gandhi

“Sometimes I think that my own company is more suitable for me than if I were around others. Because of the person that I am.” — Kyle Labe

“Knowing how to be solitary is central to the art of loving. When we can be alone, we can be with others without using them as a means of escape.” — Unknown

“Conversation enriches the understanding, but solitude is the school of genius.”— Edward Gibbon

“Not everyone knows how to be alone with others, how to share solitude. We have to help each other to understand how to be in our solitude, so that we can relate to each other without grabbing on to each other. We can be interdependent but not dependent. Loneliness is rejected despondency. Solitude is shared interdependence.” — Unknown

“In solitude, the mind gains strength and learns to lean upon itself.”— Laurence Sterne

“Find company within yourself and you’ll never spend a day alone. Find love within yourself and you’ll never have a lonely day.” — Connor Chalfant

“Solitude is strength; to depend on the presence of the crowd is weakness. The man who needs a mob to nerve him is much more alone than he imagines.”— Unknown

“If you want to miss your crown follow the crowd. If you want to wear the crown, go alone and be yourself. — Unknown

“If one is lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform one million realities.” — Unknown

“If you are alone, you belong entirely to yourself. If you are accompanied by even one companion, you belong only half to yourself or even less in proportion to the thoughtlessness of his conduct, and if you have more than one companion, you will fall more deeply into the same plight.” — Leonardo da Vinci

“The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be.” — Anne Frank

“Yet it is in this loneliness that the deepest activities begin. It is here that you discover act without motion, labor that is profound repose, vision in obscurity, and, beyond all desire, a fulfillment whose limits extend to infinity.”— Thomas Merton

“Never search for your happiness in others, it will make you feel alone. Search it in yourself, you will feel happy even when you are left alone.” — Unknown

“If you go deeper and deeper into your own heart, you’ll be living in a world with less fear, isolation and loneliness.” — Sharon Salzberg

“Surrender to the grief, despair, fear, loneliness, or whatever form the suffering takes. Witness it without labeling it mentally. Embrace it. Then see how the miracle of surrender transmutes deep suffering into deep peace.” — Eckhart Tolle

”We need solitude, because when we’re alone, we’re free from obligations, we don’t need to put on a show, and we can hear our own thoughts.” — Tamim Ansary

“Solitude is where one discovers one is not alone.”— Marty Rubin

“Don’t fear solitude: If you are never alone, you cannot know yourself. But don’t get too attached to it – it may become an addiction.” — Paulo Coelho

“Sometimes it’s better to be alone no one can hurt you that way.” — Tinku Razoria

”I made my way here alone for a long while. It took some time to find my place. It took more time to become somebody worth protecting.” — Melissa Albert

”Like it or not, there are times when you need to be alone; times when you need to be lonely; times when you need to need other people.”  — Alan Bradley

”If you make friends with yourself, you’ll never be alone.”  — Maxwell Maltz

“In order to be happy, you must first be at peace with being alone.” – Unknown

❤️ Related:

  • The Truth Hurts: 101+ Quotes About Lying In A Relationship

I’m a full-time freelance writer with a love for writing self-improvement, relationships, mental health, and lifestyle articles. Check out my other articles here on Subconscious Servant, or also Thought Catalog (that’s where I express myself in a more creative form ✨).

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Do you remember when you were younger–maybe 12 or 13–and your parents would go out to run errands and leave you home alone?

If you’re like me, the second you heard that door shut and you had the house to yourself, you felt this incredible sense of unprecedented freedom to do whatever you wanted for the next few hours–and it was absolutely wonderful.

Fast forward however many years to the present, and, for many people, the formerly coveted time of having no one around may not feel quite as indulgent. Of course, we all need some time to ourselves to either tend to our responsibilities or simply take a break from our hectic lives, but many people ultimately want to have someone in their corner to come home to at night.

During the pandemic, we have all had a little more “alone time” than we ever anticipated, and it’s probably fair to say that it was challenging for everyone. While some may think that social distancing was tougher for extroverts than it is for introverts, studies show that the opposite may actually be true because extroverts are more likely to be active on social media and keep in touch with friends–and they’re more likely to be resilient during these times and maintain hope for the future.

But, despite anyone’s personal characteristics or social tendencies, we’ve all were forced to navigate life a bit more solo than we’re used to during the COVID-19 pandemic. It undoubtedly affected everyone in unique ways. And even if you do have a family that you still come home to every night, that sense of isolation is still lurking.

Yes, the current collective practice of social distancing is a critical component of minimizing the spread of illnesses, but this same practice can have a large negative impact on people’s happiness and mental health.

In fact, having positive social interactions is among the strongest predictors of happiness, so is it possible to live a full life if your “social distancing” practice is set for a more long-term basis?

People come by happiness in various ways. Studies show that the three main things that make people happy are:

  • Having close relationships with other people
  • Having a meaningful job or hobby
  • Helping other people

No matter what challenges, crossroads, and lifestyle changes you encounter, your happiness is what truly matters the most at the end of the day. And whether you live alone by choice or you just haven’t found the right partner, it is absolutely possible to live a fulfilling life.

(Side note: Another positive ​way to improve your life is to read and learn something new every day. A great tool to do this is to join over 1 million others and start your day with the latest FREE, informative news from this website.)

Being Alone vs Being Lonely

Now, if you’re questioning how to do this, it’s important to distinguish between being alone and lonely because these are two different things.

Of course, if you don’t want to be alone, but you’ve ended up in that position, you may have a hard time resisting feelings of loneliness, which can negatively affect your health. And that is exactly what we are addressing in this article.

If you like doing things in solitude, it doesn’t necessarily make you antisocial or loveless. You are simply just content with your alone time, and you probably also look forward to it. That is what we describe as being alone. It is not what being lonely is.

On the other hand, if you are surrounded by people but find it hard to relate to them, you can feel very disconnected from everyone. You may still be longing for company because current company isn’t as engaging for you. This may be described as loneliness.

alone but not lonely | happy being by yourself | learn to be happy alone

When you can identify and engage in the things that make you happy, practice self-care, maintain positive habits, and leave some room to challenge yourself and get out of your comfort zone, you will be able to see how empowering being alone can be. You can be happy alone and resist feelings of loneliness, and doing so will support you in living a full life.

Let’s look at 15 ideas for things you can do to live a life that you’re completely satisfied with while being on your own.

1. Figure Out What Makes You Truly Happy

To figure out what makes you happy, you need to take the time to do some serious self-reflection and get to know yourself.

Now, you’re probably thinking, “I do know myself. How can you not know yourself?” But since you’re reading this article looking for tips to be happy and live a full life, then chances are, you haven’t yet found what really makes you tick.

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The good thing about being alone is that it gives you the freedom to be selfish with your time and put your needs, desires, and ambitions above all others (as these being alone quotes suggest).

It’s time to set your short-term to-do list aside, take a break from your everyday process of “getting things done,” and consider the following questions:

  • If you knew you had no risk of failure, what would you want to do or be in life? How often have you fantasized about changing careers, moving to a new city, or becoming an expert in something you’re passionate about, only to be deterred by the risk of failing? Envision your ideal scenario where success is guaranteed.
  • In the same vein, how would you live if you had an infinite amount of money? People often mistakenly equate happiness with money, but according to studies, wealth has a small impact on one’s overall happiness–and that’s only if you’re living with extreme wealth that you earned yourself (which, by default, means you’ve been incredibly successful in your job, which more than likely suggests that you enjoy what you do for a living).
  • You have 90 seconds to give someone an elevator speech about who you are and what’s important to you. Go.
  • What are your core personal values? What are your foundational beliefs that guide your everyday decisions? Knowing what your values are will help you determine your priorities, so you can align your daily life with the things that are important to you. Here is an assessment you can take if you need help identifying your values.

Not only will answering these questions help you uncover what truly makes you happy, but it can also help you refocus your energy to head in a new (and improved) direction.

RELATED: Habits that Stick!

Want to build a new habit that will stick for the rest of your lifetime? In this video, you will discover a simple 9-step process about building habits that you can immediately implement.

2. Give Yourself a Fresh Start

Yes, it is healthy to have a routine. But when looking back, if you can’t distinguish 2018 from 2012, you’ve taken the “routine” thing a bit too far. You have to keep yourself stimulated with things happening in your life and give yourself opportunities to grow and evolve.

It’s time to take an inventory of your bucket list and look more closely at new places you want to explore, skills you want to learn, and goals you want to ultimately reach in your life. Turn off your autopilot and get excited about the possibilities available to you.

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And you can start small. Sometimes all it takes to feel refreshed and happy is to change something simple about your daily routine. Or maybe it’s time to rearrange your furniture or redecorate your house. By changing something about your surroundings or your day-to-day life, you can start fresh and rid yourself of feelings that your life is stagnant.

Remember, part of being happy alone is realizing that you’re living for yourself and no one else. If you want to start a new hobby, do it. If you want to travel somewhere, do it. If you want to paint your living room neon yellow, do it.

3. Practice Self-Love

Many of us are our own worst critics. We are often Striving for excellence and doing our best to get to the next level, striving for perfection. This leads us to unnecessarily beat ourselves up over our mistakes.

And when you’re battling with this inner bully and don’t have a partner to regularly remind you that you’re actually pretty amazing, it can quickly lead you down a path of depression and negativity.

Studies show that there are three main elements to having compassion for yourself:

  • Being kind to yourself when you fail entails treating yourself as gently as you would treat a friend in your situation.
  • Having a sense of common humanity, meaning you can recognize that all humans are imperfect and everyone’s lives have ups and downs, so you’re not alone in your suffering. We often feel isolated in our struggles, which makes overcoming them even more difficult.
  • Be mindful of your thoughts and emotions by recognizing them but not ruminating on them to the point of developing a negative self-concept. Being mindful of your feelings will give you a sense of clarity and perspective, which will help you show compassion toward yourself.

There are a lot of ways to increase your love for yourself, which will prevent you from placing blame on yourself for things that are out of your control and increase your satisfaction with your life.

practice self love | how to be happy alone | rules for being alone and happy | tips on how to be happy alone
Practice self-love. Know that being alone is normal and natural. It’s okay, and be perfectly happy while alone.

Here are some strategies to try:

  • Try to accept that aloneness is normal and many people share your situation. Don’t put any value on what society implies you “should” do, and you will start to realize that it’s perfectly alright to be living life solo–give yourself a break.
  • Work on your confidence. Learn to be proud of your accomplishments without needing any outside recognition. If you make a mistake, look for the lesson in it rather than getting upset with yourself.
  • Use positive affirmations.
  • Stop seeking the approval of others.
  • Create a journal about the things that you love about yourself. Focus on your strengths and build upon them.
  • Be aware of your negative thoughts. If you are constantly thinking with a dark cloud overhead, you will never have room to let the sunlight in. Reading this book can help you train your mind to project positive outcomes, making them start to happen naturally.
  • Surround yourself with positive people.

Having some time alone will allow you to be mindful of your thoughts and surroundings. You will be able to feel happiness and peace and know that you already have everything inside of yourself that you need to be completely fulfilled.

If you’re at a low point, make an effort to get out of the house and be around friends and family and other like minded people who love you and will help you take your mind off of whatever it is that’s bringing you down.

If you find yourself avoiding making plans, try committing to something upfront. For example, pay for a 10-week kickboxing class or sports league. Once you have made that upfront commitment, you will be less likely to back out when it comes time to do it.

4. Exercise and Build a Healthy Lifestyle

(Side note: One of the best ways to build a healthy lifestyle is to start each day by drinking this healthy green juice, which provides your body with a proprietary alkaline greens blend of organic wheatgrass, wheatgrass juice, and matcha green tea, supplying your body with the nutrients and energy you need to get through the day.)

Maybe it’s time to reconnect with yourself physically by starting a new exercise program that will help you get into shape, feel good about your body, and give you the numerous benefits of endorphins.

Working out shouldn’t feel like a chore, which is why there are some great programs like spinning, Zumba, or even Xbox games that allow you to work out with others while having fun. Some other ideas include:

  • Commit to joining a class and have the right person sign up with you. Having an accountability partner will make you less likely to quit, and you will get to see your friend while you work out.
  • Or, start smaller by checking out 11 workout routines that you can do first thing in the morning, which will keep you feeling refreshed during the day. The best part about morning workouts is that you won’t be thinking about having to work out for the rest of the day because it’s already done!
  • If you have a dog, take them for a daily 20-minute walk or run. Your dog will love you for it and will help keep you committed by reminding you that it’s time for your daily walk. How can you say no to those cute little puppy eyes?
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Exercising regularly will help you get into shape, feel good about your body, and allow you to reap the numerous benefits of endorphins.

The other part of building a healthy lifestyle is to look at your diet, which can impact both your mental and physical health just as much as your activity level. Keep a food journal for a week to get a quick reality check of your eating habits and make any necessary changes.

Look at both what and how much you’re eating. By controlling your portion sizes, you will help keep yourself healthier and happier and reduce feelings of lethargy. Also, be cognizant of times when you’re eating out of boredom or because you’re feeling sad.

Finally, let’s not forget about maintaining a positive sleep schedule, which is vital for having the energy to function optimally throughout the day. One of the best benefits of being alone is taking up the whole bed without getting kicked or nudged in your sleep! And if you’re feeling fatigued in the morning, you can check out this masterclass on how to increase your energy.

Remember, learning to manage yourself well in life and at work is vital to a happy life.

5. Stop Comparing Yourself to Other People

Sure, it’s easier said than done, but you don’t know what’s happening behind closed doors in someone else’s life. I look back on some pictures from years ago when I was out with friends, bar hopping and staying out late.

And, of course, I look like I’m having the time of my life, but I know I was miserable living that lifestyle. And I knew it at the time, too! But I’d smile for two seconds for the camera, of course.

Don’t keep track of the number of social activities you have per week if they aren’t things that are making you happy. Honestly, sometimes the best types of social plans are the ones that are canceled.

I don’t mean to sound like a recluse, but the feeling of having a last-minute free night to yourself instead of fighting traffic to get downtown after work to sit in a loud restaurant is elating… 9 out of 10 times.

So when you’re sitting at home scrolling through social media and seeing pictures of friends out and about, are you really jealous? Chances are, several people in that picture would probably rather be in your shoes than their own.

6. Find Your Passion and Cultivate It

Think of something you’ve always wanted to do.

Now is the time to do it!

When you’re alone, you don’t need to worry about anyone else’s schedule aside from your own. So pick something you’re passionate about that will challenge you and start pursuing it.

For example, if you love animals, why not volunteer once a week at your local shelter? Or, if there is a skill you’ve wanted to learn, go for it!

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There is never any harm in trying something new, and sometimes it takes some trial and error and experimentation to find your passion. Trying new things will get you out of the house, allow you to be around new and positive people, and help you renew your confidence in learning new things.

7. Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

While you don’t have anyone around disagreeing with your plans, take the opportunity to get out of your comfort zone by doing something new every week. This will also help you meet new people and make new connections. This may seem difficult at first if you’re shy, so here are some steps you can take to help you overcome that.

As you’re looking for new opportunities to approach, don’t do so with the mindset of trying to “find” someone. Instead, do things that will benefit your inner self. If you end up meeting someone in a romantic sense, it will be someone that you genuinely have something in common with.

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A great way to step out of your comfort zone is to go somewhere and do something new and fun each week.

Stepping out of your comfort zone and trying new things can lead to new friendships and amusing experiences. You just need to be willing to put yourself out there instead of waiting for things to come to you. 

Be proactive in looking for things to do around your city, and when you’re out, be proactive in approaching new people. Seeing other people smile is contagious, so if you start the smile train, others will reciprocate, and you will both be in great moods.

A good way to get out of your comfort zone is to try a 30-day habit every month. Make sure to experiment by doing things you wouldn’t ordinarily do. You may even find some hobbies you end up adopting for a lifetime.

8. Use Your Alone Time Wisely

Many people might think that the answer to being happy is a simple one: just do things that make you happy.

However, due to psychological attachments, this is not true at all. You may enjoy chowing down on a quart of Rocky Road ice cream. You may enjoy watching an entire season of Dexter in a single sitting. But will these things bring you happiness in the long run? No. They will bring you feelings of guilt and remorse. 

Watching meaningless TV shows or eating your favorite comfort food might sound like a good idea at the time, but to achieve happiness, they are often counterproductive.

This doesn’t mean you can’t treat yourself once in a while, but it’s best to use the time that you can constructively by getting to know yourself better, learning something, or challenging your mind somehow.

Read a great biography, watch an inspirational documentary, start a new business, or create a new website. Lose yourself in your art, music, woodworking, cooking, or other meaningful work.

Find a new creative outlet. What is something you have always dreamed of doing but have been putting off? Maybe it is a home improvement project or a class you want to enroll in. Give yourself time to do it! If you end up not liking it, it is something you can cross off your list as you move on to the next great thing.

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Use your time wisely. Get to know yourself better, learn something about yourself, or challenge your mind.

Need some inspiration? Spend all day at a gallery or museum and let your mind experience different reactions and emotions to the exhibits or educational experiences. Be wise with your time and make sure that you‘re satisfied with whatever you accomplished at the end of the day.

Because you’re alone at this point in your life, you have the opportunity to create something meaningful and spend as much time as you want to do the things that ignite your passions. When you lose yourself fully in your work, you will become proud of what you have created, which will leave you feeling fulfilled and happy.

Creating SMART goals will help keep you motivated. Start small and focus on your most important tasks first. Once you get into a routine of positive habits, it will start coming naturally to you, and you won’t have to think twice before making efforts toward creating an amazing future for yourself.

Why not take this time to focus on one or two aspects of your life that you have wanted to improve? No matter what category your goal falls into, don’t let your aspirations remain on the backburner.

9. Learn to Appreciate the Present

Your life experiences have shaped who you are today, but that doesn’t mean you should hold onto your past mistakes. The only part of your mistakes that should dictate your future are the lessons that you got out of them.

Rather than focusing on the past, appreciate the small wins you’re making now and what they’re doing for your future. And make time in your busy schedule to stop and be mindful of the things around you, your achievements and the positive aspects of your life.

Don’t focus on the things that you don’t have; rather, garner an appreciation for the things in your life that you enjoy–no matter how small they are.

This leads us to…

10. Practice Gratitude for What You Have

Researchers have found that taking the time to recognize the good things around you can increase your positive emotions, improve your sleep, help you show more kindness and compassion toward others, and even strengthen your immunity.

It’s so easy to take everyday things for granted. Your house. Your car. Your family. Your job. Your education. The fresh flowers growing along the side of the road. Whatever you have in your life that brings you joy deserves a second thought.

In fact, the simple act of keeping a gratitude journal can significantly increase your satisfaction with life.

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Becoming more aware of your surroundings will enhance your gratitude practice. Try to notice new things every day.

But, here’s the thing. This seems like a pretty easy fast track to improved life in theory. Write down a few things every night that I’m thankful for, and in turn, I can avoid catching a common cold?

Sure, I’ll do it–maybe for a week or two. But once I’ve written that I’m thankful for my family ten times, I’m probably going to put the book aside because I’m not feeling this flood of dopamine I was expecting, and I don’t think I’ve become much kinder toward others because I just gave unsolicited advice to a coworker that–when read between the lines–said, “Your work sucks.”

If you can relate to this, you’re doing gratitude wrong. To benefit from practicing gratitude, you need to learn to stop and notice new things that make you happy every day. Gratitude journaling works because it slowly adjusts how you observe situations by altering your focus.

If you write down that you’re grateful for your family every day, it won’t keep your brain attuned to identifying the fresh, grateful moments that you undoubtedly experience regularly.

Because of this, be as specific as possible when you’re practicing gratitude. “Today, I was able to call my mom on the way to work just to chat” or “My husband left me a note this morning on the kitchen table, wishing me a good day.”

And be sure to stretch yourself beyond the great stuff right in front of you. Becoming more aware of your surroundings will enhance your gratitude practice. Try to notice new things every day.

11. Build a Strong Network of Family and Friends

As you become more accustomed to being alone, you may realize that you’re putting less effort into socializing. While there’s nothing particularly wrong with that, having a strong network of family and friends is still important.

Nurture the relationships you already have by arranging visits with people you’re close to or calling someone you haven’t spoken to in a while to catch up. Here are some tips to strengthen relationships or form new ones:

  • Do things without expecting anything in return. For example, if you see an opportunity that looks ideal for a friend, let them know about it. Having an attitude that you always deserve something in return will prevent others from valuing their relationship with you.
  • Make your relationships meaningful by offering something above and beyond the norm or taking one step further than what’s expected. This may be as small as sending a birthday card or as big as helping someone get a new job. Doing so will help you maintain strong connections and close friends.
  • Show your appreciation toward others, whether with a card, small gift, or through genuine words. If somebody helps you in some way and you don’t show appreciation, they’re unlikely to help you again because you may appear to feel entitled. Let people know you value their help.
  • Don’t only call on someone if you need something. Maintain contact for other reasons to keep developing the relationship. This can even be through small gestures such as showing support for something they post on social media.

12. Recognize You’re Fine Being Alone

You add value to this world, and you don’t need someone else’s approval to recognize that. When you’re alone, be sure to remember that you’re alone because that is what you’ve chosen. The world hasn’t left you behind.

It’s easy to find just anyone to spend your time with, but when you have high standards for those whom you allow into your life, you’re acknowledging that you’re better off alone than with someone who is just there out of convenience.

13. Volunteer Your Time

There are so many ways to help other people by volunteering your time, whether you’re doing it in person or remotely from your home. Helping other people is rewarding, and doing so allows you to feel connected to your community and other people.

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When volunteering, make sure the organization’s needs are a good fit with what you offer.

Being “alone” doesn’t mean you’re sequestering yourself from the rest of the world. It just means you have enough confidence to know that you don’t have to depend on other people to make you happy. And one good way to stay integrated with others is to surround yourself with the positive people you’ll find while giving your time to an objective that’s important to you.

Here are some great tips to help you find a suitable volunteering opportunity in your city that matches your skills and interests. It’s important to find something meaningful to you, so you don’t end up giving only 50% of your effort toward whatever you’re doing.

Make sure the organization’s needs are a good fit with what you have to offer, and once you find something, you will feel more fulfilled and satisfied with your life.

14. Make Plans for Your Future

Where do you want to be (both personally and professionally) in 10 years? What would be required to do to accomplish those goals? Writing your plans down will help guide your everyday decisions.

It’s pretty tough to feel good about yourself if you aren’t headed in some type of direction. Your plans don’t need to be extremely complex or overwhelming; they just need to exist. Once you have your plans, it’s easier to be proactive in taking action.

Don’t put your plans off. No matter what your goals are, go after them. Doing so will allow you to recognize that you’re living your life on your own terms, which will give you a sense of confidence that will attract new and interesting people into your life.

Having firm plans (that you can obviously modify as your life unfolds) can give you more hope and help you stay optimistic today about the opportunities for tomorrow.

It may even be in your best interests to take a solo trip. Find something to do that interests you, and mark the solo trip on your calendar. It will give you something to look forward to.

15. Accept Yourself for Who You Are

Now that you know how to be happy alone, it’s time to accept yourself for who you are and be positive about whatever comes your way. Value your own opinion over anyone else’s because you know what’s best for yourself more than anyone else. If you feel like you truly need advice, reach out for it. But first, try turning to yourself for the advice you’re looking for.

The more you do this, the less you will rely on other people’s input. If you can trust yourself to handle your problems, you will become more confident, and you will be able to pursue challenges that you once thought were beyond your abilities.

You’re normal, and your quirks are what make you unique from anyone else. Once you accept these thoughts, your world will become brighter, and the opportunities will be endless.

Short Term Tips on How to Be Happy Alone

Now that we have covered several tips to help in the long term, let’s uncover a few short terms tips you should know about when learning how to be happy alone.

Practice Self Love

Self-love is something you can do in the short and long term. You aren’t learning to love yourself in isolation when practicing self-love because we don’t actually exist in isolation. When we practice self-love, we are enjoying our time alone. We avoid falling into self-hatred and shame. We try things we could fail, but we think of ourselves when we do this.

We are not leading a lonely life; rather, we are finding ways to enjoy our alone time while developing a healthy relationship with ourselves.

We already talked about scrolling through social media above. If you find that doing so stresses you out or makes you feel left out, it can turn problematic. Remember, a social media feed and a few photos do not necessarily tell a full story.

You can never know if the people posting are really truly happy or if they are trying to portray that they are. Take a break from social media for 24 to 48 hours and see if it makes any difference in your life and how you feel.

Let Your Mind Wander

Allowing your mind to wander from time to time can do a lot of good. Set a timer for five minutes and eliminate distractions like tv, music, the internet, podcasts, and books. Close your eyes and just let your mind wander. See where it takes you.

Soak Up the Perks of Being Alone

Finally, take advantage of being alone and spending time with yourself. Use up all the space you have because you can, and it’s yours. Spread out and get into a new hobby or revisit a previous hobby you may have given up. Not done with what you’re working on? When you are alone, you can leave everything out so you can get back to it later. It is your space and your time to do as you please.

When to Seek Professional Help for Loneliness

You should never be afraid to ask for professional help if it is needed or even reach out to a family member or trusted friend for support. Sometimes, self care, exercise, and practicing gratitude aren’t enough to shake the feelings of loneliness you may have.

If you feel overly stressed, have difficulty coping, or experiencing feelings of anxiety or depression, seek help from a mental health professional.

Final Thoughts on Living a Full and Happy Life Alone

“You cannot be lonely if you like the person you’re alone with.” – Wayne W. Dyer (Check out more inspirational Wayne Dyer quotes!)

Embrace this time alone and make the most of it by getting to know yourself through self-reflection and developing the confidence that you deserve. It is absolutely possible to be happy and live a full life without having someone next to you at all times. Follow the tips laid out in this article to put yourself on a positive path toward living your best life.

When you’re alone, maintain a routine that you enjoy, make an effort to stay connected to loved ones, and find a hobby that feels fulfilling. Being happy alone is about making consistent efforts toward self-improvement and feeling empowered to be able to trust your own decisions.

Finally, if you want another positive ​way to improve your life, read and learn something new every day. A great tool to do this is to join over 1 million others and start your day with the latest FREE, informative news from this website.

how to be happy alone | how to make yourself happy | how to be happy with yourself

In our hyper-connected world, where the very fabric of our society is being remodeled and reshaped by technology at a lightning-quick pace, and where the old institutions that once held us together (e.g., religion) are crumbling, it’s only natural that an increasing number of us are feeling lonely.

As a result of mass globalization, the rise of the machine, pandemic crises, climate crises, political crises, crises of family, crises of equality, cancel-culture crises, crises of meaning, mental health crises, crises crises crises (am I getting the point across yet?) 

it’s also no wonder that many of us WANT to be alone, but don’t know how, and have no idea how to even be okay with it.

Shadow Work Journal image

Table of contents

  • My Journey With Being Alone & the Stigma and Shame Surrounding It
  • How to Be Happy Alone (5 Empowering Paths)
    • #0 Give yourself permission to have permission
    • #1 Give yourself permission to rest
    • #2 Give yourself permission to play
    • #3 Give yourself permission to pursue a project of unbearable passion
    • #4 Give yourself permission to rewrite the internal narrative 
    • #5 Give yourself permission to heal, grow, and be gentle
  • What if You’re Still Unhappy Being Alone?
  • Further Resources
  • Final Words

My Journey With Being Alone & the Stigma and Shame Surrounding It

Image of a solitary tree

There is still so much stigma surrounding spending time alone.

As someone who has been on a pretty solitary journey for the past 10+ years, I still at times grapple with the shame that surrounds being not just an introvert, but a loner.

I have a strong relationship, two doggos that I adore, work that I love, and a nourishing spiritual practice, but I don’t have many friends. 

In fact, I haven’t had a solid group of friends since my high school years. I kind of just … became a lone wolf after graduating high school and quitting university. And forming adult relationships since then has been a pretty “meh” experience.

I have tried volunteering, I have tried joining yoga and meditation classes, and even a Buddhist center, but the fact is that I am, (1) shy, (2) still carry unresolved attachment wounds from childhood that make my boundaries either too rigid or too porous (it’s a work in progress!), (3) struggle with anxiety due to my religious trauma, (3) am a neurodivergent HSP who struggles with sensory overwhelm, and (4) I love my solitude!

I’m not looking for advice here. I’m fortunate to have access to therapy, so I’m not inviting free therapy in the comments. I have done a lot of inner work and have made a lot of progress through the years – and I’m still on this journey of softening, opening, and returning to my inner Center.

But the truth of the matter is that I find myself alone a lot of the time, other than spending time with my partner and our dogs each day and visiting extended family once a week. 

The work I do (writing for and running this website) means that I spend the majority of my time (maybe 90% of my week) online and at home. For me, this is a dream come true … no commutes to work? Hell yeah! No office politics? Woohoo!

But I also, from time to time, feel lonely. I sometimes get pangs of guilt that whisper, “You need to get out more and be more like other people.” Or shame that says, “Everyone else has tons of friends – look at them all laughing and smiling in that social media post! – why don’t you have that?” 

And that place deep inside of me – the wounded inner child you could call it – sometimes wonders, “Is there something seriously wrong with me?” to which my inner critic chimes in and says, with a cold smile and a Cruella Deville voice, “Yes, there IS something terribly wrong with you, darling. You are fundamentally broken, and everyone can see it.” 

But although I don’t have many friends IRL, and find myself alone a lot of the time, I have learned how to be happy alone. Even before my work here, finding my partner, or getting my dog companions, I learned how to be happy alone when I was truly internally alone. And I believe it was that capacity to enjoy being alone, that allowed me to enjoy the life I currently live.

Shadow Work Journal image

So I will draw on that wisdom and the lessons I’ve learned across the past 10+ years to help you, dear reader and fellow lone wolf, to learn how to be happy alone, and be okay with it.

Image of a white owl happy to be alone

I’m not sure what circumstances have led to you being alone. 

Maybe you’ve gone through a breakup, a divorce, changed country, have neurodivergence, are going through some kind of spiritual awakening, are at an age where most friends and family members have passed, have a solitary job, struggle with some kind of mental illness, are a carer, are a stay-at-home parent, don’t know to reach out to others – whatever the case, I want you to know that being alone is a blessing.

Yes, being alone can sometimes feel like a curse, and we do need human warmth from time to time (a therapist and even online friends and connections can be of help in that case), but I want to reframe and change the way that we look at being alone. 

Being alone helps us to :

  • Listen to our needs and our own inner voice
  • Relax, unwind, and decompress
  • Discover what we truly want in life
  • Access creative ideas and original thinking
  • Tap into deep emotional and spiritual insights
  • Befriend ourselves
  • Tune into the voice of our Soul

(Let me know if there are any other benefits that you’ve discovered to being alone in the comments! Also, there’s a sweet little book in the lonerwolf shop called The Power of Solitude, if you’re keen on going more deeply into this topic.)

So with that being said, here’s how to be happy alone and be okay with it:

#0 Give yourself permission to have permission

Image of a person holding an object that says yes

I want to begin with this preliminary step here that recognizes that “permission” is the key to learning how to be happy alone. Why?

Permission is what gives us the internal authorization to think, feel, and do things in a different way. 

We often carry so much inner baggage surrounding being alone. We’re taught by society in all of its many forms that not having any friends, or a partner, or a family, etc., means that there is something “wrong” with you.

But when we look at the cesspool of suffering that is society and the “Soul-sucking void of meaningless affirmation” that is social media (I have to channel my inner Wednesday Addams here, hehe), that’s not exactly a great standard to live by, is it?

So give yourself permission to be happy alone. Give yourself permission to LOVE your solitude. Permit yourself to be alone on easter, on Halloween, on Christmas, on every major calendar event, and feel good about it and yourself! Because why shouldn’t you?

You have the right to be happy alone.

#1 Give yourself permission to rest

Image of a man sitting in front of the sunset

Being alone means that you probably have more space than other people. And even if you find yourself in a situation where you’re not physically alone (and are instead around many others), that internal aloneness can enable you to tune into yourself and your body and mind’s needs.

Rest allows you to calm your vagus nerve/nervous system, regain vitality and creativity, and feel contained in your body again. Rest is the prerequisite to all following points below because, without rest, we don’t have the energy, imagination, or impulse to make the most of our solitude.

#2 Give yourself permission to play

Image of a cat playing with a human

Learning how to play and have fun by yourself is tremendously healing. When it comes to learning how to be happy alone, play is at the very heart of what makes solitude so enjoyable.

What does play look like for you? What do you feel excited about creating? What do you feel joyful doing?

Take your inner child by the hand, step into the role of the loving inner parent, and go wild! That might mean learning how to bake something delicious, honing the art of gardening, learning an artistic skill, embarking on a crafty project, traveling to a new and mysterious place, playing with your furry family members, or star gazing – there are so many opportunities to play!

In this article I wrote ages ago on how to spend Christmas alone, I provide a whole bunch of (often goofy) ways of having fun by yourself.

#3 Give yourself permission to pursue a project of unbearable passion

Image of a solitary person sitting by a fire at night learning how to be happy alone

Okay, maybe “unbearable passion” is a little melodramatic. But what I mean is that the key to not only learning how to be alone but relishing it is to find out what lights you on fire.

What fascinates, thrills, inspires, heals, delights, and intrigues you?

Play (the previous point I just wrote about), is what enables you to find what you love occupying your time with and what your ikigai (a Japanese word meaning ‘reason for being’) is.

If your passion also helps humanity in some way, extra brownie points to you because not only will that make being alone worthwhile, but also deeply meaningful.

As a result of my own personal play and exploration, I discovered my ikigai in the form of this website: lonerwolf (unironically named!).

#4 Give yourself permission to rewrite the internal narrative 

Image of a loner learning how to be happy alone

Often, being alone is coupled with feelings of guilt, toxic shame, self-blame, self-loathing, and a whole load of other painful emotions. It’s not uncommon to fall into a kind of victim mentality where we feel like tiny little islands in the vast ocean of life.

“Why can’t I be more like …. ?” “Look at all their friends! I don’t have any of that … I’m a sad loser.” “It’s tragic to be spending this much time by myself.” “There must be something wrong with me.” “I’m always going to be alone.” “No one understands or cares about me.”

Have you ever had any of the above inner narratives rotating around your mind? (I certainly have!)

Giving yourself permission to rewrite your inner narrative means being willing to step out of the role of being a victim, or being a weirdo, or being a [fill in negative self-judgment here], to simply being a person who happens to be alone.

What would rewriting your inner narrative look, feel, and sound like to you?

How can you gift yourself with a positive, healthier, and self-affirming inner narrative? 

Examples might include, 

  • “I’m an introvert who loves spending time alone, and that’s okay!” 
  • “I feel nourished and revitalized by spending time alone.” 
  • “Although I might feel lonely from time to time, I know that I am always connected to my higher power.” 
  • “Many people are alone like me right now, and that’s okay. It gives me more space to do the things I love.” 
  • “I have the right to embrace my personality style and not buy into the false messages of society about who I ‘should’ be.” 

Can you think of any other self-healing inner narratives?

#5 Give yourself permission to heal, grow, and be gentle

Image of a person alone on a blue landscape

Without the level of solitude I’ve experienced, there’s no way I would be able to:

  1. Feel creative enough to write for and create the content for this platform
  2. Create and sustain this website in the first place
  3. Go deep into my inner work and healing spiritual journey
  4. Forge a nourishing connection with Soul and Spirit
  5. Find connection in different ways: through nature, meditation, spirit guides and allies, online groups, and friendly faces

Learning how to be happy alone and being OK with it is 100% an inner job – it’s a mentality that we carry, not something we can ever find on the outside.

Being alone opens the doorways to deeper healing, mental/emotional/spiritual growth, and the ability to find out who we are and what we want. It gives us the space to process old traumas, heal old wounds, and begin anew.

Ever wonder why many monks, nuns, sages, mystics, and spiritual figures through the ages spent prolonged periods alone? It’s because aloneness can be tremendously healing if you allow it to be.

Sure, the mind might jump in and start parroting judgments based on societal conditioning, but solitude has always been a gateway to not just joy, but also fulfillment.

Think of Jesus in the desert, Muhammad in the cave, Moses on the mountain, and so on and so forth.

I’m not saying that being alone means becoming some kind of prophet, but instead, what I’m saying is that being alone is innately a spiritual rite of passage. 

And maybe, that’s the ultimate reason why you’re finding yourself alone. (Only you can figure that out.)

What if You’re Still Unhappy Being Alone?

Image of a sad and lonely man looking at the sky

If none of the advice above speaks to you, or you’ve actually tried all the advice and are still miserable, there might be a few reasons why.

Perhaps you’re an extrovert who naturally needs and thrives around others, or your trauma is preventing you from enjoying your aloneness as well as others’ company.

What do you do if you’re still unhappy being alone?

Here’s some advice:

  • Seek out a therapist (there are many options out there, both online and in-person)
  • Try volunteering as a meaningful gateway to connecting with other people
  • Go out and simply be around people and take comfort in their presence (offering a smile every now and then to a stranger can help you to feel connected, and 9/10 it will be reciprocated)
  • Find places that make you feel safe and relaxed, like the local park or library, and regularly visit them (which increases your chance of making friends greatly)

Further Resources

Image of a solitary seat facing the pink sunset

If you’ve come to the end of this article and are wondering, “What’s next?” here are some further resources you might like to look into on your solitary path:

  • The Power of Solitude (explores solitude in the context of the spiritual journey and inner growth)
  • Soul Searching: 7 Ways to Uncover Your True Path (helps you to find a deeper sense of purpose)
  • Feeling Alone: 13 Ways to Stop Feeling So Lonely and Isolated (self-explanatory)
  • Feeling Empty: 5 Ways to Heal Your Inner Void (helpful for when being alone is also paired with feeling empty inside)
  • How to Find Yourself When You’re Lost in Life (9 Steps) (if you need a few helpful pointers)

Final Words

Image of a solitary person learning how to be happy alone under the stars

To wrap up this guide on how to be happy alone, let me leave you with a beautiful poem. I think it nicely summarizes the beauty of solitude and the opportunities present in this often-feared experience:

Be a thunderstorm after a gentle rain,

or lightning that strikes on a clear day.

Be the lone wolf away from a pack,

get lost in thought, find your way back.

Be complex, no need to analyze,

whatever you are, is perfectly right.

An identical match, or one of a kind,

be darkness, or the light that blinds.

Discover your truth, even if it burns,

seek what makes your soul yearn.

Howl at the moon, slide down a star,

be the magnificent being you are.

~ Debra McLain

Tell me, what led you to this article? I’d be curious to hear, and whether it has helped you at all.  :)

***

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The source of happiness has often been misunderstood. Some say the emotion comes from within. Others are sure it comes from people, titles, and material possessions. Many of us grew to believe the myth and, by doing so, feel compelled to chase someone else’s idea of happiness

We force ourselves to socialize, chase success, or engage in a romantic relationship in order to be happy.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Not only does believing the myth cause you to question your ability to be the source of your own happiness, but it can also affect your health.

You can learn how to be happy alone and single and enjoy the benefits of this positively life-changing journey.

Before providing 11 practical ways to accomplish this change in lifestyle, I’ll explain the difference between being alone vs loneliness. If you’re an introvert, you probably already know hibernating isn’t devastating at all.

The end goal, here, is to validate your belief that you are enough and quite capable of living single and happy.

Is There a Difference Between Being Alone and Being Lonely?

Yes. Being alone is choosing to be in your own space, while still remaining grounded and optimistic about life. Your world doesn’t necessarily revolve around people nor does it stop when a relationship or friendship falls apart.

Life goes on because you’re able to view these experiences as part and parcel of life.

Less social individuals, and introverts, in particular, can attest to this. Introverts are shy, reserved, and homebodies by nature. If you’re one, you feel more energized and happy and even thrive in solitude.

Although you can appreciate the value of social interaction and love, you don’t crumble because of a breakup.

You’re able to retreat to your place of solace, process the loss, and remain balanced. Having these qualities enables introverted individuals to live single, happy, and content with or without romantic connections or a string of friends.

Loneliness, on the other hand, is clinically described as a negative feeling that interferes with your ability to appreciate the meaning of life. The feeling can be brought on by isolation from social life and usually result in a sense of disconnectedness. Ironically, you can also feel lonely in the midst of friends and loved ones.

Humans are intended to be social creatures, so feeling lonely from time to time is normal. However, a prolonged period of loneliness can lead to a decline in physical and mental health.

Researchers found a link between chronic loneliness and isolation and health conditions such as high blood pressure, anxiety, and depression.

How to Protect Yourself from Loneliness and Depression

If you find yourself frequently feeling lonely, there are ways to dig yourself out of the funk before it starts to wear down your mental health. Two key steps to preventing depression are changing your outlook on life and accepting that being single isn’t a bad thing.

If you struggle with a fear of being negatively judged, process the emotion and let it go.

how to be happy alone quotes | how to be happy alone in a relationship | how to be happy alone after breakup
Being alone is choosing to be in your own space, while still remaining grounded and optimistic about life.

Another way to protect yourself from loneliness and depression is by leaning on your support system. This is your network of trusted people and confidants who can offer empathy, validate your feelings, and provide words of encouragement.

Other helpful tools or solutions include:

  • Positive affirmations: Affirmations have been proven to boost self-esteem and self-confidence and change a person’s perspective about their life. Three of my favorite affirmations to overcome feelings of loneliness are “I am enough,” “My life has meaning,” and “I radiate happiness.
  • Mental health apps: Apps for mental wellness can be easily downloaded on your smartphone or tablet. Feel free to use them at your convenience to learn positive coping skills or improve your mood. A 2018 study suggested that mental health apps have proved valuable in providing supplemental psychiatric treatment and helping patients self-manage their condition.
  • Therapy: Even though mental health apps are useful, they cannot equally substitute for treatment by a live therapist. Problems such as anxiety and depression caused by loneliness can be treated with cognitive-behavioral therapy. A core aspect of CBT is providing you with skills and tools to cope with thoughts, emotions, and situations that cause you to feel down and unhappy.

There is no shortage of tips on how to be happy alone. Get ready to dive into 11 powerful tips for living a full and rewarding life in spite of your current relationship status.

#1. Embrace your singlehood

Marriage and romantic relationships have their benefits, but they also have their fair share of stressors. Now that it’s history, it’s time to focus on the benefits of being single.

The first two that come to mind are unfettered freedom and lots of time to do you. In fact, you may enjoy greater levels of happiness alone and single, according to Marriage.com.

Be grateful for your single status. Embrace it as an opportunity to get to know yourself on a deeper level, flirt freely, or enjoy a platonic relationship.

You have the independence to live life on your own terms, set and chase new goals, or finish projects that were placed on the backburner.

#2. Remind yourself that being alone isn’t weird

Introverts and those who are single for a while are sometimes unfairly and harshly judged. They are described using demeaning labels such as “abnormal,” “weird,” or “damaged goods.”

Perhaps it’s because society overrates relationships and looks down on people who treasure aloneness. As such, you’re viewed as a break from tradition and norms because you choose to live solo. Brazen individuals are keen to ask, “What’s wrong with you, why are you single?”

This is your personal life. You control the narrative. You set the rules and owe no one an explanation. Living solo is perfectly normal and can be just or even more satisfying than having a relationship.

There’s no need to feel bad about yourself or jump into a relationship just to fit in.

#3. Give self-loathing the boot

Self-loathing is that underlying feeling of hatred towards yourself. Common signs include extreme self-criticism and feeling unworthy or undeserving of good things such as success, happiness, and love.

For example, telling yourself, ‘I’m single because I’m such a loser,” or “I’ll never be happy unless I’m with someone.”

That’s your inner critical voice talking and it does a good job creating self-doubt and misery.

To experience the happiness you seek, you’ll have to push back. You’ll have to tame your inner critic. You can combat self-loathing through self-acceptance, self-love, and self-compassion. By doing so, you’ll start feeling a lot more confident in your decision to be alone.

#4. Build your support system

You may not realize the value of having people in your circle who genuinely want the best for you until you’re faced with challenges. They could be friends, co-workers, family members, or anyone you trust.

These are the people that form your support system and will provide emotional or physical comfort when needed.

Now is a good time to reach out and establish those connections.

People who have a strong support system usually find it easier to cope with the distress, worry, and anxiety of being alone. There’s usually a trusted someone to validate your feelings.

They’ll let you vent without criticism or judgment and provide a fresh perspective when needed. You’ll likely be in greater spirits afterward, knowing that someone’s got your back.

#5. Make a list of your favorite solo activities

Even though you might be resilient, there are times when loneliness and self-doubt will creep in, leaving you feeling in a funk. You might even doubt your ability to achieve happiness on your own.

Having a list of your favorite activities on standby can serve as a mental distraction and reduce anxiety or hopelessness.

how to be happy with yourself | how to be happy alone book | how to be happy alone in school
Introverts are shy, reserved, and homebodies by nature. If you’re one, you feel more energized and happy and even thrive in solitude.

Take a proactive step and list quick, easy, and practical things you can get involved in whenever you begin to second-guess yourself. Your activities can include reading, watching TV, meditation, journaling, walking, or doing yoga.

Keep the list handy, like in your pocket or within sight on your refrigerator or vision board.

As soon as you start feeling lonely or doubtful, pick one of those activities and snap out of it!

#6. Fall in love with YOU

Plenty of advice is out there on how to be happy alone, but much of it omits this crucial tip. People confess that they’re happy when there’s someone in their life romantically. For that reason, some chase relationships in search of someone to love them and fill their inner “void.”

They find it difficult to remain single even if it means being in a toxic relationship. Otherwise, they’re overtaken by a sense of emptiness and worthlessness.

Falling in love with yourself or increasing self-love helps to satisfy that longingness. You become the source of love and author of your own happiness. You can begin this journey using self-love affirmations, such as “I know that I am complete without another person” and “I have everything I need in life to be happy.”

#7. Pursue your passion

Filling your life with the things you’re passionate about is another way to enhance happiness and overall well-being. It could be charitable work, podcast streaming, collecting art, or other hobbies.

Your passion can also be that new career that was put on pause because of other commitments.

A 2015 study, published in The Annals of Behavioral Medicine, found that participants who engaged in leisure activities they were passionate about experienced less stress and higher levels of happiness.

Not only that, but chasing after things you’re passionate about can be emotionally rewarding in multiple ways. You might derive a sense of purpose—even euphoria, especially if your work helps improve the lives of others.

#8. Avoid comparing yourself with others

Do you know an easy way to invite self-loathing and misery is to compare your life with someone else’s? It can be difficult not to try and see how your life measures up to your peers or people on social media.

Some are married, in long-term relationships, have kids, or are otherwise getting on with their lives.

They appear happy and you can’t help but feel your life doesn’t match up. Perhaps it makes you wonder where you went wrong. You haven’t.

Analyzing your present circumstances with those of others only invites negative feelings, such as jealousy, envy, or inferiority. Begin with the idea that you are UNIQUE.

Your life choices are yours, including choosing to be happy alone and single. Affirm your current experiences by saying, “I’m where I need to be at this point of my life.”

#9. Find peace and happiness in spirituality

Do not underestimate the role spirituality can play as you learn how to be happy alone. Spirituality involves connecting to something larger than yourself. Some people believe that “something” is a God, the universe, an object, or an idea.

Spirituality can be practiced through prayer, meditation, affirmations, chanting, journaling, or helping others.

Those who practice this way of life express feeling awakened, happier, and more alive. Life appears to have more meaning than just a day-to-day existence.

According to an article by Chopra on The Correlation Between Spirituality and Happiness, “Spirituality…encourages optimism and the pursuit of a joyful life.” In addition, spiritual people tend to process challenges more gracefully and cope better with stress.

#10. Embrace loneliness when it shows up

Happy people can and do get lonely occasionally. While having a support system is great, there may be times you’ll need to sit through feeling lonely on your own.

It could be a day when your confidants are unavailable and you’re forced to rely on your own inner strength.

how to be happy alone in a relationship | how to be happy alone quotes | how to be happy alone in college
You have the independence to live life on your own terms, set and chase new goals, or finish projects that were placed on the backburner.

Try not to fight the feelings. Show self-empathy and remind yourself that you’re human. Like other fleeting feelings, such as anger and sadness, this too shall pass.

Perhaps you could also try affirmations for happiness and positive thinking. I repeat them whenever I feel like I’m slipping into a low mood or about to be engulfed in negative emotions.

#11. Live now

We’re more prone to put off living fully because of being wired to think life is only enjoyable when we’re coupled up or surrounded by lots of friends.

Nod if this sounds familiar: “I’m putting off traveling and vacationing until I’m with the man of my dreams.” “I’ll wait until I’m married to own a home.”

Your life is slipping by and there’s no guarantee you’ll find the man of your dreams or get married. If anything, you may become bitter for not living life to the fullest.

These are merely conditions and expectations that are barriers to your present happiness. In the meantime, be your own companion and travel buddy.

It’s not about thinking you don’t need anyone, it’s knowing you’re enough and choosing to live life to the fullest, whatever comes your way.

Final Thoughts on How to be Happy Alone and Single

Single and happy go together, and it has nothing to do with social isolation or being cynical. The naysayers will try to convince you otherwise… but don’t allow anyone to make you rethink your choice, based on their opinions and belief system.

Instead, turn your attention to the many ways you can accomplish your happiness goal and live a rewarding life just the way you are. For further inspiration, try reading our article on 5 Reasons to Stop Chasing People (and Relationships) and become your own best friend.

See Related Posts

  • No Friend Quotes For When You Feel Friendless and Alone
  • 105 Loneliness Quotes for When You Feel Sad or Alone
  • How to Deal with Loneliness: A 10-Step Process
  • 6 Life-Changing Methods to Not Feel Lonely All the Time
how to be happy alone | how to be happy alone without friends | how to be happy alone at home

Man delightedly walking through the road - how to be happy alone

via: Unsplash / Ben White

Wanting to know how to be happy alone doesn’t mean you are feeling lonely. In fact, it could just be that you’re looking for how to know yourself better.

I am a health, wellness, and mindfulness guru, and I know the many benefits of having time to yourself.

If you’re looking for how to become a better man, put on your alpha male mindsetand I’ll teach you how to live your best single life!

Let’s do this.

Contents

We Are Social Beings But Knowing How To Be Happy Alone Is Essential

Man enjoying the hammock.

via: Pexels / Uriel Mont

For some people, the moment you get left alone gives you a surprising and incredible sense of freedom. It’s now your time. The solo experiences you have give you exciting things to talk about. You can do what you want, and it’s an amazing feeling of independence. To others, being alone is dreadful and gives you all sorts of negative reactions, anxiety being one. But solo time is essential for your mental health and wellbeing.

It’s a time for self-care, exercise, gratitude, reflection, and growth.

Alone vs. Lonely — What’s the Difference?

Man seated on a bench with head bended over.

via: Pexels / Inzmam Khan

There are similarities between being alone and feeling lonely, but they are not the same thing. Being lonely has the negative aspect of feeling empty and disconnected even if you’re surrounded by friends and family. On the flip side, being alone means you are solitary and absent of companions. You don’t necessarily feel sad or want company if you know how to be happy alone.

Billiard ball number eight being targeted.

via: Unsplash / Alexandre Lion

People who know how to be happy by themselves are in charge of their ideas, feelings, and actions. They’re better at dealing with life’s obstacles, keeping things in perspective, and can recover from setbacks easier. They are confident in themselves and only maintain positive relationships.

1. Step away from social media.

Male hiker on top of a mountain.

via: Pexels / Dziana Hasanbekava

It’s a small thing, but sometimes when you’re alone, shut down social interaction and give your thumb a break from scrolling through your social media feeds. You spend an astounding amount of everyday life on social media, which can cause negative emotions and impact your self-esteem. Shutting it down will also shut down any competitiveness that you may be feeling.

2. Take a technology break.

Man doing a running routine.

via: Pexels / Liliana Drew

Email inboxes or the notifications of your instant messaging apps can cause unwanted stress and anxiety. So, it’s time to unplug. To be happy alone, you need to know when to turn the technology off. When you disengage from tech, you can get better sleep, feel more rejuvenated, and you truly enjoy your time to yourself.

3. Take yourself out on a date.

Couple having fun at a cactus place.

via: Pexels / Olya Kobruseva

Live a happy single person kind of life and don’t wait for a romantic relationship before going out on a date; take yourself out instead. Go to your favorite restaurant, go to a movie, or be a tourist in your own city. Alone. We’re not advocating you should be anti-social. We’re simply arguing that your happiness shouldn’t depend on other people.

4. Get physical and exercise.

Couple exercising together.

via: Pexels / Andrea Piacquadio

Working on your physical health through exercising has many advantages, including improved weight management, lower blood pressure, and a healthier mindset. It helps with the development of stronger bones, muscles, and joints. Exercising alone will give you internal happiness, a sense of accomplishment, and can assist in blocking and distracting you from negative thoughts that lead to depression.

You can also try meditation for a healthy mind, which also helps with stress reduction.

5. Reintroduce yourself to nature.

A person watching and enjoying the sunset.

via: Pexels / Download a pic Donate a buck! ^

You may be an introvert, but appreciating nature is a great thing for the body and soul. Make time today to get outside to enjoy the health advantages of the great outdoors. Soak in the sun, go for a bike ride or go for a walk.

Create a healthy relationship with yourself with the help of nature as you focus on positive thoughts. Take up a new pastime outside, like gardening, but many other outdoor activities can be enjoyed on their own. Fresh air and nature can heal you because it gives you a chance to reflect, re-center, and recharge.

6. Recognize and acknowledge what you’re grateful for.

Three friends having fun talking in the park.

via: Pexels / ELEVATE

One of the most important things about being a happy person alone is recognizing and acknowledging what you are grateful for. When you’re without the company of close friends or loved ones, put some thought into the small things that will make you thankful for what you have.

Show gratitude for the usual stuff like your healthy body, family, and the roof over your head. But learning to recognize a good thing can also be the smallest of things. Like your hot coffee every morning.

7. Find a creative release.

Photo of a man painting

via: Pexels / Edward Eyer

To detach from your work and reconnect with yourself, you need to find a creative release. Find something that excites and draws your attention. It can be traditional or digital art, woodwork, or playing an instrument.

For some lonely people, their creative release is their coping skills because art can pull you into a mindless consumption where you forget the negative things around you. Being happy alone is knowing a good balance between finding new things you enjoy or using these activities as a way to escape the lonely life.

8. Take care of your health.

Man preparing his healthy foods.

via: Pexels / Nataliya Vaitkevich

Good health is vital for a happy existence. Take care of your physical and mental health by exercising, having a balanced diet, and getting enough rest daily. Taking better care of yourself will give you better energy levels that will make you more positive and accomplished. By staying healthy, you limit your need to rely on others.

How To Be Happy Alone - infographic

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Perks Of Living A Life Of Solitude

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When someone lives a life of solitude, there is usually a mistaken assumption that loneliness is involved; they lack a romantic partner and any true friends. However, this is not true. In fact, there are many perks and positive virtues of disconnecting socially and being alone.

1. Figuring out what you truly want.

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via: Unsplash / [ik] @invadingkingdom

You will figure out what you truly want in life because you have time to reflect on yourself and your life when you are alone. Knowing what you truly want will help you achieve it because you’ll realize its importance to you, and this will drive you to pursue it.

2. An opportunity to strengthen and deepen the non-romantic relationship you had.

Man sitting on a bench watching the sunrise.

via: Unsplash / Sid Leigh

Living a life of solitude teaches you how to regulate your emotions to deal with situations better and not need to rely on others. You can build a stronger relationship with people as your reason for that social connection with them is no longer based on dependency. You’ll be more confident and have a more attractive presence around people too.

3. A great room for growth.

Man drinking coffee while working on his computer.

via: Unsplash / Steve Ding

When you practice a life of solitude, you become a new person. You discover a lot about yourself and are given an opportunity for a lot of personal growth. You can focus on reaching your full potential and not be held back by other duties, responsibilities, and commitments.

4. More quality time for yourself.

Man playing a guitar.

via: Unsplash / Akshar Dave

It’s not a bad thing to want alone time. In fact, it’s not bad to enjoy a life of solitude. It gives you more time to do what you want and to chase your goals and desires without feeling guilty about neglecting other social obligations.

5. No more reason to hold back to any adventures you want to try.

Adventurous man travelling.

via: Unsplash / Nathan Lindahl

A major perk of living in solitude is not having to wait for that friend to be ready to enjoy an adventure you’ve been wanting to have. You don’t have to go by other people’s schedules and availability.

6. Zero commitment means freedom.

Man lake jumping through a rope.

via: Unsplash / Blake Wheeler

Having to compromise is needed in many social situations and commitments. And, as much as you can negotiate and make concessions when it’s necessary, you’d rather not when you have the option. Being alone means you have complete control over what you do at any given time. You have the freedom to make all choices in life, including whether to commit to anything.

How To Take Care Of Your Emotional Health

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Knowing how to take care of your emotional health is essential to being happy alone.

1. Acknowledge your feelings.

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You don’t need to talk about your feelings with others if you’re uncomfortable, but acknowledging how you feel can help your mental wellbeing. It will be easier to understand your triggers and thoughts by recognizing and acknowledging your emotions, allowing you to cope with them better.

2. Take a break.

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via: Unsplash / Isai Ramos

You should take some time to relax or change to a slower pace from time to time. You could give yourself a ten-minute sit down from cleaning the house or going outside to enjoy the sun during your break at work. It only takes a few minutes to de-stress sometimes.

3. Do something you enjoy.

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via: Unsplash / Annie Spratt

Think of the things you love to do. Enjoying your time with these activities can really help boost your emotional health.

4. Stay positive.

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via: Unsplash / Austin Distel

Don’t focus on negative things and learn how to deal with them in appropriate ways. Stay positive by focusing on good things, forgiving yourself for mistakes, and surrounding yourself with healthy and optimistic people.

Top 5 Relatable Quotes About The Benefits of Being Alone

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Are you searching for relatable quotes about the benefits of being alone? Embrace yourself and get perspectives on the idea of being alone.

Check out these 5 relatable quotes:

“Nothing can bring you peace but yourself.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

“As I get older I’m more and more comfortable being alone.” — Sienna Miller

«I think it’s very healthy to spend time alone. You need to know how to be alone and not be defined by another person.» — Oscar Wilde

«Until you get comfortable with being alone, you’ll never know if you’re choosing someone out of love or loneliness.» — Mandy Hale

«Your life will get better when you realize it’s better to be alone than to chase people who don’t really care about you.» — Thema Davis

5 Of The Most Recommended Books About Self-Love

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One thing is true: the relationship you have with yourself is the longest and most important one you’ll ever have. Good self-love books will help you keep it positive, meaningful, and fulfilled.

The Self-Love Experiment

via: Amazon / Shannon Kaiser

1. «The Self Love Experiment»- Shannon Kaiser

Shannon Kaiser is the author of five best-selling books on happiness and fulfillment, including the #1 international bestseller The Self-Love Experiment. She empowers individuals to awaken and connect with their true selves so they may live the life they were destined for.

I Heart Me

via: Amazon / David R. Hamilton

2.»I Heart Me. The Science of Self Love.» — David R. Hamilton

David R. Hamilton worked in the pharmaceutical industry, where he developed medications for heart disease and cancer. He left to write books and teach people how to use their thoughts and emotions to improve their mental and physical health.

The Self-Care Solution

via: Amazon / Jennifer Ashton

3. «The Self Care Solution» — Jennifer Ashton

ABC’s chief medical correspondent, Jennifer Ashton, helps you start the New Year right with a resolution that’s possible. She teaches you to improve your emotional and physical health with a one-month at a time approach.

What a Time to Be Alone

via: Amazon / Chidera Eggerue

4. «What a Time To Be Alone» — Chidera Egguerue

After being encouraged by her digital followers, fashion blogger Chidera Egguerue published a book that focuses on self-love and gives advice to young women on how to be happy alone.

You Are a Badass

via: Amazon / Jen Sincero

5. «You Are Badass» — Jen Sincero

Jen Sincero is a best-selling author and motivational speaker who has helped countless individuals alter their personal and professional life.

Frequently Asked Questions

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We’ve given you insight into how to be happy if you embark on some alone time, but there may still be questions weighing on you. Here, we’ve answered a few:

Is it possible for a human to live happily forever, alone?

It depends on your capacity to love how you live. If you learn to enjoy your alone time, to appreciate what you have, and do the things that make you happy, then yes, you can live happily forever alone. But we are social creatures, and having a balanced social life can make us feel better fulfilled.

How can I start being happy alone, start self-love and make my future bright?

Deciding you want to try and be happy alone is already a big step. If you put into practice the advice and points we’ve given you here in this article, you’ll already be on your way to discovering self-love, appreciation for alone time, and a bright and happy future.

Is wanting to be alone a choice?

For many single people, yes. Living alone is something they do to feel more fulfilled and accomplished.

Is it healthy to be alone?

There are many benefits to being alone, like having better mental health. Because being alone gives you the time and option to do what you want, you’ll be happier, and in turn, give you more energy to be productive. Being alone leads to more satisfaction and improved stress management, which is beneficial to your health.

Is it okay to want to be single?

There are people that live complete lives not searching or worrying about having true love by their side. Some enjoy being single because of the freedom you get by staying unattached. It’s okay to be single. And it’s okay to choose to be alone.

More Awesome Guides To Lead A Better Life

We all need a little advice, and sometimes a little push, to make it through moments and milestones in life. Check out these awesome guides to lead a better life:

  1. Preparing for fatherhood can be the most terrifying time of your life but also the most rewarding. So, if you’ve been waiting for this time for a long time or still working through your shock, we’ve got some important points to help you.
  2. Not everyone is blessed with flawless good looks, so knowing the attractive habits for guys can help you appear and be more attractive.
  3. Everyone has goals in life, and everyone wants to be successful. But if you aren’t sure of the steps to success, then check out our helpful guide.
  4. Personal values are the things that are essential to us, the traits and habits that drive us and shape our decisions. If you know how to define your personal values, you can discover what’s really important to you.

Conclusion

How to become a better man means knowing how to be happy alone. It teaches you to enjoy the single life and how to have a positive alpha male mindset.

Living happily alone will give you many things to talk about and will teach you to appreciate and value your life. Alone.

Listen to article 4 minutes

This collection of “being alone quotes” will help you overcome the feeling of loneliness so you can get the most out of life.

In today’s constantly connected world, spending time alone can actually be good for your health and well-being.

Being alone provides a chance for your brain to rest and replenish itself.

Tell us which being alone quote resonated most with you in the comment section below.

You may also enjoy our article on:

  • Be Yourself Quotes Sayings
  • Being Alone Is Key To Self Improvement
  • Know Your Worth Quotes

According to a study published in the Journal of Social Psychology, people who spend more time alone are more creative and introspective.

The study found that individuals who spent more time alone tended to engage in more daydreaming, which can lead to greater creativity and self-reflection.

What are the benefits of reading these being alone quotes?

Inserting a little solitude into your overfilled schedule will improve your concentration and help you get more work done in a shorter amount of time.

Spending time alone:

  • builds your mental strength
  • helps you develop more compassion
  • improves your creativity

Besides, being alone affords you time to think deeply, discover yourself, and find your voice.

This will help you become more comfortable in your skin.

Although we are wired for connection, spending some quiet time alone will allow you to plan how to get the most out of life.

You should never feel guilty about finding a little time for yourself.

Let this collection of being alone quotes inspire you to live your best life.

To help you embrace solitude and conquer the feeling of loneliness, below is our collection of inspirational, wise, and uplifting quotes, being alone sayings, and being alone proverbs collected from various sources over the years.

Also, check out our selection of quotes on loneliness that will help you invite happiness back in.

Check out our most popular quote article, a list of short inspirational quotes for daily inspiration.

Check out our inspirational quotes category page for more inspirational life quotes.

Being alone quotes to conquer feeling lonely

A report by the Mental Health Foundation showed that spending time in nature alone can improve mood and reduce stress.

The report found that spending time in nature can reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol, lower blood pressure, and improve overall well-being.

1. ”Associate yourself with people of good quality, for it is better to be alone than in bad company.” – Booker T. Washington

Being Alone Quotes About Company

You will also enjoy our article on be yourself quotes.

2. ”Without great solitude no serious work is possible.” – Pablo Picasso

Being alone quotes to conquer feeling lonely

You will also enjoy our article on being single quotes.

3. ”No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.”  – Gautama Buddha

Being Alone Quotes About Being Saved

You will also enjoy our article on home alone quotes.

4. ”I used to think that the worst thing in life was to end up all alone. It’s not. The worst thing in life is ending up with people who make you feel all alone.” – Robin Williams

Being Alone Quotes About People

You will also enjoy our article on how to be alone.

5. ”Until you get comfortable with being alone, you’ll never know if you’re choosing someone out of love or loneliness.” – Mandy Hale

Being Alone Quotes About Being Comfortable

You will also enjoy our article on quotes tough times.

6. ”In order to be open to creativity, one must have the capacity for constructive use of solitude. One must overcome the fear of being alone.” – Rollo May

You will also enjoy our article on being alone quotes.

7. “Being alone and actually sitting with our own thoughts can lead to such growth and realizations that are rare in our everyday busy lives.” – Kourtney Kardashian

Being Alone Quotes About Thoughts

8. “I’m fascinated with myself and love hearing the sound of my own voice. I’d like to hear what I have to say. A lot of people don’t like being alone because they truly don’t like themselves, but I love me.” – Gene Simmons

Being Alone Quotes About Loving Yourself

9. “The thought of being on my own really terrified me. But then I realized being alone is really a cleansing thing.” –  Lindsey Buckingham

Being Alone Quotes About Being Terrified

10. “Loneliness adds beauty to life. It puts a special burn on sunsets and makes night air smell better.” – Henry Rollins

Being Alone Quotes About Loneliness

Being alone quotes to help you get the best our of life

A survey by Healthline found that spending time alone can improve mental health and reduce anxiety.

The survey found that individuals who spent time alone reported greater self-awareness, increased creativity, and decreased levels of stress and anxiety.

11. ”If you want to be happy, learn to be alone without being lonely. Learn that being alone does not mean being unhappy. The world is full of plenty of interesting and enjoyable things to do and people who can enrich your life.” – Michael Josephson

Being Alone Quotes About Happiness

12. ”We need quiet time to examine our lives openly and honestly – spending quiet time alone gives your mind an opportunity to renew itself and create order.”  – Susan L. Taylor

Being Alone Quotes About Time

13. ”Nothing else so destroys the power to stand alone as the habit of leaning upon others. If you lean, you will never be strong or original. Stand alone or bury your ambition to be somebody in the world.” – Orison Swett Marden

Being Alone Quotes About Strenght

14. “Sometimes, you need to be alone. Not to be lonely, but to enjoy your free time being yourself.” – Unknown

Being Alone Quotes About Free Time

15. “You cannot be lonely if you like the person you’re alone with.” – Wayne Dyer

Being alone quotes to help you get the best our of life

16. ”If you wanted to do something absolutely honest, something true, it always turned out to be a thing that had to be done alone.”  – Richard Yates

Being Alone Quotes About Honesty

17. ”Sometimes you need to take a break from everyone and spend time alone, to experience, appreciate and love yourself.”  – Robert Tew

Smart Being Alone Quotes

18. ”When you learn how to be alone you’ll discover the difference between alone and lonely.”  – LJ Vanier

Smart Being Alone Quotes

19. ”Truth is, I’m generally happiest when it’s just me. It’s okay to be madly in love with yourself.” – Richelle E. Goodrich

Being Alone Quotes About Love

20. ”One of the greatest regrets in life is being what others would want you to be, rather than being yourself.” – Shannon L. Alder

Being Alone Quotes About Regrets

Don’t forget to also check out our list of introvert quotes about contentment and solitude.

Being alone quotes to inspire self-love

According to a recent study by the American Psychological Association, 61% of young adults (aged 18-25) report feeling lonely, which is higher than any other age group.

This statistic shows that feeling lonely is a common experience, particularly among young adults.

21. ”People who do a job that claims to be creative have to be alone to recharge their batteries. You can’t live 24 hours a day in the spotlight and remain creative. For people like me, solitude is a victory.”  – Karl Lagerfeld

Being Alone Quotes About Solitude

If you’re enjoying these quotes, make sure to read our collection of Karl Lagerfeld quotes that will make you see the art in life.

22. ”To be of good quality, you have to excuse yourself from the presence of shallow and callow minded individuals.”  – Michael Bassey Johnson

Being Alone Quotes About Quality

23. ”You are never alone. You are eternally connected with everyone.”  – Amit Ray

Being Alone Quotes About Being Connected

24. ”If you are never alone, you cannot know yourself.”  – Paulo Coelho

Being alone quotes to inspire self love

25. “A season of loneliness and isolation is when the caterpillar gets its wings. Remember that next time you feel alone.”  – Mandy Hale

Being Alone Quotes About Isolation

26. “Sometimes you need to sit lonely on the floor in a quiet room in order to hear your own voice and not let it drown in the noise of others.”  – Charlotte Eriksson

27. ”Do not whine… Do not complain. Work harder. Spend more time alone.”  – Joan Didion

28. ”I was lonely. I felt it deeply and permanently, that this state of being on my own might never disappear. But I welcomed the loneliness, which had everything to do with being anonymous. It’s never loneliness that nibbles away at a person’s insides, but not having room inside themselves to be comfortably alone.”  – Rachel Sontag

29. ”Never give importance to anyone more than yourself, because once that person becomes important, you become nothing….” – Viren

30. ”There are some places in life where you can only go alone. Embrace the beauty of your solo journey.”  – Mandy Hale

Have you seen these powerful silence quotes on the importance of reflection?

Being alone quotes to help you live your best life

Research by Brigham Young University found that loneliness and social isolation are just as damaging to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, and even more harmful than being obese or physically inactive.

This statistic emphasizes the importance of addressing loneliness as a serious health issue.

31. ”Loneliness is the human condition. Cultivate it. The way it tunnels into you allows your soul room to grow. Never expect to outgrow loneliness. Never hope to find people who will understand you, someone to fill that space. If you expect to find people who will understand you, you will grow murderous with disappointment.”  – Janet Fitch

32. ”We need solitude, because when we’re alone, we’re free from obligations, we don’t need to put on a show, and we can hear our own thoughts.” – Tamim Ansary

33. “As regards intellectual work it remains a fact, indeed, that great decisions in the realm of thought and momentous discoveries and solutions of problems are only possible to an individual, working in solitude.”  – Sigmund Freud

34. ”The thing about living alone is that it gives you a lot of time to think. You don’t necessarily reach any conclusions, because wisdom is largely a function of intelligence and self-awareness, not time on your hands. But you do become very good at thinking yourself into endless loops of desperation in half the time it would take a normal person.”  – Jonathan Tropper

If you’re enjoying this article, be sure to check out our collection of lonely quotes that prove it’s okay to be alone.

35. ”You’re not alone, there is more to this I know. You can make it out, you will live to tell.”  – Saosin

Being alone quotes to help you live your best life

36. ”I’ve always believed that the only defeats and victories that matter in life are those you lose or win alone, against yourself.”  – Mihail Sebastian

37. ”Solitude is the soil in which genius is planted, creativity grows, and legends bloom; faith in oneself is the rain that cultivates a hero to endure the storm, and bare the genesis of a new world, a new forest.”  – Mike Norton

38. “Many people seek fellowship because they are afraid to be alone…let him who cannot be alone beware of community. He will do harm to himself and to the community. Alone you stood before God when he called you; alone you had to answer that call; alone you had to struggle and pray; and alone you will die and give an account to God. You cannot escape yourself, for God has singled you out.”  – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

39. ”You have to go ahead, even if no one goes with you.”  – Lailah Gifty Akita

40. ”Never make the mistake of thinking you are alone — or inconsequential. Ignorance is voluntary and confusion is temporary. You see the world as-is, which is more than can be said for the vast populace.”  – Rebecca McKinsey

You might also like these calming solitude quotes to bring you peace.

Being alone quotes to help you be your absolute happiest

A study by the University of California, San Francisco found that loneliness can lead to an increased risk of developing dementia in older adults.

This statistic highlights the potential long-term consequences of loneliness and the need to prioritize social connections in older age.

41. ”Everything that is tearing us down today will become a memory, and this memory will be shared as an anecdote or a story or a poem or a play or a warning. It will be shared with another human being, who will then understand that he is not alone in his sadness. This is why we show up for others and tell our tales and listen to others. The great congregation meets daily, and you are someone’s angel today.” – Tennessee Williams

42. ”Being alone doesn’t necessarily mean loneliness. people are great! but being alone is wonderful. I prefer the silence of alone. and the sounds of nature.” – Jayson Zabate

43. ”There is something immaculate about loneliness which only lonely people can understand” – Munia Khan

44. ”I made my way here alone for a long while. It took some time to find my place. It took more time to become somebody worth protecting.” – Melissa Albert

45. ”There are two kinds of luxuries; being alone and being with someone who understands.”- Nitya Prakash

46. ”Like it or not, there are times when you need to be alone; times when you need to be lonely; times when you need to need other people.”  – Alan Bradley

47. ”If you are ever sad and think that life is hard, remember that you are not alone…” – Abbas Kazerooni

48. ”It is never too late to make a change and taking some much needed alone time for yourself to reflect is not selfish.”  – Nyki Mack

49. ”If you make friends with yourself, you’ll never be alone.”  – Maxwell Maltz

Being alone quotes to help you be your absolute happiest

50. ”Learn to be alone and to like it. There is nothing more freeing and empowering than learning to like your own company.”  – Unknown

Being alone quotes to help you find yourself

A study published in the journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin found that spending time alone can enhance creativity, as it allows for more introspection and self-reflection.

This statistic can be used to highlight the potential benefits of being alone and how it can lead to personal growth and development.

51. “You’ve got to find yourself first. Everything else will follow.” – Charles de Lint

52. “I always joke about being alone forever but really do believe there isn’t someone out there for me.” – Unknown

53. “Should we say the self, once perceived, becomes the soul?” – Theodore Roethke

54. “Those who love and free nature are never alone.” – Rachel Carson

55. “Be who you are, and find yourself so you can be your own person and enjoy life with no regret.” – Bonnie Zackson Koury

56. “Most women would not be happy being me. People say, “But you’re alone.” But I don’t feel alone. I feel very un-alone.” – Stevie Nicks

57. “You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must hammer and forge yourself one.” – James A. Froude

58. “We’re born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we’re not alone.” – Orson Welles

59. “I wasn’t searching for something or someone….I was searching for me.” – Carrie Bradshaw

60. “We born alone, we all die alone.” – Dalin Shu

Check out our collection of alone quotes if you enjoy this article.

The power of being alone quotes

According to a survey by YouGov, 69% of Americans report feeling overwhelmed by the amount of news they see or hear, which can contribute to feelings of anxiety and stress.

This statistic can be used to demonstrate the potential negative effects of constant stimulation and the importance of taking breaks and spending time alone to recharge.

61. “Solitude is independence.” — Hermann Hesse

62. “Solitude vivifies; isolation kills.” — Joseph Roux

63. “I restore myself when I’m alone.” — Marilyn Monroe

64. “You only grow when you are alone.” — Paul Newman

65. “Let your mind alone, and see what happens.” —  Virgil Thomson

66. “To live alone is the fate of all great souls.” — Arthur Schopenhauer

67. “It is far better to be alone, than to be in bad company.” — George Washington

68. “Loneliness is the poverty of self; solitude is the richness of self.” — May Sarton

69. “The strongest man in the world is he who stands most alone.” — Henrik Ibsen

70. “The time you feel lonely is the time you most need to be by yourself.” — Douglas Coupland

Being alone quotes for times of solitude

A study by the University of Michigan found that people who feel comfortable being alone tend to have stronger relationships and more satisfying social lives.

This statistic can be used to showcase the benefits of being comfortable with solitude and how it can actually enhance one’s social connections.

71. “I live in that solitude which is painful in youth, but delicious in the years of maturity.” –Albert Einstein

72. “In solitude the mind gains strength and learns to lean upon itself.” -Laurence Sterne

73. “Loneliness expresses the pain of being alone and solitude expresses the glory of being alone.” -Paul Tillich

74. “Solitude is pleasant. Loneliness is not.” -Anna Neagle

75. “Women need real moments of solitude and self-reflection to balance out how much of ourselves we give away.” -Barbara de Angelis

76. “Only in solitude do we find ourselves; and in finding ourselves, we find in ourselves all our brothers in solitude.” -Miguel de Unamuno

77. “As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler; solitude will not be solitude, poverty will not be poverty, nor weakness weakness.” –Henry David Thoreau

78. “Solitude is very different from a ‘time-out’ from our busy lives. Solitude is the very ground from which community grows. Whenever we pray alone, study, read, write, or simply spend quiet time away from the places where we interact with each other directly, we are potentially opened for a deeper intimacy with each other.” -Henri Nouwen

79. “Solitude has its own very strange beauty to it.” -Liv Tyler

80. “The thoughtful soul to solitude retires.” -Omar Khayyam

Being Alone Quotes To Remind You Why To Cherish Alone Time

81. “What a lovely surprise to finally discover how unlonely being alone can be.” — Ellen Burstyn

83. “Being alone has a power that very few people can handle.”— Steven Aitchison

83. “You are never alone; if you can talk to your conscience.” — M.F. Moonzajer

84.“There is a certain strength in being alone.” ― Heather Duffy Stone 

85. “Learn to be alone and to like it. There is nothing more empowering or freeing than learning to like your own company.” — Mandy Hale

86. “The great virtue of being alone is that your mind can go its own way.” — Andy Rooney

87. “To be alone is to be different, to be different is to be alone.” — Suzanne Gordon

88. “There is a magic in walking alone, in thinking alone: If there is no one to contact you around, the universe starts contacting you!” ― Mehmet Murat Ildan

89. “I find there is a quality to being alone that is incredibly precious. Life rushes back into the void, richer, more vivid, fuller than before.” — Anne Morrow Lindbergh

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

Being Alone Quotes That Will Give You Peace And Comfort

91.“The best part about being alone is that you really don’t have to answer to anybody. You do what you want.” — Justin Timberlake

92. “It’s far better to be unhappy alone than unhappy with someone so far.” ― Marilyn Monroe

93. “Sometimes, you find yourself in the middle of nowhere, and sometimes, in the middle of nowhere you find yourself.” ― Stacy Westfall

94. “But there it is: Everyone is alone, for life, and maybe that’s not such a bad thing.”― Julianna Baggott

95. “Sometimes life is too hard to be alone, and sometimes life is too good to be alone.” ― Elizabeth Gilbert

96. “The soul that sees beauty may sometimes walk alone.” ― Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

97. “I finally faced the fact that it isn’t a crime not to have friends. Being alone means you have fewer problems.” — Whitney Houston

98.  “Being alone with your feelings is the worst because you have nowhere to run. They’re here, dancing in your mind, and all you can do is handle.” ― Aisha Sherly

99. “There’s nothing abnormal about loneliness.” ― Paula Stokes

100. “It takes nothing to join the crowd. It takes everything to stand alone.” ― Hans F. Hansen

Did you enjoy these being alone quotes?

Spending time alone has many physical and psychological benefits.

It provides an opportunity for you to ensure there’s a purpose to all your hustling so you can get the best out of life.

Although the feeling of loneliness can take root within you, you can learn to recognize and manage it.

Hopefully, the being alone quotes above will help you conquer feeling lonely so you can live your best life.

Which of these being alone quotes resonated with you best?

Do you have any other quotes to add?

Tell us in the comment section below.

We would love to hear all about it.

Don’t forget to hit the share button if you found this article helpful!

Everyday Power

Sometimes in life, we all get to a point where we start questioning our life and where we are.

Are you at a place where you wanted to be when you pictured your life back when you were 15?

Did you achieve what you set out to do all those years ago? Are you happily married or in a solid, long-term relationship and does it even matter? And most importantly, are you happy?

Those are all things that appear in our mind at one point or another. Life will sometimes catch you by surprise.

Things will just happen and you’ll feel like you’re in a movie where you have zero control over your character.

Shit will happen, hearts will get broken, relationships will be falling apart and you’ll feel as if you’re at a crossroads where you are required to make a smart choice.

One that will determine how the rest of your movie plays out and you’ll have no idea which choice to make.

See, there is no control over life. It just goes, whether you like it or not, and whatever is meant to happen to you will happen.

You can worry and panic all you want but by doing that, you aren’t really doing anything but plaguing your mind with negative thoughts that could be turned into something so much more important and useful to you.

So what if you’re not married with two kids and living in a huge house by now? So what if you aren’t where you hoped you would be at this age? Do you really think life works that way?

Let me tell you a little secret. Nobody has it all figured out. And if you have people in your life who seemingly have it all and whose happiness seems immeasurable, look again.

Do you honestly think things are as peachy as they seem on the outside? They almost never are!

People struggle all the time! There is no rulebook on how to master the art of living!

There are only people who understand that the only thing you can do is go with the flow of life, make good choices and hope life treats you kindly.

Sometimes, being alone doesn’t equal being lonely! You can be by yourself and be perfectly satisfied with your life.

All it means is that you have enough self-respect that you won’t settle for just anyone to spend your life with in order to fulfill society’s norms.

It means you are perfectly capable of being alone but happy! Because let me tell you something; happiness does not equal partnership! Happiness is something that comes from within.

It means coming home from a long day at work to your beautiful, comfy home, your two adorable pooches wagging their tails at you, jumping from joy you’re home, you feeling pure happiness as you see their faces, and moving this party of three to the living room, squishing their faces and feeling blessed to have this life you’re living.

It means seeing all those couples as you’re on your way to work and instead of feeling instant jealousy for not having a partner yourself, realizing that half of those couples are probably on the verge of a break-up and knowing you’d rather be alone but happy than having to pretend to feel what isn’t there.

Being alone but happy means knowing your worth and refusing to diminish it for temporary pleasure.

It doesn’t make you a loser. It doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you.

Don’t let uneducated people affect your judgment or your way of life. Don’t let those who don’t know you dictate how your life should go.

Live your life. Be happy. Happiness means a variety of things to a variety of people. One person’s idea of a happy life can be your personal nightmare.

So stop comparing yourself with anyone and don’t measure your level of happiness with someone else’s.

People work with what they’ve got. Not everyone gets to live their ideal life but what matters is that you push through.

You find something worth living for and you keep it in your mind as your motivation to keep pushing and keep on living.

You are probably doing so much better than what you’re telling yourself. People are their own worst critics.

Be gentle on yourself. If you’re currently struggling with where you are, it doesn’t mean it won’t get better!

By this time next year, all your dreams could come true . Keep that in mind and don’t judge yourself if you’re alone.

I hope by now you realize that it doesn’t mean you can’t be happy. All it means is that good things will come when you don’t put pressure on yourself.

When dark days appear on your horizon, instead of letting it get to you and put you down… remind yourself that sometimes being alone is necessary to reach your own personal potential.

Here are some beautiful, inspirational sayings that will help you when life gets to you and you feel like you’re all alone in this world. You’re not. Things always get worse before it gets better.

Alone but happyinspiring and meaningful sayings

1. “And in the end, all I learned was how to be strong… Alone.’’

Alone But Happy Inspirational And Meaningful Sayings

2. “It’s easy to stand with the crowd it takes courage to stand alone.”

3. “I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up all alone. It’s not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people who make you feel all alone.”

4. “Sometimes life is too hard to be alone and sometimes life is too good to be alone.”

5. “Nobody knows about the little meltdowns I have when I’m alone. They only know about the smiles and laughs I show them.”

6. “I think it’s very healthy to spend time alone. You need to know how to be alone. You need to know HOW to be alone and not be defined by another person.”

7. “Never say you are alone for you are not alone, your God and your genius is within.”

8. “I’m falling apart right in front of your eyes but you don’t even see me.”

9. “It takes a strong person to remain single in a world that is accustomed to settling for anything just to say they have something.”

10. “No, I may not be physically alone. But mentally there is no one in sight.”

Alone But Happy Inspirational And Meaningful Sayings

11. “Leave me alone. I’m sick of your games. Stop it. Don’t mess with me anymore.”

12. “You can’t be strong all the time. Sometimes you just need to be alone and let your tears out.’’

13. “You cannot be lonely if you like the person you are alone with.”

14. “Being alone and actually sitting with our own thoughts can lead to such growth and realizations that are rare in our everyday busy lives.’’

15. “Our uniqueness makes us special, makes perception valuable—but it can also make us lonely. This loneliness is different from being ‘alone’: You can be lonely even surrounded by people. The feeling I’m talking about stems from the sense that we can never fully share the truth of who we are. I experienced this acutely at an early age.’’

16. “Loneliness is the poverty of self; solitude is the richness of self.’’

17. “You are capable of more than you know. Choose a goal that seems right for you and strive to be the best, however hard the path. Aim high. Behave honorably. Prepare to be alone at times and to endure failure. Persist! The world needs all you can give.’’

18. “We’re born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we’re not alone.”

19. “I like being alone. I have control over my own shit. Therefore, in order to win me over, your presence has to feel better than my solitude. You’re not competing with another person, you’re competing with my comfort zones.”

20. “Some steps need to be taken alone. It’s the only way to really figure out where you need to go and who you need to be.”

Alone But Happy Inspirational And Meaningful Sayings

21. “When you begin to worry, go find something to do. Get busy being a blessing to someone; do something fruitful. Talking about your problem or sitting alone, thinking about it, does no good; it serves only to make you miserable. Above all else, remember that worrying is totally useless. Worrying will not solve your problem.’’

22. “True love is not a strong, fiery, impetuous passion. It is, on the contrary, an element calm and deep. It looks beyond mere externals and is attracted by qualities alone. It is wise and discriminating and its devotion is real and abiding.’’

23. “Sometimes, being different feels a lot like being alone. But with that being said, being true to that and being true to my standards and my way of doing things in my art and my music, everything that has made me feel very different… in the end, it has made me the happiest.’’

24. “I used to think that the worst thing in life was to end up alone. It’s not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people who make you feel alone.’’

25. “One of the greatest attacks of the enemy is to make you busy, to make you hurried, to make you noisy, to make you distracted, to fill the people of God and the Church of God with so much noise and activity that there is no room for prayer. There is no room for being alone with God. There is no room for silence. There is no room for meditation.’’

26. “Another thing I like to do is sit back and take in nature. To look at the birds, listen to their singing, go hiking, camping and jogging and running, walking along the beach, playing games and sometimes being alone with the great outdoors. It’s very special to me.’’

27. “You can’t change the world alone—you will need some help—and to truly get from your starting point to your destination takes friends, colleagues, the goodwill of strangers and a strong coxswain to guide them.’’

28. “Sometimes you just need a break. In a beautiful place. Alone. To figure everything out.”

29. “Learn to be alone and to like it. There is nothing more empowering or freeing than learning to like your own company.”

30. “Your life will get better when you realize it’s better to be alone than to chase people who don’t really care about you.”

Alone But Happy Inspirational And Meaningful Sayings

31. “One of the major dangers of being alone in February is the tendency to dwell on past relationships. Whether you’re daydreaming about that ‘one that got away’, or you’re recalling the fairy tale date you went on last Valentine’s Day, romanticizing the past isn’t helpful—nor accurate.’’

32. “No phone. No pool. No pets. No cigarettes. Ultimate freedom… No longer to be poisoned by civilization, he flees, and walks alone upon the land to become Lost in the Wild.’’

33. “It is absolutely necessary, for the peace and safety of mankind, that some of earth’s dark, dead corners and unplumbed depths be let alone; lest sleeping abnormalities wake to resurgent life, and blasphemously surviving nightmares squirm and splash out of their black lairs to newer and wider conquests.’’

34. “A man is born alone and dies alone; and he experiences the good and bad consequences of his karma alone; and he goes alone to hell or the Supreme abode.’’

35. “We can be tired, weary and emotionally distraught but after spending time alone with God, we find that He injects into our bodies energy, power and strength.’’

36. “I was excited at something new, always liked something new but give credit to everybody who helped. I didn’t do anything alone but try to go to the root of the question and succeeded there.’’

37. “Aim high and don’t sell yourself short. Know that you’re capable. Understand that a lot of people battle with a lot of things—depression, body image or whatever else—so know that it’s not just you. You’re not alone.’’

38. “Too many Christians have a commitment of convenience. They’ll stay faithful as long as it’s safe and doesn’t involve risk, rejection, or criticism. Instead of standing alone in the face of challenge or temptation, they check to see which way their friends are going.’’

39. “Never fuck with someone who is not afraid to be alone. You will lose every single time.”

40. “The loneliest people are the kindest. The saddest people smile the brightest. The most damaged people are the wisest. All because they do not wish to see anyone else suffer the way they do.”

Alone But Happy Inspirational And Meaningful Sayings

41. “There are worse things than feeling alone. Things like being with someone and still feeling alone.”

42. “Let me tell you this: if you meet a loner, no matter what they tell you, it’s not because they enjoy solitude. It’s because they have tried to blend into the world before and people continue to disappoint them.”

43. “Loneliness is like when you wish someone else was there and solitude is when you enjoy being alone. I don’t always want to be alone but I definitely like pockets of solitude to recharge and come back to myself. I think that’s so important for everyone.’’

44. “Getting stress out of your life takes more than prayer alone. You must take action to make changes and stop doing whatever is causing the stress. You can learn to calm down in the way you handle things.’’

45. “None of us got to where we are alone. Whether the assistance we received was obvious or subtle, acknowledging someone’s help is a big part of understanding the importance of saying thank you.’’

46. “Yes, I guess you could say I am a loner but I feel more lonely in a crowded room with boring people than I feel on my own.’’

47. “Language… has created the word ‘loneliness’ to express the pain of being alone. And it has created the word ‘solitude’ to express the glory of being alone.’’

48. “The starting point of discovering who you are, your gifts, your talents, your dreams, is being comfortable with yourself. Spend time alone. Write in a journal. Take long walks in the woods.’’

49. “Earth teach me to forget myself as melted snow forgets its life. Earth teach me resignation as the leaves which die in the fall. Earth teach me courage as the tree which stands all alone. Earth teach me regeneration as the seed which rises in the spring.’’

50. “Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.’’

Alone But Happy Inspirational And Meaningful Sayings

51. “The thing I like about baseball is that it’s one on one. You stand up there alone and if you make a mistake, it’s your mistake. If you hit a home run, it’s your home run.’’

52. “I secretly enjoy being alone—hiking alone, skiing alone, walking along the beach alone, going to movies alone. Do not get me wrong, I like sharing my life with other people but sometimes I really enjoy being as alone as possible.’’

53. “The time you spend alone with God will transform your character and increase your devotion. Then your integrity and godly behavior in an unbelieving world will make others long to know the Lord.’’

54. “With fools, there is no companionship. Rather than to live with men who are selfish, vain, quarrelsome and obstinate, let a man walk alone.’’

55. “Success doesn’t necessarily come from breakthrough innovation but from flawless execution. A great strategy alone won’t win a game or a battle; the win comes from basic blocking and tackling.’’

56. “Only by going alone in silence, without baggage, can one truly get into the heart of the wilderness. All other travel is mere dust and hotels and baggage and chatter.’’

57. “Being alone has a power that very few people can handle.”

58. “No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.”

59. “Loneliness is an emotion and being alone can be a choice.”

60. “Some people can’t stand being alone. I love solitude and silence. But when I come out of it, I’m a regular talking machine. It’s all or nothing for me.”

Alone But Happy Inspirational And Meaningful Sayings

We live in a hyperconnected world where our loved ones are one FaceTime call away, and texting our partners and friends throughout the day is a matter of routine for us. This is a double-edged sword because being by ourselves has started to leave many of us feeling anxious, restless, and lonely. Today, we are going to talk about how to be happy alone. We have 10 ways that will help you tackle the feelings of loneliness.

It is true that as a generation, we are always well-connected, thanks to the internet. But since we always have someone to talk to, learning how to live alone happily is not given the importance it deserves. We’re not dismissing the value of social interactions, but within this body and by ourselves, we are always on our own. So, it becomes imperative that we learn to be happy alone, and that we do so gracefully.

Remember when we were kids, most of us were just fine being left alone in a garden or a backyard? I would go as far as saying that some children preferred being by themselves. But as you grew older, the need to socialize began to overpower the comfort of solitude. This brings us to our conversation at hand, on how to be happy alone. And not just that, how to be happy alone and single.

Human experiences shape an individual into the person they are at this very moment. This journey of self-discovery is never-ending, and there are several instances on this journey that can teach us how to be happy alone.

When you’re with someone and you feel miserable, maybe your company is the problem. If you’re alone and you feel lonely, then you might be in bad company too. Loneliness is an uncomfortable feeling and there’s no doubt about it. It makes you feel like there is a void that needs to be filled which can only be fixed with someone or something. To counter that need, here are 10 ways to be happy alone in your own company.

1. Make more time for your platonic relationships

A heartbreak is a challenging time for all of us. There is far too much to process and little to no understanding about what needs to be addressed first. There is the grieving at night, analyzing ‘what could have been done better’ in the afternoon, and the mornings are for sleeping in of course. But you know this can’t go on for too long, and it might also be the reason that you Googled “How to be happy alone?” in the first place.

Don’t get stuck in this rut. Being happy alone and single is not as bad as it may seem to you right now. We’ve all heard how spending time with friends improves your relationship. We empathize that you lost someone you love to a break-up, and now there is a void they have left. It’s time for you to replace your old routines and rituals with your friends. This is especially important if your relationship brought some distance between you and your pals.

This is our first tip on how to be happy alone — start investing more time in your existing platonic relationships. I know this advice to be effective as I have personally fallen back to this whenever I have gone through a break-up and could use a support system. A word of caution, remember that it is not their job to be available for you all the time. Make sure your platonic relationships are built on healthy, sincere, and realistic reciprocation where you’re showing you care for them.

Don’t lose sight of the fact that the goal is to learn to be happy alone and start being comfortable in your own company. Your friends too have things they struggle with, and you shouldn’t be disheartened if they’re unavailable a few times. Most importantly, fight the urge to sulk, and make sure you turn up when they’re hanging out as this will go a long way to create a stable ground for you to stand upon.

happy alone and single
Spend more time with your friends at the start your healing journey

2. In case of a breakup, go back to being who you were

If you’re here because of a breakup, please continue reading. Being in a relationship can be incredibly fun. But whether you consciously realize it or not, accommodating another person in your life means you have to occasionally lose some parts of yourself.

It is true that relationships need management and understanding between two people in order to function with minimal friction. Ask yourself what things about yourself you had to keep on the sidelines to prioritize the relationship. Before you panic, this is not a sign that your relationship was toxic, as long as you were acting of your own volition.

But if you were in a toxic relationship, that is all the more reason for you to start doing the things you used to love. Wipe off your cheeks, sit with yourself, and reflect upon the things you were previously involved in but lost touch with. This is a great way to address questions like “How to be happy alone?” or “Is being happy alone and single difficult?”

Contrary to popular belief, finding a way back to being the person you were before the relationship is easier than you think. The simplest of activities that you enjoy – like reading, baking, gardening, and playing more video games – is how you’ll get back to being yourself. Avoid doing any funny business after a break-up and you’ll be fine. If you’re not able to find a way back through self-reflection, think about the times your ex has complained about your habits, you may find an answer there. This is how to be happy alone, with zest and fulfillment.

3. Strengthen your relationship with yourself with positive self-talk

Do you want a crash course on how to be happy alone? Here is a simple reminder that you can come back to every time you feel anxious being by yourself — The relationship I share with me is the most important relationship in my life. This will help you to being happy alone by reminding you that the most important relationship you have is with yourself.

The first and foremost thing that you should do is pay attention to the mental narrative you have about yourself. We’re talking about the commentary that runs in your head. There are several reasons the way we speak to ourselves is important. Haven’t we all heard about how negative self-talk is detrimental to our well-being? Your first step toward learning how to be alone is to stop manufacturing crap about yourself in your mind.

One of the reasons people find it difficult to be their own company is because they’re really hard on themselves. Our natural tendency is to distance ourselves from unpleasant experiences. Every time you indulge in negative self-talk, you’re creating an unpleasant experience for yourself, hence you’re sad on your own. And did you know that negative self-talk is one of the signs you had a toxic mother growing up? It is going to take conscious and consistent effort on your end to change that.

When you want to get to know yourself better, you’ll have to ignore the outside noise and turn your attention inward. Start by listening to yourself, you can even sit with a notebook and write down how you feel about yourself, the good and the bad. Initially, this may feel like a difficult hurdle to cross but it’s highly rewarding. This is a very important part of being happy alone. Lastly, start treating yourself as a friend and be kind to yourself. Create a list and add one thing to it every day that you like about yourself.

Related Reading: How To Get Through A Breakup Alone?

4. Wondering how to be happy alone? Come up with your own blueprint for your life

As you might have noticed, we’re taking small steps to be a party all by ourselves. The journey of learning how to be happy alone is not a straight line and there will be detours. As you start feeling more comfortable being in your company, new opportunities for growth will present themselves. Single life is different from dating life, they both have their pros and cons.

As the turbulence of negative self-talk settles, you will cultivate a fresh and empathetic outlook toward who you are. When I was going through this period just a few months ago, I noticed how ignorant I was when it came to tending to my own needs. Similarly, a lot of things about yourself will become clear to you during this period. The importance of having clarity about who you are cannot be emphasized enough when you’re trying to understand how to be happy alone.

We’d like to clarify that you should not be forcing yourself to do this, you’ll reach this place within yourself as a natural consequence of your inward effort. Once you have an approach like this, you will notice that you won’t be looking for motivational posts on Instagram. The inward drive to become the best version of yourself is more potent than any external motivation in the world.

Power down your devices, minimize any possible distractions and sit down to make a blueprint of what your ideal life would look like. Put on some relaxing music and brainstorm. Use the newfound clarity you have to assess major areas of your life, set up new milestones, and be bold and honest. There are plenty of ways to be happy alone, and using alone time as a catalyst and a medium for growth is one of the most effective ones.

Related Reading: 15 Signs You Had Toxic Parents And You Never Knew It

5. Start meditating daily and reflect on the quality of your thoughts and emotions

We need moments of silence, we need moments of sacredness that are just for us. Having a daily morning routine with yourself is important when you’re looking for personal development. Practicing self-love, and focusing on your spiritual journey are different ways to be happy alone. Continue reading as all of this is going to make sense toward the end of the article.

Unfortunately, far too many of us go years without taking care of ourselves and it’s partially because modern societies don’t provide the space we need to tend to our own gardens. Consider yourself fortunate that you were able to recognize the need to get the hang of being alone. It’s time for you to establish your morning routine or a routine of some kind where you can be by yourself and spend time in self-reflection (but with kindness) on a daily basis.

There are numerous benefits to this. Not only will you be making progress in your overall health and lifestyle, but also in the quality of your daily life. Did we mention that through this you can finally stop carrying your emotional baggage? It’s truly a win-win situation. Every day before you start attending to the to-do list of the day, try spending some time meditating so you can focus on the things that are important to you. Daily meditation is one of the old-school ways to be happy alone, to start enjoying the solitude of your own company.

Since we’re always consuming content in the form of tweets, videos, and articles, it leaves no time for us to consciously process all this information we’re being bombarded with. This is one of the reasons that being without a phone or some sort of company makes people uneasy and restless, don’t let phones ruin your relationships. A morning routine, especially one with meditation, can be the space where you can reflect on the quality of your thoughts and emotions on a daily basis.

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6. Distance yourself from painful memories and live in the moment

Human consciousness is capable of a myriad of things when it’s channeled in a focused manner toward a task. A large number of people find it difficult to stay in the moment, especially the ones who don’t practice mindfulness. The simplest way to practice being in the moment is by meditating. There are plenty of apps that can help you with guided meditations; even YouTube videos can give you the necessary support when starting out.

Memories of the past can create a lot of pain as much as they create pleasure. If you’ve noticed yourself constantly reliving a painful memory from the past, then it’s time to create the necessary distance from it. Analyzing these events is of little use to you now, since it’s already in the past. Since that is the case, doesn’t it make sense to make peace with the past?

There is a significant amount of research that shows meditation helps you distance yourself from painful memories. Only when you hold your past at a distance from you, you’ll be able to stay in the present. Whatever has happened in the past can’t be changed now and since the future is not here, all there is for you to experience is the present.

It is the stability and inevitably of this present moment that can make one happy. If you’re living with what happened in the past, you’ve lost the opportunity of creating a happy present for yourself. Similarly, you miss the opportunity of creating the future you wish for when you’re worried about it.

How to be happy alone in the present moment you ask? By reminding yourself that the ‘present’ moment is a ‘gift’ from the Universe to you. It’s free from the pain of the past and worries of the future, you just have to be mindful of it.

Related Reading: 9 Ways To Practice Mindfulness In Intimate Relationships

7. Recognize the difference between being alone and lonely

Right now, as you read this article, if you’re sitting by yourself in a room, then you are alone. When you keep the phone away and start wishing for company, then you’re lonely. The former is a fact and the latter is a human emotion. Do you now understand what we meant by being happy alone and single?

Research suggests that loneliness is associated with poor social skills, introversion, or even depression. There is no common cause for loneliness but it’s important to understand that loneliness is a state of mind. When I was a freshman in college, I felt lonely in spite of being surrounded by my peers. I was longing to be with my partner as the long-distance relationship was taking a toll on me. Loneliness is often involuntary.

Being alone is not a bad thing, even though it’s often perceived as something negative. You can be alone without being lonely. It is important to learn how to handle being alone as even the most social of us spend a lot of time away from people. Our advice to you is that you recognize what triggers the loneliness and set it aside by replacing it with some time with yourself.

In the previous points, we went through the importance of solitude and how you can benefit from it. People who enjoy solitude can make the voluntary choice to be alone and happy. When such an individual craves social connections, they can tap into their existing relationships. If you wanted to know how to be happy alone and have a balanced approach, now you know.

8. Seek expert advice if nothing seems to be working

If you’ve reached this far into the article, we hope you have been able to understand what’s bothering you and how you can deal with it. However, if you’re feeling stuck and no tips seem to work for you, then it’s best to reach out to a mental health expert.

Sometimes, going out and socializing is not enough, meditation isn’t enough, journaling only seems to work occasionally, and nothing sticks. This is when you need to consider seeing a therapist about your problems. The simplest sign of a weak connection to oneself is when you don’t enjoy the activities you once did. This is a result of alienation from life and a disconnect with your hobbies or from socializing.

It’s important to remember that reaching out is not a sign of weakness, but a significant step toward the path of self-care. And the sooner you seek help, the faster you can get back on track. Going to therapy can have numerous benefits, especially if you’re having trouble regulating your emotions, or experiencing disruptions in sleep or appetite.

If you’re struggling to feel happy alone, at Bonobology we have a wide panel of experts to guide you through any challenging time you may be going through. You can confide in our experts and get incisive insights about your problems, in the comfort of your home and at affordable prices.

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9. Cultivate a new hobby or revive old ones

Hobbies provide a fulfilling and productive use of our free time. Our core identities are often bound up in the interests we choose to pursue when we are not working, sleeping, or spending time with loved ones. Having a hobby that we enjoy brings us joy and enriches our lives. It’s one of the simplest ways you can start dating yourself.

Hobbies help you release stress by keeping you engaged in activities that aren’t associated with work, chores, or responsibilities. The answer to “How to be happy alone?” lies in finding something fun to do during your leisure time. Moreover, when you enjoy doing something, you must already be good at it and this gives your confidence and self-esteem a boost.

A hobby doesn’t have to be a time-filler between working and hanging out with friends. It can morph into a passion that gets you excited, helps you recover from a long day, or gets your mind working. It helps you boost the quality of your life, and that’s why they’re so important to have when you’re learning how to be happy alone.

Most of us have hobbies. The few who don’t are probably thinking to themselves, “How to be alone and happy if I don’t have any hobbies?” We have a solution for that. It’s not that you don’t have hobbies, you’ve either outgrown them or need more time in exploring your interests. In either case, starting with simple activities like reading, dancing in your room to music you like, volunteering in the community, gardening, or going to watch a movie by yourself can break the ice for you.

Related Reading: The 12 Mantras Of Being Happily Single While You Are Single

10. Start following your passion

When all goes well, why not push your dreams? Once you start to follow the tips listed in this article, we’re certain you would be closer to peace than when you started. You now know how to be happy alone and resist any feelings of loneliness whenever they tend to surface. It’s highly likely that if you have the right ideas and determination, you can turn your hobbies into a profitable passion.

The more you’re involved in doing things you love to do, there’s hope that you can turn that into a career opportunity. Being happy alone and single will then be your natural state of being. It’s not that you will stop wanting relationships, but now you can consciously choose if you wish to take up a partner. Being single has its awesome perks too.

But what if you’re not particularly passionate about anything? Where do you start? Well, first of all, everyone has a passion — you probably haven’t discovered yours yet. But don’t worry, there are a lot of easy (and painless) ways to find out just what it is.

If you don’t know where to begin, think back to what you loved doing as a kid. Those were the times you were wild and free, and you didn’t do something unless you really, really loved it. Chances are, you still have a lot of those same core interests. Think about the last thing that made you forget about having lunch, these are the things you enjoy doing and quite possibly the passion you’re looking for.

If you’ve stuck around till the end of this piece, you’ve surely found some tips that helped you understand the process of how to be happy alone. We hope you make good use of your alone time and become the best version of yourself.

FAQs

1. Can you be happy if you’re alone?

Yes! You can be happy if you’re alone, in fact, that is how it should be. You have to learn to enjoy your company as you’ll be spending most of your time here on Earth by yourself. If you view yourself as a happy and content individual, you will be happy all the time.

2. Why being alone is the best?

A few reasons why spending time in solitude can be the best experience of your daily life are an increase in productivity and a decrease in distractions and external noise. It helps improve and strengthen mental health. Another reason is it can give you time to plan your life and work toward your passion.

5 Signs The No-Contact Rule Is Working

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Being Happy Alone

We are born alone and no matter who we are, we will spend time alone. Whether we choose to live a life alone or if it has been thrown upon us through, the way we think & feel about being alone, will affect our happiness. 11 benefits of being happy alone and 25 simple ways to do so below. 

“Being alone has a power that very few people can handle”

11 Benefits of Being Happy Alone

Girl looking happy alone - Benefits of being happy alone

  1. We inevitably spend time alone: No matter who you are or where you’re from, you will spend time alone. Being happy and comfortable with it, will help those times.
  2. Being happy in Yourself: When we’re content with being by ourself and enjoy our own company, we can be fully happy when in the company of others 
  3. Time to Think: Being alone gives you time to think. Breathing space.
  4. Helps us Get to Know Ourself: We can’t truly get to know ourself without that thinking time and removing outside interruptions
  5. You Can Be Your True Self: Being alone means you can be yourself. No pretence or having to please others, just being yourself
  6. You Can Use Your Time Wisely: You can plan, get creative and do the things that you want to do
  7. You are the Priority: When alone, we can prioritise ourself, our values and our interests 
  8. Increases Productivity: We can often concentrate more and “get our head down” when alone. Alone time can help us be more productive in our goals and ambitions
  9. Boosts Inner Confidence: When we are alone we innately need an inner confidence to “keep us going”. Being alone will build that confidence
  10. Being More Self-Sufficient: Like building confidence, when alone we learn how to be self-sufficient and stand on our two feet
  11. You Are The Only Person Who Will Be With You for the Rest of You Are Life: So it’s best to be happy with yourself 

“I think it’s very healthy to spend time alone. You need to be know how to be alone and not defined by another person»

25 Simple Ways to Be Happy Alone

man reading book looking happy - ways to be happy alone

  1. Appreciate the Peace: There will be times when life comes thick and fast. Make the most of time alone and enjoy the peace.
  2. Get to Know Yourself: Take the time to understand yourself. Ask yourself questions around what it is that you really want in life, what your true values and beliefs are. Learning about ourself allows us to pave the way for the future that we want.
  3. Write down hopes & dreams: And a plan on how to achieve them
  4. Write Down a Worry List & a Plan to Eliminate Them: Write down a list of anything that is worrying you and how you are going to remove those worries from your life
  5. Make the Place Your Own: If you live by yourself, make the place your own. Move the furniture around and change up the decoration to just how you want it
  6. Go & Do Whatever You Want: Without anyone else influencing your decision, you can go out and do whatever you want. Take the walk that you want to take, watch the movie you want to watch or simple take a nap when you want to take nap. Enjoy the Freedom
  7. Build Yourself into a “Better” You: Look after yourself. Exercise and eat well. Look after your mind and body. This will help your moods, feelings and thought processes.
  8. Go For a Walk: An instant relief if you’re not having fun alone. Get outside in nature and take a walk. Get some vitamin D, exercise, mindfulness and fresh air all at the same time.
  9. Get Creative: Spend time indulging in your creative side. You have time to yourself so try using it productively. Paint, draw, write or make something. Do whatever helps you get in touch with your creative side
  10. Take a Break: Have time to do just do nothing and don’t feel guilty about it. The rest and relaxation will do you the world of good.
  11. Be Mindful: Living in the present moment removes negatives thoughts and feelings. Observe the things around you, take in your environment and be mindful.
  12. Meditate: Similar to mindfulness, meditation helps us “be” in the present moment, removing negative thoughts & feelings and bringing balance back to life  
  13. Practice Gratitude: Write down the things and people that you have in life and be grateful for them. Relive the feeling and emotions you have for them and enhance your mood
  14. Practice Forgiveness: Don’t get caught up in bad feelings towards others. Anger and revenge never solved anything. Give it up to help calm the mind  
  15. Learn to Love & Accept Yourself: You are the only you. The moment we learn to accept ourself and that our faults make us the person that we are, the moment that we can start living life
  16. Volunteer: Do something rewarding with your time and help others. This will benefit others and will fill you with a sense of accomplishment and provide value to life
  17. Fill Your Time With Worthwhile Things: Fill your time with things that will make you proud and feel like you have accomplished something. Use your time wisely as things may change and you may not get more of it
  18. Do Things: Get out, go to the movies, go to dinner, a concert, a walk. You can do all of that stuff and it can be just as enjoyable by yourself
  19. Get Out of Your Comfort Zone: Try new experiences and push yourself. This will lead to amazing life experiences, opportunities and relationships
  20. Keep in Communication: Do keep in touch with others whether it be via email, phone, text or video call. Humans are social creatures and do need interaction with others
  21. Understand That it is OK to be Alone: There are billions of people on this planet who spend the majority of the time on their own. Some do not like however some relish it. Understand that however you feel about it, it is ok (and natural) to be alone 
  22. Change the Routine: Don’t get stuck doing the same things day in day out. This can bring you down and leave you feeling flat. Shake it up a bit and make changes to keep things interesting 
  23. Don’t Compare: Someone else’s life is their life. Let them get on with it and don’t worry about it. You don’t know what their life is truly like. Just enjoy yours
  24. Tone Down Social Media Use: Social media is generally not a true reflection of reality. All those constantly joyously happy people, not true. Everyone has their ups and downs however social media does not show that and it can drag you down thinking about how perfect everyone else’s life is. Scale it right back
  25. Get Some Professional Help: If being alone is really getting you down, seek professional help and someone to talk. Many trained therapists and counsellors will be able to help

Further Exploration — Articles & Media

Time Logo
Psychalive logo

Article: Being Alone: The Pros and Cons of Time Alone

Psychalive look at the pros and cons of spending time alone. Pros include allowing our brains to recharge and increasing productivity while the cons include allowing us to be vulnerable to our inner critic and leading to painful loneliness

How to Be Alone- If You Want To, and Even If You Don't by Lane Moore

Book: How to Be Alone: If You Want To, and Even If You Don’t

Performer & comedian Lane Moore’s book charting her own story with being alone and helps those «who desperately wants to feel less alone and a little more connected through reading her words.»
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Your Take

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