The Power In Solitude

"In solitude the mind gains strength and learns to lean upon itself." 

Seneca
 

Last week I hosted a spiritual retreat called Sacred Stillness. The focus was simple but powerful — spending more quiet time with God. As I prepared for it, I discovered something fascinating: solitude isn’t just good for our souls, it’s good for our brains, too!

When we turn off the distractions — phones, background music, email notifications — and truly pause, a few things happen:

Our brains are physically changed.  Scientists have found that people who spend time in prayer and meditation actually have different brain patterns.

Our imaginations get rewired. Negative mindsets can be replaced with positive, life-giving thoughts.

We become more relaxed.  Even short meditation sessions can increase alpha brain waves — the ones that help us feel calm — and lower anxiety and depression.

Our brains stay younger longer. (My favorite!) A UCLA study found that long-term meditators’ brains were better preserved as they aged.

Our thoughts wander less. A Yale study found that meditation decreases activity in the part of the brain that causes “monkey mind” and constant distraction.

And here’s my favorite part: our perspective starts to shift.

When we give ourselves moments of true stillness, something powerful happens: our perspective begins to change. Meditation and quiet reflection create space between our thoughts and our reactions. Suddenly, challenges feel less overwhelming, we notice beauty we once rushed past, and we respond with more grace and less urgency. Over time, the quiet doesn’t just change our mind — it changes how we see the world. 

If you want to bring more peace into your life without moving to a cabin in the woods, let’s talk — I can help you make stillness a natural part of your everyday.

Calmly typed, 

Jan