“It is strange to be known so universally and yet to be so lonely” ~ Albert Einstein
Isn’t this true? We all want have a wide circle of friends but when one or more of them do not act according to our wishes we become unhappy. At times there can be a misunderstanding with friends and negativity creeps in. Don’t we know in-spite of being popular and liked by many friends there are moments when we still feel lonely and blue? 😦 😦 Having many friends can at times be stressful as we need to fulfill their expectations and perhaps even cater to their whims and fancies.
I wonder what ‘making friends with yourself’ means? To me it means not being dependent on the praise and admiration of friends to feel happy but to draw a deep sense of satisfaction and contentment from within ourselves. Whether it be our work our hobbies we do it to feel good ourselves and not to impress others.
We know of artists, painters, writers, gardeners, mountain climbers and scientists who spend a lot of ‘me time’ for fulfilling their passion. Spending such moments with yourself is said to be stress free, relaxing and energizing. Rarely are such folk ever lonely. 🙂
Here’s what Henry David Thoreau has to say ~ “I never found a companion that was more companionable than solitude”.
Breath of Joy 
gr8 1 !!
LikeLike
That’s a great quote… And I have it in my collection 🙂 I love that cute little Budhhist monk 🙂
LikeLike
Yes he’s so cute! and wise too 🙂
LikeLike
It is so true, wisely said! 🙂
LikeLike
Buddhist quotes are short yet so full of wisdom. It’s nice of you to appreciate such wisdom.
Kind regards.
LikeLike
Probably true. If we can stop living to impress others and, instead, live to impress ourselves, it would probably make you feel in control of your life. Perhaps that is what the ancient saints aspired to.
LikeLike
How nice to hear from you Ankur. What you say is just it and that’s the essence of the quote. Thank you and wish you well.
LikeLike
Man is a social animal. So, even though we might be happy being a loner for awhile, we still crave interpersonal relationships and praise. I love being by myself. Yet at times I crave for the company of my closest friends….that’s another kind of fulfillment.
LikeLike
I agree man IS a social being. But there are especial momentswhen we need to reflect and introspect to develop our inner self. You are quite right being a loner is abnormal and must be avoided.
Thank you and kind regards.
LikeLike
I have always enjoyed solitude, and it is entirely up to me not to degrade it into loneliness.
The virtual world is a mirage. A few days ago, a person signed off on FB , stating he was leaving this world for good. His post got more than 100 likes. He was found dead the next day. Suicide from loneliness.
Just goes to show that we are investing time into the virtual world , but ignoring the real network of family and friends.
LikeLike
Hi Doc Sweety your comments are very well worded especially the first sentence. True we must not be be loners but interact with folks meaningfully.
Please pardon my delay in acknowledging. Regards.
LikeLike
What great contrast between Einstein’s quote and the other two. I love Einstein’s quotes. Many of them of humorous. Being a friend to oneself is similar to a topic I was listening to on a TED Talk this week, which had to do with feeling worthy of being “_____” (you can fill in that blank with so many relational words and phrases). The speaker noted that a person must first show compassion toward oneself – or – as you put it – Make friends with Yourself. As always, you inspire me.
LikeLike
Enriching response from you Robin and good know you watched a similar theme on TED and could correlate the two. It is always a pleasure to hear from you And thanks for the encouraging compliment. 🙂
LikeLike
Hurrah! A post for writers AND introverts. What a wonderful picture. Makes me want to take a little snooze. Cheers.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on God and Love and commented:
I have liked what Thoreau had said about ‘solitude’ being one’s best companion. I am quite comfortable being alone with myself; time just passes so quickly. There are so many for whom being alone is a torture. I can’t figure out why?
LikeLike
VERY nice! 🙂 Have a nice summer! Kamila
LikeLike
Thank your kindly. And I wish you the same 🙂
LikeLike
Well said dilipji. But despite the fact that i like my own company, sometimes it makes me feel strangely lonely. Also i draw deep satisfaction in writing down my thoughts..my passion. But then , when i keep on sending articles to newspapers and magazines and not a single one publishes them 😛 … I feel Ufff, what’s the use.
You see i am a poor confused soul 🙂
LikeLike
Hi Pamela all we your blog readers know you do write very well 🙂 And of-course don’t we write more for ourselves rather than for the others? So good luck to the newspapers yet I am sure once they do publish your articles they will continue to do so 🙂
Ha Ha aren’t we all a bit confused at times 🙂 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Dilipji. Yes we all are pretty confused at times. And I for one, is a Confidently Confused Soul 😉
LikeLike
🙂 🙂
LikeLike
So true. Your self cannot and will not abandon you, even when times are rough.
Certainly a friendship worth nurturing!
LikeLike
Well said Mary and I am so glad you too believe in this. Thanks for stopping by I too will look you up.
LikeLike
I like you blog title? or maybe the energy that comes from such a simple thought one could spin and weave to everyday breathing….
I have been solitaire for as long as I can remember…my friends are counted on one hand I think sometimes though I do have aquaintances that I enjoy as I hope they feel the same.
I was told once that life on Nantucket in the Winter show you the real reflection of yourself in the mirror…I stayed at a B&B there once, I enjoyed the quiet …
You have given us a good read for thinking today, Thank you for sharing your thoughts
and the quote …I like it
Take Care…You Matter…
)0(
maryrose
LikeLike
I am delighted Maryrose for your frightful response. And so nice to know you are at peace with yourself in solitaire.
The self reflection in Nantucket mirror is a strange phenomenon and I wonder how it could happen. In India we believe in meditation as the path to knowing our real self.
Many thanks and remember you matter too!
Regards Dilip
LikeLike
So true. I just love the quote and pic 🙂
LikeLike
I am so glad you liked the quote as also the happy little monk 🙂
Kindest regards 🙂
LikeLike
Thank’s for this post. Great reflexion and thoughtful. I agree. Se connaître soi-même, s’aimer afin aussi de pouvoir aimer l’autre. Mais ne pas se construire uniquement dans et à cause du regard de l’autre. Vivre en harmonie avec soi-même permet de vivre en harmonie avec autrui 🙂
LikeLike
Belles paroles! Genre de vous.Cordialement 🙂
have a lovely week-end Christiane.
LikeLike
So true, so true!
LikeLike
Yes isn’t it? With kind wishes for your happiness.
Regards 🙂
LikeLike
All my life I had try to make others happy, specially my friends, it was so draining. Now I want to make my best friend happy-me. Great post, thank you for making me think.
LikeLike
Hello Doris I really liked your “happy-me” word. Yes that’s what we all must do.
Been missing your presence since quite some-time now. Will look-up your blog soon.
Regards.
LikeLike
Yes I am back I been working on a children’s book and it has been hard since I am an abstract painter, but loving the challenge
take care
LikeLike
My guess is when you create anything for children you in-turn imbibe the wonderful qualities of a child. 🙂
Have a lovely week-end.
LikeLike
children are the best teachers
you too have lots of fun
LikeLike
Thanks Doris 🙂
LikeLike
Very special thoughts Dilip. I really enjoyed the thoughts you’ve put together here. Excellent food for thought.
LikeLike
Hi Tina your kind words always make me feel encouraged. I thank you and wish you very well. 🙂
LikeLike
Namaste to you, too. You’re my third blogger friend from India and am very pleased to make your acquaintance. Again, I’m happy to follow your blog.
LikeLike
Thank you and good wishes to you. Cheers and regards.
LikeLike
I couldn’t agree more. We are confident and able to face the world if we truly love and believe in ourselves. One needn’t be rich to make a difference. As an artist I take pride in having some ‘Me’ time. That way, I make room for new ideas.
Thanks for sharing. Will be reading more of your posts.
LikeLike
Welcome to my blog Uzoma my friend and for the insightful response. Yes I can understand your belief in having a calm mind to stimulate your creativity.
Thank you for stopping by. Namaste from India
LikeLike
There is another quote by Dr. Wayne Dyer that talks about this. He says, “You cannot be lonely if you like the person you’re alone with.” This is a great post! Blessings, Liz
LikeLike
Gracious of you stop by and give your lovely comments. “You cannot be lonely if you like the person you’re alone with” is a meaningful comment which truly believe in.
With kind regards and plenty of cheer 🙂
LikeLike
Loved the image Dilip and you are so right.. I so love solitude and I have enjoyed my own ME time… I am working my way around my good friends as I smile this bright 1st day of August..
Wishing you some more pleasant time within your solitude moments and within your garden.. 🙂 I will be visiting your Farm shortly too 🙂
Blessings Dilip for your wonderful support.. Hugs Sue
LikeLike
Always such delight to hear from you Sue. Yes I did note that you were on a rejuvenation break. Your time in your beautiful garden too is a meditative way to stay connected with mother nature. The good news is that the rain Gods have blessed by quenching our parched soil thirst and filling our dams/ reservoirs with water. The image on y headers is one of our nearest dams.
Many good wishes, be blessed and hugs back to you 🙂
LikeLike
Breath of Joy! A nice new name for your blog site. You should write to us why you chose this name unless I missed that post.
I enjoyed this reminder about being friends with yourself. 🙂 Thank you Dilip!
LikeLike
Charu that’s a nice suggestion which I had in mind but procrastinated. Logo’s to me are an important identity of a person or a company. In the beginning one of my students had set-up my blog to share my views on Management topics. But life as you know moves “Zig Zag” and I veered off to inspirational stuff 🙂
As such the present theme is on what I believe in and how I feel. Maybe I will be inspired to put a blog on it 🙂
However it will be no-where as significant as your theme and the way you designed it 🙂
Cheers and have a lovely day.
LikeLike
This reminds me of a saying: “Cats like being cats.”
Doesn’t matter if anyone likes them, they are totally pleased with themselves. And they seem to be pretty content in their “cattitude.”
LikeLike
Ha Ha I liked that ‘cattitude’! 🙂
LikeLike
Nice post, Dilip… 🙂 Best wishes to you.. !!
LikeLike
Thanks Bams always a pleasure hearing from you. Best always. 🙂
LikeLike
so sweeeeet …
LikeLike
Merci
LikeLike
DEAR SIR
HOPE YOU ARE DOING GREAT!!
HOW TRUE!!
I WAS SEEING THE INTERVIEW OF AN EMINENT MOVIE DIRECTOR MR. MAHESH BHATT.. HE WAS ALSO SHARING THE SAME EXPERIENCE THAT LONELINESS MAKES A PERSON MORE CREATIVE AND GIVE MORE POWERFUL TO THINK REALISTIC.
REGARDS
VEDANT
LikeLike
Wow Vedant you are so right. A creative person generally does not get distracted by worldly matters and so likes to stay alone and reflect.
Thanks Vedant I am doing fine with the blessings of Almighty and good wishes fro dear friends like you.
LikeLike
Beautiful thoughts and so true, however it seems to be – for many people – one of the hardest things to be friends with yourself and to be happy within.
LikeLike
You are quite right Freya it is not easy for everyone to be friends with yourself. Yet I do believe from the wonderful adventure packed life you have you very much are friends with yourself.
With kindest regards.
LikeLike
If only people understand the difference between loneliness and solitude ….
LikeLike
Spot on Kokila there is an ocean of difference between the two. Beautiful.
Have a lovely day 🙂
LikeLike
Thoughtful post and haunting Einstein quote. I think making friends with myself means being more accepting of my shortcomings and letting mistakes go rather than allowing them to be repeated over and over in my mind.
LikeLike
Your words “accepting of my shortcomings and letting mistakes go rather than allowing them to be repeated over and over in my mind” are so right.
Have a lovely day.
LikeLike
I really like this one, Dilip! I like having periods of alone time to write and create for my profession and personally too. Take time for yourself, my friend 🙂
LikeLike
I am delighted you like this one Christy and good to know you do believe in alone time. For a creative person it is a must. I am trying to practice the ‘me time’ concept too – as best as I can 🙂
LikeLike
It is quite true many people do not like to be alone with themselves. I think it is like you alluded to, that too many people are dependent on the praise of others to feel good, and therefore never like to be alone.
LikeLike
Its quite natural to feel good when others appreciate us but the problem is when they don’t we get disturbed 😦
We don’t have control on the other but we do have on our own mind. 🙂
LikeLike
Lovely message Dilip. We are true friend of ourselves 🙂
LikeLike
Isn’t it Heta? 🙂 We can so easily have good thoughts about ourselves whereas we cannot manage the thoughts of others.
LikeLike
All of us want to be liked … then again, I think of people who make it difficult to do so … and some of these people are also the ones who have a natural streak of nastiness. In the end, good people find other good people. … but to your point of liking self … absolutely … that’s the start, and in the end, the foundation for other relationships.
LikeLike
Thanks Frank you have clarified the point quite convincingly. Yes liking oneself in non-egoist way is the basis of positivity and friends start liking you for yourself.
Thanks you and regards.
LikeLike
To me there is no greater moment than the ‘Bliss of solitude’. Maxwell Maltz has rightly said, “If you make friends with yourself you will never be alone.
LikeLike
Well said sir I know you are peace with yourself!
LikeLike
Hi Mr. Dilip,
Thankfully I am my best friend. Currently I have developed an keen interest in medition. As being a 19 year old it is helping me a lot. I collect memories and preserve them so that I could enjoy them in future. There are many things I do with myself, it can be seen from the theme of my blog. I love experimenting.
Pranam.
Swetank. (from Being Bettr)
LikeLike
Well done Swetank from your blog I can easily make-out. Your interest in meditation will give you a happy and peaceful life. Best wishes.
LikeLike
It’s really important that we should be happy inside …we should find contentment in our own hearts. Happiness lies within us …I believe so… 🙂 a nice post Dilip ….love it..
LikeLike
Oh yes Maniparna it is so easy make out people who are content. And it always feels nice to be in their company.
Regards.
LikeLike
I am a unique individual who is very comfortable in my own skin but I am so very lonely.I love and need my solitude and I certainly don’t want compliments from others nor do I need their approval but I do crave “togetherness”. Someone to share outings with, experiences with, laughter with and of course “intimacy. I crave the love of another human who thinks I am special and I am so very, very lonely. I’m sorry but this has not been written by someone who has every experienced true loneliness.
LikeLike
🙂 I agree with you entirely and its also true I have not experienced loneliness my self. Yet I have observed a few people who have balanced their togetherness with “me time” beautifully.
Thanks for stopping by and I respect your frank response.
LikeLike
Thoreau said is well. There is so much to learn from solitude. And to depend our happiness on other people is cruising for a bruising. Excellent post.
LikeLike
Thanks Seeker I always cherish our comments. Regards.
LikeLike
I loved this post!
I agree with your interpretation of ‘making friends with yourself’.
Thoreau’s quote is so true. Of course, one must understand the difference between solitude and loneliness.
LikeLike
Thanks Pro I am glad you liked Thoreau quote as well as my interpretation. Regards.
LikeLike
Thoughtful words which you elucidated with real world experiences…really appreciate…helpful reminders towards inner contentment which no one can bestow upon us unless we are happy within. Very nice post.
LikeLike
Your words mean a lot to me! Yes It is possible to be content by managing our own thoughts.
Thank you and regards.
LikeLike
Allein ist am besten.
LikeLike
Sehr wahr. Danke.
LikeLike
Very thoughtful post, Dilipji!
“I never found a companion that was more companionable than solitude”.- Only a person comfortable in his/her own skin would be able to say this!
As you say, not being dependent on the praise of others, doing what we do to feel good ourselves- that would be making friends with ourselves.
LikeLike
That’s a lovely comment Manju. I am sure instead of seeking compliments from others we could seek satisfaction from within.
Thank you kindly!
LikeLike
N that is a great idea!
LikeLike
Yes isn’t it? 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
LikeLike