I love being in solitude, in my own headspace, whether it’s here in presence or a million miles away, wherever my imagination takes me. Writing and researching tend to be solitary acts, just as meditating is a practice of dropping the mind and letting go. There is a peace in dropping all the roles, dropping the ideas of who and what I think I am and being immersed in the moment. Sometimes, I get so immersed in what I am doing I forget who I even am, I forget what I look like and then walk by a mirror and say to myself, “Oh, that’s you.”
Quiet time for contemplation and deep connection occurs as I meditate, as I do feel a presence much greater than myself. That space where there is no grasping of my mind, grasping to be or do anything other than simply sitting, chanting and allowing the space to absorb me. At the same time, I also enjoy chanting with other people.
Being an ambivert, I equally enjoy being in solitude and communing with people. I want to connect and be with other beings. Especially when we can meet on the intellectual plane or in the heart-space. I experience this as the space where we can play.
Social emotional connection is one of the greatest elements to keep us living a long and happy life. Research tells us that we need social connection. We get positive neurotransmitter release like dopamine, for reward and serotonin, for mood stabilization as we connect with other humans. With deeper connections, like partners and children, we have release of oxytocin which is a social emotional hormone for trust and love. When we connect with others, we feel good. Our brains are lit up and we sparkle.
When we connect with other people, we have mirror neurons that are activated in our brains. Mirror neurons allow us to see ourselves in other people. They were first discovered in monkeys, while a monkey was eating a grape and another monkey’s brain had mirror neurons firing as it imagined it was picking up the grape and eating it. Research later found these neurons are activated in social connection and empathy and fire as we read another person’s facial cues and match their face, lighting up as we smile and frown.
When we reach out to friends, family, a co-worker or school mate, we can positively wire our brains. Through neuroplasticity, we can change our brain wiring to have more connectivity and greater compassion for others.
Is there someone that’s been on your mind? Take the time to reach out and build the bridge and literally expand your mind as you connect!