I shared something on Facebook yesterday that seems to be striking a chord with many.
It was a post that I was nervous to share – because even though I know that what I’m doing is right for me, I still have that piece that runs very deep within that feels that somehow I should feel bad or guilty for honoring my sensitivity and taking care of my own needs.
Here is the post that I wrote:
July 26, 2014
As an introvert, I need a lot of time to recharge after being “on” (around people). While I love connecting with others and it feeds my soul in many ways, I realized that it needed to be balanced with quiet, alone time. So a couple of years ago, I decided that I wasn’t going to talk to anyone (besides Dan) during the weekends to create a cocoon for myself. At first, it felt really decadent – like I was getting away with something. But I loved it so much – it felt so healing. A year ago I added on the first week of each month. And again, that felt amazingly decadent, and at first I wondered if it was too much. But it felt so nourishing that I couldn’t imagine not doing it. And now, I’m so happy that I’m continuing to honor my own needs by adding on another week. So I’ll have 2 weeks “on” each month and 2 weeks “off.” It’s such a beautiful balance that feels really good in my soul. I’m extremely sensitive to energy, and this is a way to honor my own needs while still be able to connect with others. I’m feeling so good about this change – it feels so loving and empowering. Our bodies are always talking to us, and listening to mine and doing what it asks without judgment has changed my life in such beautiful ways.
In writing this, I felt both exposed and free. I felt like I came closer to sharing my truest self – the self that I have shied away from sharing for most of my life for fear that I would be seen as antisocial or different or “bitchy” or uncaring or aloof.
I have always been a combination of introverted and sensitive, and I have always loved being alone and immersing myself in quiet and stillness. There is no better feeling for me than turning off the phone, pulling the shades, closing the door, and knowing that my time is my own. It’s in these moments that I feel like I can exhale – like I am home.
As a child, I spent hours and hours alone in my bedroom. I was so sensitive to energy and wanted so much to be alone that closing my bedroom door wasn’t always enough. I loved going into the closet and closing that door as well. I would bring in a blanket, some candy, a book, and my journal and spend hours at a time in my cocoon. It was pure heaven.
As I got older though, I started to feel that this need for solitude wasn’t normal. I started to sense that this wasn’t something that I should share with others if I wanted to fit in. I didn’t want to appear to be antisocial. So I kept this secret of needing to recharge to myself, and I subconsciously came up with “appropriate” ways to find time to be alone – by getting sick. No one questions that. When you’re sick, you get plenty of time to rest and recharge. So that’s pretty much how I spent my 20s. When I got to my 30s, however, I no longer wanted to use this excuse. I wanted to honor my introversion and my sensitivity. I wanted to claim them as the gifts that they are.
So I began to take steps to consciously and unapologetically share my true self with others. I made a decision that I would no longer hide who I was from the world. I knew that this need to be alone wasn’t something to feel ashamed of. It didn’t mean that anything was wrong with me. It just meant that I needed extra time to connect with my soul in order to recharge. That’s all.
Not everyone has understood this need for quiet – especially as the amount of time that I need grows. But my true friends have learned that it’s who I am – they honor this part of me and want me to be happy. They know that if they want to have a relationship with me, this is part of the deal.
For so long, I carried so much guilt for moving away from others in order to honor this need for silence and stillness. I now see that it’s not so much that I’m moving away from them – it’s more than I’m moving toward myself. I’m moving toward my connection with my soul, with the divine, and with all that is.
I’m realizing that the more I support others and give to others and offer love to others, the more I need to support myself and give to myself and love myself. I spend so much of my time connecting on a deep level with beautiful souls, and I’m much better able to support them if I’m all recharged and ready to go! And while I’m setting these boundaries for myself, it does help to know that others will benefit as well. It somehow makes it easier to do and to stick with.
I’ve also found that as I raise my vibration, my sensitivity heightens. As I move into the world of the soul, my awareness increases and my spirit vibrates on a higher frequency. It’s amazing and magical to experience, but I also am learning that in order to ground myself in my human body, I need to make space for much more alone time than I previously may have needed.
It’s all part of the journey. And, based on the feedback that I’ve already received to my Facebook post, I see that I’m not alone in this. So many of us are sensitive and introverted and are consciously raising our vibration. I love knowing that we can relate to each other and can support each other as we honor our bodies and our souls and give ourselves what we need in order to function at our highest, most loving level.
Our sensitivity is a gift that is meant to be nurtured and cherished. And giving ourselves time alone to honor our needs is such a beautiful way to walk through life.
If you aren’t already giving yourself this gift, please do. Your body and soul will thank you in such loving ways. We’re all so deserving and so worthy of this conscious kind of self love and self acceptance.
Thanks Jodi for being so up front and honest in how you need alone time after working with people. I have been this way, most of my life–although in my case sometimes I don’t leave my house for days at times. I feel you are right in saying you need your own space after you wonderful work you do for others. Good job on taking care of yourself.
Beautiful post Jodi, which resonated strongly with me. Thank you.
Thanks for writing this post. I could have written one very similar. Like you, I need lots of alone time and sometimes my family does not understand why. I do love people and I do like to be around them but I need my energy restored by alone time.
Dear Jodi,
Thank you for sharing your feelings and needs with us and please don’t feel “bad” about taking time for yourself. I have had a full life of taking care of others and only dreamed of time alone for myself. I felt so selfish when I did anything for “just me” which was not very often. Once my girls left the nest and since I have been widowed and alone for a few years I am no longer shy about staying in my apartment and just being. I meditate and do prayers, sometimes I’ll just sit & read, play games on my laptop, take out my Angel Tarot cards and try to learn with them or the Oracle deck and of course your Soul Cards. As women we tend to take care of everyone’s needs and neglect ours. Time out for yourself is a necessity not a luxury. Take care, Big Bear Hugs and Lots Of Love (LOL).
Jodi, you are SUCH a wonderful role model and inspiration for us introverts – congratulations on recognising what you need and being willing to take a stand for that.
I’m looking at creating an Energy Management quotes post either next week or the following week (where I ask wise introverts that I know what they do to recharge and manage their energy). May I excerpt something from here and link to your post when I do? I think my introverty peeps would be able to learn a lot from you!
Blessings
TANJA
Hi Jodi
Your posts have ALWAYS resonated strongly with me and this one is no exception! Yes, I’m also very sensitive, and still feel “unworthy” at times or that “there’s something wrong with me.” Bless you for your courage and for speaking and being your truth.
Love
Mervyn
Ooooooh! I love that you shared the specifics of how you take time off from people. I agree that taking two weeks out of the month to retreat into my shell sounds decadent! I probably don’t need that much seclusion, but I love how you’ve come to terms with your needs and are taking care of them.
For me, it’s important to take weekends off business and people. Whenever I have an event or a meetup on the weekend, it really drains my energy, even though I love seeing people.
Thank you for sharing this…I have, for along time, felt funny sharing the truth of my ‘aloneness’ with others. I find that I prefer my own company to others quiet often and love this idea of ‘on’ and ‘off’ time.