Sometimes you need to stand alone to prove this

Sometimes you need to stand alone to prove -- not only to others, but to yourself -- that you can still stand.

I believe strongly in turning to friends and family for support amid tough times.

But oftentimes the answers lie in us, even if we may not realize it at first, and all we need to do is follow our gut.

For instance, maybe you've been dating someone whom you know deep down isn't the right match for you, or working in a career that you've known for a long time doesn't make full use of your skills.

Perhaps others prod you to continue dating this individual because they're certain the future looks bright for the two of you. (They may have been the ones to fix you up as well.)

Or they implore you to remain in that job because, well, things are bad out there and surely you can't find a position that better suits you, right?

While many of these people mean well, who better to know who or what is right for you than yourself?

Indeed, arriving at clear, well-thought decisions can sometimes necessitate soundproofing your life. In essence, this means cutting all the outside noise -- the cacophony of voices telling you to do one thing or the other -- and instead listening to your intuition.

Many people fear making a decision without getting others to weigh in. But what they should consider is that those very people could drive them to make the wrong one.

There's no harm in seeking their advice, but ultimately the final decision rests with you, and you should always trust your instincts over others' suggestions and opinions.

It bothers me to no end how society characterizes a person's desire to be alone as weird or deviant behavior.

No, sometimes what we need more than anything is peace and quiet in order to facilitate levelheaded decisionmaking -- listening to that inner voice and drowning out the ones coming from so many directions.

If it runs someone the wrong way, tell him that while you appreciate their concern, it's a decision you need to make yourself.

Never be afraid to stand alone, and once you've made a decision, don't look back! If it doesn't work out for you, lesson learned. If it does, you can take pride in the fact you let your inner voice be your ultimate guide.

Social distancing lends itself to this approach, as our interactions with others have been limited by shelter-in-place orders.

No one's better in tune with your inner thoughts, motivations, likes, dislikes, passions, and goals like you are. So leverage your alone time wisely. Look deep within yourself and ask yourself this question: If I were advising myself, what might I say?

Therein lies the key -- not just to resolving whatever problem you face, but possibly to unlocking the elsuive happiness you've sought for such a long time.

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