Signpost 05

In a nutshell:

Aloneness can lead to either solitude or isolation. Solitude is a positive experience that can enhance creativity, while isolation can cause depression with severe health impacts. Working alone doesn’t always lead to isolation, and being among others doesn’t always prevent it.
Likewise, ideas need time to be incubated in solitude, but eventually they need to be socialised. It’s important to find the balance of aloneness for us, but also for the quality of the idea.

Key Chapter: 7

• 5.1 Aloneness, the state of being by oneself, can lead to solitude or isolation. p.25

• 5.2 Solitude is the positive manifestation of aloneness and can lead to creativity. p.25

• 5.3 Isolation can lead to depression, stress, lack of motivation and burnout. The effects of isolation have been equated to reducing lifespan as much as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. p.25

• 5.4 Working alone doesn’t necessarily end in feelings of isolation, just as working with others doesn’t eliminate them. An employee working amongst others can still feel isolated if they don’t feel part of the group. p.25

• 5.5 The best outcomes might come from balancing the right amount of one’s own ideas with those of others. p.25