Why Being Single Can Be the Richest Soil for Your Personal Growth

While, for some of us, being single is loneliness and frustration, others feel more empowered and free when being alone. If you belong to the first group of people, you can join the second one if you just change your perspective and realize that being single is not a disaster. Whether it’s a choice or an unexpected turn of events, singlehood can be truly beneficial for your personality, and it offers so many growth opportunities we just can’t ignore.

We at Bright Side found a few convincing reasons why singlehood can be one of the most resourceful periods in your life, and here they are:

It’s time to ditch stereotypes.

Even though there are more and more people who choose to be single, many of us can still feel the social pressure to be part of a couple and have a family of our own. Single people can still be perceived as lonely and insecure, and we need to change that cliché. Some people prefer to be single, it’s their own choice, and we need to respect that. Others can find themselves in singlehood because of a turn of events they didn’t expect, but in any case, being single is not a stigma and it doesn’t necessarily mean being “lonely.”

If you are single at the moment (for whatever reason), but you don’t feel happy and secure about your situation, you can try to start thinking positively about this period of your life, and here’s why.

You can set your goals and achieve them.

Being single is a very resourceful time to set new goals and achieve the things you probably wouldn’t have time to achieve if you were in a relationship. Have you been dreaming of learning a foreign language for many years? Well, it’s time to start! Use this time to focus on what you really want and what you really need. Expand your boundaries and broaden your horizons. Take up a new hobby, or set new professional goals — do whatever you like and enjoy life to the fullest!

The world is your oyster.

You can be the best travel buddy for yourself. Just imagine it. You can plan your journey all on your own and there’s no need to take into account someone else’s preferences. You’ll also need to make difficult decisions and overcome challenges all on your own, but it will make you stronger. Go wherever you like, whenever you like, and explore every corner of our beautiful planet. Visit new places, try new food, meet new people, and make your solo journey the best time of your life!

You can take better care of your physical and mental health.

Being single is a perfect period of time to try out a new kind of sport or a healthy diet you’ve been planning to try for a long time. You can plan your daily routine only taking into account your wishes and tastes, and you can now find time and effort for healthy eating, exercising, meditating, sleeping enough, and anything else you can think of.

You can learn who you really are.

You can spend more time on your own to understand who you are and what you want. If you miss the romance of a love relationship you once had, you can meet that need yourself. You can buy yourself some flowers, a box of your favorite chocolates, or a piece of fancy jewelry. Why not? You can even invite yourself on a date at your favorite restaurant or at a picture gallery you’ve been dreaming of going to.

You can shift your focus to other important relationships.

Apart from romantic relationships, there are other ties that form our inner circle and give us the necessary support — our friends and family. While you are enjoying your singlehood, you can spend more time and effort strengthening these important connections. Meet with your friends, organize big family dinners, and keep up with what’s going on in the lives of your nearest and dearest. Meeting new friends can also be helpful for cultivating your inner social group and strengthening your mental health.

You can be “the one” for you.

For a long period of time books, movies, and social media have been stressing the importance of looking for (and eventually finding) “the one” we can love and stay with forever. But what if we don’t have that person around at the moment, and what if they never come into our life at all? Should we just wait for “the one” to appear or nervously search for love night and day?

You are enough. You can be “the one” for yourself in the first place, and this is totally fine. Love for someone starts with love for ourselves. If we treat our singlehood as a time for growth and love for ourselves, then when we meet that someone, we can give this new relationship so much more and bring about peace and harmony, not sorrow and regret.

Bonus: stories from Internet users

• I can do whatever I want, whenever I want. I can spend money on myself with zero regard for what anyone else thinks. I don’t have to factor anyone else into my plans or life decisions. It can be lonely sometimes, but it’s also delightfully selfish. © Unknown / Reddit

• Love, love, love, being single. Been single for 5 years. Main takeaways: I can wake up early or sleep in without having a moody person to deal with. I can eat anywhere and it’s always affordable because it’s just me. The weekends are exciting because I’m not obligated to attend a significant other’s brother’s daughter’s birthday party, etc. I can listen to the music that I love at all times. I can go see any movie I want and it’s cheap if you go by yourself. Ultimately, I feel that I’ve learned so much more about the world and how to live in it because I’m not waiting or depending on another person to accomplish tasks. © Laromana28 / Reddit

What do you think of being single? Is it a resourceful or a painful period of life for you? Why? Let’s talk about it in the comments!

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