Let’s say it loud and clear: it’s time to promote being single. Single people don’t have to be ashamed of not being in a relationship!
People who choose to live alone are often pressured or judged by those around them. However, it is entirely possible to be happier when you are single. In Canada, the number of people living alone has more than doubled in 35 years. There were 1.7 million in the early 1980s, while in 2016 there were 4 million. It’s high time we rethink our image of happiness and accept as a modern society that solo happiness is just as good as life as a couple.
Since our psychologists often meet single people who are confronted with their life choices and who then question themselves, we have chosen to prepare this article.
A social image to undo
Media, advertisements, dating sites… Everywhere around us, we promote the life of a couple and the couple who wants to start a family. Life as a couple remains the social rule. It remains, for many people, one of the signs of a successful life. And it goes without saying that almost everything is designed for couples. It’s much easier to own a home or go on a trip when there are two of you.
In addition, for many people, finding true love and building a solid relationship, even a family, is the great adventure of life, the goal to which we should all aspire. Moreover, for a long time, women defined themselves in relation to their husbands and the mother of the family that they became. Nowadays, this is no longer the case as most women aspire to a fulfilling professional and social life.
In short, the couple should no longer be an end in itself. This image comes from a social conditioning that has no place nowadays.
Solo life: beneficial in many ways
Because of the individualistic society in which we live, the desire for self-determination is very present in many people. We want to be ourselves, to define our own tastes and desires, to choose the course of our lives. All this, we no longer want to do it according to another person. In this sense, many individuals notice, with the passing of time and after certain experiences in a couple relationship, that they are happier alone. They have more self-confidence, more motivation on a daily basis and more determination.
Studies have also shown that, in some cases, couples tend to form a kind of hermetic bubble. Because they are there for each other and rely heavily on the support that the couple provides, they need each other less and are less likely to reach out to others. Singles are more outgoing and are often closer to family and friends. They have a richer social life. In addition, singles look for areas of self-actualization outside of relationships, such as in their professional lives, in sports, creatively, or by being involved in their communities. They focus on themselves and seek to become a better version of themselves.
The psychologist’s support for better self-acceptance
In spite of the concrete benefits they can get from being single and the increased level of happiness they feel when they are alone, single people are obviously confronted with the gaze of their loved ones and social pressure. In this sense, some have difficulty understanding and accepting their desire to be alone. In such cases, the support of a psychologist can be very relevant. The professional can help to break down preconceived ideas about celibacy and push his client towards a better acceptance of his situation, as well as help him deal with social pressure.
If needed, request an online consultation in psychology with the GO™ Clinic team. You will meet with a therapist who is a member of the Ordre des psychologues du Québec, who will be able to offer you personalized support.
Approuvé par Francis Desjardins
