In this fast-paced world full of distracting influences, many are contemplating a return to the roots of their soul through a conscious choice of solitude.

Embracing Solitude: The Journey to Spiritual Renewal

In this fast-paced world full of distracting influences, many are contemplating a return to the roots of their soul through a conscious choice of solitude. The first step on this path begins with a deep analysis of one’s inner impulses and emotional control. This is not simply a process of self-reflection; it is a true trial that allows you to understand how well your chosen course aligns with your life goals and desire for spiritual purity.

The transition to solitude requires a deliberate withdrawal from previous social ties and places that may tempt you with worldly distractions. Abandoning a familiar environment helps to eliminate disruptive influences, thus enabling a focus on inner development. However, it is important to note that the struggle against personal passions in isolation is somewhat different—without close interaction and visible competition, support and self-accountability may seem less tangible, which demands a special inner strength. This stage reveals that spiritual renewal and cleansing require not only physical isolation but also the ability to engage in an honest inner struggle.

The final stage is the attainment of true spiritual contact, where external relationships lose their significance and one comes face-to-face with the eternal. This state occurs when the inner world starts dictating its own rules and gradually replaces the familiar perception of the surrounding world. It is important, however, to proceed with caution—do not rush to renounce the world, but rather choose the moment when your soul is ready for change and everything falls into place according to your inner will. This approach transforms the process of seeking solitude into a conscious journey filled with energy, wisdom, and profound inner awakening.

What are the stages and motivations on the path to deciding to live in solitude or to become a hermit?

The primary process of transitioning to solitude—or even to hermitage—unfolds in several sequential stages, each with its own distinct inner motivation.

First and foremost, the decision starts with deep self-control and an examination of one’s own impulses. As noted:
"Regular internal control shows how well a person is proceeding on the right path and whether the chosen course contributes to the achievement of their goal. This is a very important stage on the path to deciding to live in solitude or to become a hermit." (source: link txt)

Next, there is the mindset of distancing oneself from the world and from connections that might lead back to prior sinful behaviors or a world laden with distracting and sometimes harmful influences. One source advises:
"Refrain from the world and from living alongside people. Whoever wishes to be saved (in a renouncing-of-worldly-life fashion) should not remain in their home nor live in the city in which they sinned; likewise, they should not visit their parents or those close in the flesh..." (source: link txt)

A significant motivation here is the pursuit of spiritual purity—the desire to free oneself from worldly temptations and to focus on inner cleansing. It is also noted that the struggle against inner passions is more effective in a social setting where these passions are manifest, whereas in solitude the battle often remains only in the mind:
"Take heed to immerse yourself in this and settle in accordingly... In solitude, however, the struggle is only mental, which can be as ineffective as a fly’s wing beat. Consequently, the subduing of passions in solitude takes longer." (source: link txt)

Finally, the ultimate goal is to achieve genuine spiritual solitude—a state where one is "alone with God" and thoughts of the external world recede into the background:
"True solitude is spiritual solitude: I am alone with God. People cease to matter to me. I no longer care whether they think about me or not... To achieve true solitude... one must make an escape, attain alienation, and embrace wandering." (source: link txt)

It is also essential to proceed with caution in this choice. One source warns:
"Think carefully and consider all that is written, and do not rush into silence and solitude; rather, wait patiently with submission for the will of God and a favorable time..." (source: link txt)

Thus, the following stages and motivations can be summarized:
1. Beginning with self-analysis and internal control, where one assesses their impulses and capacity to resist inner passions.
2. Deliberately distancing oneself from the former world and relationships that might impede spiritual purity and self-development.
3. Recognizing the distinction between combating passions in a social environment and in solitude, which underscores that hermitage requires special effort.
4. The aspiration for genuine spiritual contact with God, wherein external circumstances lose relevance and inner solitude dominates.
5. Not rushing into a final decision, but rather thoughtfully and patiently waiting for the appropriate moment for change.

Supporting citation(s):
"Regular internal control shows how well a person is proceeding on the right path and whether the chosen course contributes to the achievement of their goal. This is a very important stage on the path to deciding to live in solitude or to become a hermit." (source: link txt)

"Refrain from the world and from living alongside people. Whoever wishes to be saved (in a renouncing-of-worldly-life fashion) should not remain in their home nor live in the city in which they sinned; likewise, they should not visit their parents or those close in the flesh..." (source: link txt)

"Take heed to immerse yourself in this and settle in accordingly... In solitude, however, the struggle is only mental, which can be as ineffective as a fly’s wing beat. Consequently, the subduing of passions in solitude takes longer." (source: link txt)

"True solitude is spiritual solitude: I am alone with God. People cease to matter to me..." (source: link txt)

"Think carefully and consider all that is written, and do not rush into silence and solitude; rather, wait patiently with submission for the will of God and a favorable time..." (source: link txt)