I've had odd experiences with this lately. Let me know if I'm the only one who feels this way.
I go to the gym by myself, but I never feel alone. I mean, most of the time I'm at a private gym and it's just me there. on the off chance I need to guest pass a comercial gym I don't bring anyone with me. But before the lift, when it's time to focus, when the set numbers start stacking high and its a fight to complete my session, I think about the people who (for lack of a better qualifier) would attend my funeral. My loved ones, the positive people in my life, the memories of good times, accomplishment and encouragement. My family is there, my friends are there, people who I've had one really good experience with are there, and in my neurotic mind, I'm in their embrace. This positivity has really helped me in my lifting I think, and while I may not have anyone with me at the gym, with meditation like this I never feel alone. and when it's me vs. the iron, win or lose, I never feel like I've lost.
This really goes back to not lifting angry any more. When I lifted angry, missing a PR would infuriate me, put me in a bad mood. Now, next time I'll get it. "the iron always give you the straight shit" and when you make it a prerequisite to think of the positive before lifting big, the iron will tell you how great your life is instead of how miserable you can be.
Lifting has become far more fruitful an experience on a personal level over the last six months than it's ever been in the past, and I enjoy it more every day.
So while I prefer to train by myself, I feel I never want to train as alone as I once did.