I agree about all of this, but I have a counterfactual example to post. I was going on a long hike in the woods once, and I found that it was extremely uncomfortable to be alone with my thoughts for such a long time. I tried focusing on the nature around me, but it was just uncomfortable. So I eventually caved and put on headphones and it really helped to listen to something else as I was walking through this beautiful spot.

So now I see headphones as situational. Sometimes they do help when you don’t have enough stimulus to distract you from your own thoughts. If your own thoughts are particularly annoying, but in general I do try to be in appreciation of the nature around me. The birds chirping, the leaves rustling, the people going about their lives, etc.