Loneliness: Fear or Reward?

Although solitude has been portrayed as something to be feared in society, it can actually be a reward. When you are alone, you come closer to yourself. You become more honest with yourself about the events in your life, because most of the time, you interpret things based on who you want to be or believe you are, and end up deceiving yourself.

Being alone is an opportunity to be truthful with yourself. It is a chance to make healthier decisions. A moment to discover who you are and how you stand in life.

But for people who have consciously isolated themselves, who no longer have a shoulder to lean on or someone to confide in, it can also be a danger. These individuals tend to become dependent on a single person—or the first person they find—leading to a fear of eternal loneliness. This fear prevents them from making sound decisions or developing a sense of self.

They shape themselves according to the wishes of others, not to lose what they have or simply to be accepted. They are not free, not strong—and, ultimately, they do this to themselves. In such a state, loneliness can be very bleak.

But once you confront it and begin to enjoy solitude, no matter your age, you become more honest, stronger, and more self-aware.