Solitude and loneliness

Being alone, experiencing solitude, creating me-time - these are very different from feeling lonely. Loneliness has a sad tinge to it; it implies you are longing for companionship or that you do not wish to be alone simply because you feel lost, bored or are fearful; you are yearning to be with people, maybe family members or close friends. There is nothing wrong with this or with feeling lonely now and then - but it certainly needs to be addressed if it is a constant feeling that refuses to go away. Most seekers on the spiritual path are what we call loners - their quest impels them to look inward and reflect; to ponder over the meaning of life - their perspective is looking towards an expanded cosmic view. Not everyone can be that way, of course.

The average human is gregarious by nature and so likes company, chit-chats, arguments, conversations, sparring and so on. But those who prefer to be alone relish that experience of peace and quiet, of being able to converse with oneself and maybe just be.

Those surrounded by noisy people and who long for peace and quiet may value some alone time. Loneliness expresses the pain of being alone and solitude expresses the glory of being alone, wrote Paul Tillich. Most often, those who are comfortable with themselves do treasure the opportunity to be alone. This gives space to think without interruptions, to reflect and muse, to take decisions free of disturbances. More than anything else, it gives us the opportunity to know ourselves better.