Alone or Lonely?

written by 20215 Lee Shi Hyeon

Everyone feels lonely every now and then. It can’t be helped. Loneliness may very well be one of the few constants in our lives. What triggers it, however, still remains a mystery.

Loneliness isn’t necessarily linked to seclusion, contrary to popular belief.

Many introverts may prefer being alone as opposed to being surrounded by a group of people. Hearing one say that they feel lonely because of this fact is fairly unlikely. This is mainly due to this decision being an intentional one.

Introverts are known for opting to stay out of the spotlight or in heavily populated areas. It’s understandable they wouldn’t want to be in an environment where they would feel uncomfortable by having a bunch of eyes staring back at them.

Thus, it’s only natural that introverts would choose to distance themselves from others.

A lack of friends can’t be the main reason for it either. It could be considered a fairly good reason for someone to feel lonely. Alas, there are too many exceptions that contradict it.

People who may belong to a small friend group (typically a group that consists of 4-6 people) usually report that they are content with the friendships they have formed. Rarely do they complain about a lack of friends in cases like these, mainly because that’s just a part of their preference.

On the other hand, people who have an abundance of friends may report feeling lonely on a daily basis.

This could be owed to them feeling as if their connections with others are superficial. They typically describe these relationships as lacking substance, devoid of what makes a true bond.

Some say they feel the loneliest when they’re placed in a crowded room.

Perhaps what this insinuates, then, is that loneliness isn’t a matter of sociability. Maybe it’s influenced by a person’s perception of reality.

Everything is subjective. Whether or not you keep to yourself in your bedroom or surround yourself with others 24/7, loneliness is a byproduct of your own thoughts.

If you wish to no longer suffer from it, that is, if you have a problem with it, why not reflect on yourself and those close to you?