This Is the (Crucial) Difference Between Loneliness and Being Alone

How the language of loneliness can help you build a more connected life.

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The language we use to talk about loneliness (if we ever talk about it) is like scrambled eggs. We put all the vocabulary in a humungous frying pan, give it a sturdy whisk, and add ingredients according to our fantasy and imagination.

For instance, a friend recently told me, “I like being lonely.” But what he actually meant to say is, “I like spending time alone.”

It’s a crucial difference: Loneliness is a distressing feeling while aloneness is a neutral state. Confusing these two tiny words can cause dramatic consequences.

So here’s why you should know the difference, what the difference actually is, and how you can use this vocabulary for deeper connections.

Why the Language of Loneliness Matters

There are three reasons why we don’t just need to know but also understand and expand our vocabulary of loneliness.

Diagnosing the root cause of the problem

I’ve been struggling with obsessing over tiny, insignificant things. I never knew what to do until I found a word for this problem…