"Loneliness is one of the most pervasive struggles of our time. It's not just about being physically alone but about the deep sense of disconnection that can arise even when surrounded by others. Yet, what if loneliness isn't only something to be avoided or cured-but something that can teach us? Loneliness forces us to confront ourselves, to question norms, and to open toward responsibility and freedom. It can even become a space of creativity and transformation."
"The French philosopher Gilles Deleuze once wrote that "Writing is a question of becoming, always incomplete, always in the midst of being formed." This insight resonates with the work of Terrance Keenan, Buddhist monk, artist, and author of Zen Encounters With Loneliness. His book explores how facing loneliness-alongside guilt, creativity, and love-can help us discover that "No one is alone." Here, loneliness is not merely an absence, but a path to wholeness. Being "no one" means belonging to all, always becoming, always connected."
"Next time you feel lonely, pause and ask: Am I trying to escape this feeling, or can I let it speak to me?Notice what arises-guilt, longing, resistance, or even clarity. Instead of turning away, listen to what your loneliness might be asking you to care for-whether it's yourself, another person, or the world around you. A central theme is responsibility. Taking responsibility doesn't mean knowing everything; it means trusting what becomes. True freedom is not about being carefree but about caring deeply,"
Loneliness is a pervasive struggle that extends beyond physical solitude to a deep sense of disconnection even among others. Loneliness can function as a teacher that forces confrontation with oneself, questions social norms, and opens toward responsibility and freedom. Experiencing loneliness alongside guilt, creativity, and love can reveal belonging and the paradox of being "no one" while belonging to all. Writing is framed as a process of becoming, always incomplete and continually forming. Pausing to listen to loneliness can reveal desires to care for oneself, others, or the world. True freedom is characterized by caring deeply and trusting what becomes, not by avoidance.
Read at Psychology Today
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