The feeling of loneliness can have a twofold impact on us.

Loneliness: A Dual Impact on Self-Discovery and Social Connection

The feeling of loneliness can have a twofold impact on us. On one hand, the opportunity to be alone with oneself provides an incredible impetus for self-development, allowing a person to step away from superficial social clichés and dive into the depths of their own “self.” Such an experience can stimulate the growth of the soul, helping to discover inner strength and reinforce faith in oneself and in higher powers. It is in these moments that we begin to realize that all answers lie within us, and that only we can lay the foundation for the changes we desire.

On the other hand, if the desire for solitude evolves into constant isolation, leading to the loss of communication skills, it becomes a dangerous trap. An excessively developed individuality, born out of a complete withdrawal from society, can deprive a person of the ability to build full-fledged social relationships. As a result, even when possessing remarkable inner resources, such a person finds themselves cut off from the world, experiencing an acute need for interaction that is essential for a full, meaningful existence.

Thus, loneliness appears as a complex and multifaceted phenomenon. It can be both a source of inspiration and strength, and a factor that undermines social and personal bonds. The path to harmony lies in finding a balance between solitude—which offers the opportunity for self-reflection—and communication, which opens the doors to life and makes us feel part of a larger world.

How Does Loneliness Affect Personality and Can It Destroy a Person?

Loneliness exerts a multifaceted influence on personality; it can serve as a source of inner growth or become a factor capable of destroying a person if taken to extremes. On one hand, absolute loneliness is described as an experience akin to hell and non-existence—a state that can only be perceived negatively. At the same time, relative loneliness can stimulate the development of the “self,” allowing an individual to break away from the banality of social life and strive for a deeper, more authentic existence. As noted in one statement:

"Absolute loneliness is hell and non-existence; it cannot be thought of positively, only negatively. Relative loneliness, however, is not merely an affliction and is not exclusively negative. It can also be seen in a positive light, representing a higher state of 'self' that rises above the common, ancestral, objectified world. Loneliness can signify a departure not from God or the divine world, but from the mundane social sphere, which itself is a fallen world. It can mean the growth of the soul..."
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On the other hand, an extremely pronounced individuality, developed at the expense of social skills, causes a person to become profound in their inner life yet simultaneously socially inert and withdrawn. Such an individual, despite their striking personal brilliance, ultimately lacks the capacity for full communication, which harms both themselves and the surrounding society:

"But another extreme leads to equally tragic outcomes—the one-sided development of the individual aspect of personality at the expense of the social. By raising children in a limited environment and depriving them of any social skills, they end up nurturing egotists who are absorbed in themselves and socially inert. Such people often reach tremendous individual heights, yet they always bear a flaw, from which not only society, but they themselves suffer..."
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Furthermore, loneliness is associated with the recognition of oneself as an individual, when a person realizes that they cannot completely seclude themselves and faces difficulties in finding a way to "step out of oneself into another." This emphasizes that loneliness has a distinctly social character, as even when in society it can acquire a torturous tinge:

"When the 'I' recognizes itself as a personality and seeks to realize that individuality, it also becomes aware of the impossibility of remaining closed off within itself, and at the same time recognizes the great difficulty of stepping out from oneself into another. In a sense, loneliness is a social phenomenon. Loneliness is always the awareness of being connected to otherness, to an alien existence. And the most agonizing loneliness is that which one experiences in society. Such social loneliness is, above all, loneliness."
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Interestingly, the awareness of loneliness can serve as a powerful impetus for character formation. When a person realizes that "they must help themselves," it lays the groundwork for the development of faith and personal strength, transforming loneliness into a source of inner stability and self-discovery:

"When a person becomes aware of their loneliness, they ask, 'Who will help me?' and the answer comes: 'I must help myself'... and thus the first cornerstone of character is laid. Furthermore, the answer is: 'The Lord in Heaven will help me all the more if I remain more devoted to Him'... and the foundational stone of living faith is set. In solitude, a person finds themselves, the strength of their character, and the sacred source of life."
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Thus, loneliness affects an individual in a dual manner: it can stimulate the growth of the soul, offering the chance to rethink one’s life and become stronger; however, if it turns into a chronic condition, especially one triggered by social alienation or an excessive assertion of self, it can destroy the personality. Excessive loneliness, leading to inner discord, a weakened ability to empathize, and impaired communication with others, can result in both a personal crisis and the breakdown of social bonds, negatively impacting not only the individual but society as a whole.