The Loner: Freak or Mystic?

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Monday, 18 December 2023

Written by Alue K. Loskotová

If you find yourself alone, with no friends, no family, no people to rely on, maybe that's your path. Maybe it's not a disaster, but a unique opportunity to grow and mature as a person.

In the modern age of social media, global pandemics and broken families, the occurrence of the loner is becoming more and more common. There is, of course, a deeper meaning and significance behind this loneliness.

What does it actually mean to be a loner?

Although each person is unique and the events that brought them to this stage can be very different, loners are generally united by the following traits.

You enjoy spending time alone. Even more so than being with other people.
You can't connect on a mental level with your family members, or unfortunately you don't have any anymore, or these people simply don't fit your idea of what a family should look and function like.
You don't have close friends. You can't connect with other people on a deeper level and maintain relationships.
You're introspective, you're an introvert.
You like to take life slowly and may find the vast world overwhelming.
You are a free spirit who loves independence.
You exhibit interesting traits.
You have a strong desire to go your own way, like a lone wolf.
You are the black sheep of the family.

Classic myths about loners

Various prejudices accompany lone wolves. Sometimes they may be based on truth, but sometimes they are not. Here are typical examples of such prejudices.

"Loners hate people"
"All loners lack social skills"
"Loners secretly plan their deaths"
"Loners are lonely people"
"Loners are creepy"
"All loners are mentally ill"

While some loners may have some of these characteristics, these blanket statements do not apply to everyone. People have different reasons for withdrawing from social life, and these reasons can be very serious and valid. Lumping them together is not wise.

Solitude as an empowering way of life

It is certainly true that as a species we require a certain level of social contact. But sometimes we are in a situation in life where we simply need to withdraw from the world. We need to process our thoughts and feelings and understand who we are and where we are going. Solitary can be a healing tool to help us dive in, set new goals, work on our psychological wounds, and emerge an empowered, transformed, and better person. Sometimes it's good and healing to disconnect from the pull and pressure of other people to give us space to explore our own uniqueness and individuality.

The benefits of solitary living

Being a loner helps develop self-awareness
Being a loner supports you in finding meaning in life
Being a loner helps you recover from social overload and trauma
Being a loner gives you space and a different perspective
Being a loner helps you to know yourself better, to understand and discover your passions and interests
Being a loner helps you develop greater independence and self-sufficiency
Being a loner makes you a deeper and more interesting person
Being a loner helps you to find your self-worth

At some point in life, we all have to leave the herd and find our own way through life. We have to become lone wolves for a period of time. We have to listen to the call of our soul to connect with our Soul. The world can be a busy, overwhelming, pressuring and confusing place.

For people who feel a spiritual call emerging in their minds, solitude is a natural and necessary step in personal and spiritual development. In many cases, loners are empaths and old souls. Being alone is, simply put, a key part of their life journey. A loner is on a spiritual journey and needs space to figure out who they are and what they want out of life.

Translation by CrystalWind.ca