How a Stoic Deals with Loneliness
For the great man, loneliness turns into solitude.
"Hecato says, ‘I can teach you a love potion made without any drugs, herbs, or special spell: if you would be loved, love.'" — Seneca.
There are two responses many people fall under after getting hurt by others:
People who lack self-reliance express the symptoms of an unstable mind. A good number of these individuals lose themselves and fall into depression and anxiety, a stabbing loneliness. This attitude of mind is also why most are unable to build good relationships; they exude desperation as, without inner strength, they can't endure the probability of losing a loved one. They cling tightly to their dearest, become jealous, lie, and dishonor themselves since they view their friends as their ultimate source of joy, not knowing this action only creates a self-fulfilling dynamic — they push people away and get submerged in the cold sadness they feared all along.
Those aware of this neediness and its consequences may strive to do the opposite — avoid …
