When silence becomes a friend

When silence becomes a friend (Photo: iStock)

In a world that thrives on company and constant connection, silence can feel uncomfortable. Many people associate being alone with loneliness, a feeling often described as emptiness or exclusion. Yet solitude, says counselling psychologist Mwangi Alice, is something entirely different.

"Loneliness is the distress that comes from feeling disconnected from others," she explains. "It is marked by emotional pain and a sense of isolation. Solitude, on the other hand, is intentional. It is the state of being alone without feeling lonely. In solitude, there is a sense of peace, autonomy, and self-connection."