Søren Kierkegaard, the father of existentialism, defined anxiety as the dizziness of confronting our freedom to choose. In my view as a neuropsychologist, when we challenge our brains to make existential
decisions, due to the complexity of our reality-making neuromaps, we are presented with infinite choices. The networks contributing to choice-making come from the most evolved as well as the most primitive regions of the brain. Some enticing and others foreboding, overwhelm our decisiveness because every choice has a consequence.
Loneliness, is a challenging existential condition requiring attention rather than avoidance: teacher vs curse. We assume that loneliness is absence of companionship, and conclude that resolution comes from the outside. Either by finding a companion or replacing companionship with work, food, drugs, media, pets, and other distractions. Sometimes, enduring destructive relationships to avoid being alone. Yet, since replacements are avoidances to face dread, life becomes a battle to suppress our demons and sirens rather than confront their threats.
Once we face our dizziness from choices in the realm of loneliness, we can ask what we need that no one can give us. The answer will transform loneliness to solitude and resolve the dizziness of existential faltering.
Such is the way of the Drift...
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