The idea that “we are born alone and die alone” may sound like a profound existential truth, yet psychologically it overlooks something fundamental: we come into the world through connection, and we depend on connection to survive, develop, and come to know ourselves. Needing other people is not a weakness; it is a deeply rooted biological and emotional need. Often, the belief that “I don’t need anyone” is not a sign of genuine independence, but a form of self-protection shaped by repeated disappointment, relational wounds, or relationships in which closeness never felt truly safe.
Solitude can be meaningful, restorative, and consciously chosen, but isolation deprives us of the relationships that help regulate our emotions and give meaning to our lives. Digital communication may create a sense of closeness, yet genuine human connection requires presence, time, vulnerability, and emotional availability. Birth and death may be deeply personal experiences, but the life we live between them was never meant to be a solitary journey. It is shaped by relationships, interdependence, and the courage to let others truly see us—and to allow them to walk alongside us.
The full article was originally published on the Psychology Portal – Psychology.gr.