EP14: Alone vs Loneliness: A Deep Dive Into A Common Midlife Experience Featuring Special Guest, Natalie Kazarian, LMFT

Being alone can feel peaceful or isolating. What makes the difference?

Scott Asmar sits down with licensed marriage and family therapist Natalie Kazarian to explore the line between solitude and loneliness. Can time alone be a source of strength, or does it always signal disconnection? They unpack how intentionality shapes our experience, why some people feel lonelier in a crowd than by themselves, and how to recognize when solitude is helping or hurting.

Scott reflects on his own shifts between being alone and feeling lonely, while Natalie shares ways to foster connection, whether through personal reflection, community, or small daily choices. They also break down the role of social media: does it connect us, or does it leave us more isolated?

Join Scott and Natalie’s discussion for a compelling look at how we experience being alone and what it takes to build meaningful connection.

Quotes

• “I believe that that is true loneliness when you don’t feel like there’s anybody there, but that’s different from being alone, which is a very positive thing as I see it.” (05:07 | Scott Asmar)
• “Aloneness can lead to feelings and thoughts around reflection, behavior, what we want to do in the future. It’s a really beautiful space. Again, if we’re seeing it in that kind of positive light, the positive sentiment of it, it’s a wonderful place to go for creativity, to understand ourselves better, and honestly, to reflect on the past too, which is not always a bad thing.” (07:11 | Natalie Kazarian)
• “Robin Williams once said, ‘I used to think the worst thing in life is to end up all alone. It’s not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people who make you feel all alone.’” (09:45 | Natalie Kazarian)
• “And you brought up a point that I hadn’t thought about, actually, is that it is a punishment, as you say, in solitary confinement. So if we as humans, we’re punishing ourselves if we stay in solitude, or if we stay in that state.” (15:21 | Scott Asmar)
• “I also believe that alone time does help you, and a positive thing of loneliness can help you prepare yourself for the next phase so that you can move to the next phase and appreciate where you have been and where you are at now.” (17:58 | Scott Asmar)

Links

Connect with Scott Asmar:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scottasmar5/

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