Few philosophers in history have analysed the advantages, disadvantages, and consequences of solitude. Seneca (4 BC-65 AD) constitutes one of those few. I regard his observations and advice particularly worthy.

Seneca wrote the dialogue “On the Tranquillity of the Soul” precisely to explain how to achieve peace of mind. Solitude is one of his prescriptions, but we must first grasp how to benefit from it. We must first learn to employ solitude to increase our self-reliance and self-confidence.

Modern readers may find the format of “On the Tranquillity of the Soul” somewhat annoying. It’s a philosophical essay, but Seneca wrote it in dialogue format. He wanted to present it as a record of a conversation he had held with his friend Serenus.

Why did Seneca employ a dialogue format? Because it was fashionable at that time and easier to write than normal prose. I regard Seneca’s choice as understandable but unfortunate.

On the one hand, Seneca was imitating the dialogue format employed by Plato (427-347 BC). Although his style is more concrete and less poetic than Plato’s, Seneca cannot escape the artificiality that ensues from imaginary conversations.

The fact that Seneca chose to name his conversation partner “Serenus” only adds to the artificiality of a conversation on the subject of serenity.

On the other hand, the dialogue format enabled Seneca to put his ideas in writing fairly quickly. He didn’t need to devise a careful, structured progression of consistent arguments.

Seneca addressed one point after another, rather disorderly and repetitively, like in real-life conversations. The result is not philosophical clockwork, but covers the subject well enough.

Seneca’s dialogue “On the Tranquillity of the Soul”

In the dialogue, Serenus complains about anxiety and worry like people nowadays often complain. He describes himself as disoriented and unable to take decisions. He compares himself with a traveller who, having arrived at a bifurcation, cannot go further because he does not know which road to choose.

Seneca reassures his friend that there is nothing unusual in those feelings of disorientation, and that the remedy is purely philosophical. If Serenus follows Seneca’s advice, his anxiety and worry will be replaced by self-sufficiency and confidence.

Solitude is the key precondition for implementing Seneca’s recipes against anxiety and worry. Why? Because it will enable Serenus to establish clear, consistent priorities. Every aspect of Seneca’s recommendations rests on those priorities.

What is the right balance between wealth accumulation, health protection and other activities? We cannot figure out the right balance by taking random decisions. Even if we are lucky enough to find the answer, we will still have doubts. If we lack clear priorities, we won’t be able to make rational decisions.

As an illustration, Seneca mentions a wealthy man who, due to his feelings of anxiety, proves incapable of enjoying life. He lacks consistent priorities, and as a result, always feels worried that he is not working hard enough to protect his wealth.

Seneca affirms that the wealthy man “needs to change his mind” before he can enjoy life. Solitude will give him a quiet environment to identify his priorities and his personal balance between work and leisure activities.

Seneca’s warnings against inconsistency

How do we avoid endless hesitations and regrets? Every person is confronted with the need to make important decisions about his profession, career, personal relationships, health and other areas. How do we prevent harmful indecision or delays?

Seneca gives us the example of a successful man who goes into retirement, but feels bored because he is missing his work. He then goes back to work, but feels anxious because he thinks that he has already enough money and that he should retire.

Solitude, at least for a while, is required for thinking things through. The man in the example lacks consistent priorities. He wants to have his pie and eat it at the same time.

On the one hand, he longs to retire and lead a quiet lifestyle; and on the other hand, he wants to keep working. His anxiety, explains Seneca, comes from his desire “to be everywhere.” A person who wants to be everywhere, cannot be happy.

Similarly, Seneca points to persons who, after embarking in a particular business venture, change their minds. Now they do not like that line of business any more, and want to embark in a different business venture.

As time goes by, those persons keep changing their mind. It means that they will go into a different business or profession, in a different location, with a new romantic partner or friends. I don’t need to elaborate on the disadvantages of changing one’s mind all the time. The disadvantages are obvious.

Seneca’s prescription for high effectiveness

Solitude is required to figure out what we want from life. It is not a good idea to improvise important decisions because we will end up regretting them, one way or another.

Productivity and personal effectiveness require clarity. They require a distinct mental picture of our destination. Solitude is necessary to create a space for reflection. We should define our destination before we sail away on a ship, advises Seneca.

Overwork, regrets, anxiety and preoccupation are symptoms of inconsistent priorities. Through solitary reflection, we could eliminate or minimize those negative emotions.

We need to put in the necessary time, preferably in solitude, to allow priorities to take a consistent shape, one that can guide us through daily life, especially when confronted with difficult choices.

If we fail to take the necessary time off, warns Seneca, we’ll keep carrying our confusion inside our soul. Solitude gives our mind the space it needs to identify the right destination and the route to follow.

In his 42^nd Letter to Lucilius, Seneca presents solitude as the only proven method for achieving clarity and balance. Nobody can strike and keep the right balance without proper reflection.

Seneca regards mental confusion as more destructive than physical blindness. Confusion and inconsistency generate deep anxiety. People get consumed by fear and hesitation instead of addressing their real problems.

Solitude, in the right measure, provides a fertile ground for cultivating our character and removing inconsistencies. Seneca explains that the whole point of solitary reflection is to steer away from battles we cannot win, and ensure that we fight the crucial ones effectively.

If you are interested in applying rational ideas in all areas of activity, I recommend my book titled “Consistency: The key to permanent stress relief.”