Why do people isolate themselves...here is one idea...

Why would someone choose to isolate themselves from community? Why would they want to avoid the presence of people who care about them, want to be with them and want what is best for them?

One reason is that people are scared to hear what their community might say if they knew what that person was doing/thinking.

Unfortunately, people can be unforgiving and cruel. They make quick judgements and forget about mercy and grace, leaving another person in pain as they walk away feeling self righteous in their judgements and sequentially in their words. As a result, people who are doing something or thinking something that their community might not agree with, isolate themselves from that community, in hope that they will not have to endure the painful wrath of some merciless person. If only their community were different. If only their community would confront that merciless person and call them out for their actions and words. Then maybe community would feel more welcoming.

On the other hand, you might find some communities without that sort of cruel and merciless undercurrent. However, the person who is doing/thinking something contrary to the community's value system is still deciding to isolate themselves. Why? In many cases, it is because they know how their community will respond and they do not want to hear that. They want validation in their thoughts/actions, not contradiction. If they spend time with their community, the people in that community are likely to learn of the thoughts/actions that are inconsistent with the values and they are then (hopefully) likely to bring that out into the light (not in a merciless sort of way, but in a tactful, straight-forward fashion). If the person wants to continue thinking/doing that thing that is inconsistent with the values of their community, then it seems natural to either run away or to confront the community. If they truly believed that their thoughts/actions were good and actually consistent with the value system, then they are more likely to confront the community and have a good discussion about what they are doing/thinking and why they see is as valid. If they believe that their thoughts/actions are inconsistent, then they are more likely to simply run away...they know what they are doing is not good (e.g. inconsistent with the value system) and they are not interested in changing course, so they avoid the only people that might suggest otherwise.

The former person is legitimately confronting a belief system that may or may not be consistent with the value system. People like Martin Luther, Dietrich Bonhoffer, Martin Luther King, Ghandi, Jesus and many others. In some cases, the community changes after hearing reason. In others, that person is persecuted, excommunicated or in some cases, even executed. In our day to day lives, the response is typically not to the same extemes as the cases above.

The latter person is running away from what they know to be true. They are demonstrating the propensity of humans towards fear and weakness. This person will not grow if they continue to run. They will stagnate until they are able to actually confront the truth. They will not, they cannot, live up to the potential that they have to make a difference in this world if they continue to run from the truth.

Stop running. Face the truth. It may hurt, but the long-term benefits far outweigh the comfort of isolating yourself.