Even those of us who appear to be happy and confident have feelings of loneliness or inadequacy from time to time. Loneliness affects nearly everyone, even if we don't talk about it often. This is especially true during festival and holiday seasons. While everyone else is celebrating, travelling, or partying, some of us may not have someone with whom to experience the festivities at this time of year.
While loneliness has largely been reported in the elderly, there is evidence that children and teens in India are equally lonely. According to a WHO report, 8% of all teenagers in India felt lonely, and 10% indicated they had no close friends.
Sunny Singh, a philanthropist, and founder of RoundGlass, a global Wholistic Wellbeing Organization, stated in an interaction with ABP Live, "Loneliness is a health risk as well as a lack of authentic social connections. While almost everyone feels lonely, few people talk about it. It has the power to make us feel miserable and, at times, to occupy us without our knowledge. And it can take several forms. In a crowd, you may feel alienated and lonely, or you may feel unable to freely communicate your sentiments to your loved ones."
'Connected' But Alone
Being social animals, our ability to interact with others, make a meaningful contribution to the world, and take care of ourselves all play a significant role in determining our overall well-being.
"Today, most of our social interactions have moved online and we see loneliness take on a whole new meaning because of that. While we may be connected to hundreds of people online, in real life we may have just a few or no friends. We actively seek social media validation and often erroneously connect it to our self-worth. This amplifies feelings of isolation and loneliness," according to the philanthropist.
It's crucial to keep in mind that you are enough, adequate, and sufficient to maintain your happiness whether you are alone or with others.
But how can you deal with loneliness if you still feel it? You must look beyond the limitations of emotion and investigate the rewards that lie beneath those emotions of loneliness. Here's how, according to Sunny Singh, you may start making loneliness your ally:
Acknowledge And Address The Emotion: Being aware of when and why you feel lonely will keep you from being swept up in a wave of depression. Remember that our agonising thoughts when we are lonely and alienated are frequently a mental construct.
Making time for in-person interactions with family and friends, as well as social events, can help you deal with feelings of isolation. You can better comprehend your feelings and, as a result, the source of the emotion by practising guided meditation.
Put Yourself First: Loneliness is your body's way of asking for healing and connection with others and the world around you. Mindfulness can assist you in understanding what your lonely feelings are attempting to communicate. In addition, embracing wholistic well-being can assist in addressing any trauma induced by lengthy periods of loneliness or isolation.
Allow yourself time to recover and discover strategies to repair the damage created by loneliness. Be gentle with yourself, allowing your emotions to lead you to a happier place, forgive yourself for previous mistakes, let go of grudges, and express thankfulness. Make yourself your closest companion.
Use Alone Time to Heal And Flourish
Loneliness can be beneficial since it draws our attention within and provides us with things we didn't realise we needed. Use your alone time to become more present in your life and explore aspects of yourself that do not feel seen.
"When you feel lonely or alone, tap into your talents, explore new interests, and use the power of visualization to create a happier, healthier lifestyle for yourself. You will build your self-esteem by practising seeing yourself in a better light. You can maximize your alone time by thinking or planning for your future," Sunny Singh said.
It will no longer feel so intimidating once you learn to accept loneliness and utilise it to mend and strengthen your relationship with the most important person in your life – you.