Loneliness: It Can Be A Very Expensive Affair For The Human Race
At a time when apps like Tinder and Hinge have hit the market promoting the swipe left and swipe right, culture is loneliness just about having someone to share your bed with or is it something more, a much more serious matter? A matter that the human race should probably not take lightly.
The 2020 Ayushmann Khurana film Dream Girl delves into the underbelly of the phone sex business. But actually, the film is a much deeper reflection of people’s lives today. It’s a film about how loneliness like a pandemic has hit the human race across age groups and genders. We all just want someone to listen to us, the need to be heard, to be held, to just feel human and alive again.
What is Loneliness?
Loneliness by definition is the difference between the amount of social connection we desire and the amount we actually have. Staying away from home for work or other situations due to the death of a loved one or just due to strained relationships can be one of the many causes of this dreaded situation. Major changes in life, financial problems, health issues, socioeconomic situations, and living alone among other things can all cause loneliness.
Also read: Tips For Preventing Yourself From Sweltering Heat Waves
Loneliness vs. Solitude
Loneliness though should not be confused with solitude. Solitude is a choice that someone exercises while loneliness is not a matter of choice but rather a situational condition.
This article is written to invite people to open up and join in as a community where people can tell their stories and it can snowball into something that has a potentially positive outcome.
Chronic loneliness
Chronic loneliness can cause many issues related to health and even productivity. It can make a person less efficient, effective, and less productive thus making them a lesser contributing member of society at large.
Feelings of isolation, disconnect, and being misunderstood can take over. Certain steps can be taken to help overcome loneliness.
Overcoming Loneliness
Loneliness does not have to be permanent and it can be part of one’s growth journey. But no solution can be found till the problem is fully recognized and accepted.
Accept and Acknowledge
So step one is accepting that loneliness is something that someone might be experiencing. Also identifying the exact symptoms and feelings, whether mental, emotional, or physical that someone who is experiencing might be feeling.
Whether it is anxiety or self-doubt all must be recognized and accepted to be able to do something about it.
Self Care and Personal Well Being
Respecting your physical, emotional, and mental well being
Self-care should become a religion. So eating a well-balanced, natural foods diet. Exercising even if it is light exercise helps in keeping one calm.
Plus taking enough time to relax, rest and rejuvenate. Some people may push you to throw yourself into work to keep busy but If your work is not helping the situation it actually might backfire and lead to more problems. There is no one size fits all formula.
For some people engaging in community activities and gatherings can work better than their work.
Sleep is the best medicine and a minimum of 8 hours of sleep with an early to rise and early-to-sleep routine can work wonders for coming out of this situation.
Gratitude is the Attitude
Gratitude, prayer, and meditation. Even if you are an atheist just being thankful for what is there can bring in feelings of something has gone right. Journaling, positive self-talk, or praying are all ways of acknowledging the good that exists and making way for more.
Sometimes all the lonely soul needs is to not be lonely. The workspace with its mechanical transactions may not provide that so get involved in community gatherings and activities.
Therapy for more a serious situation
If nothing works and for more serious and chronic loneliness seeking therapy is a good idea. The situation can sometimes lead to health issues and sometimes health issues can lead to loneliness situation.
Loneliness and Spirituality – The positive side of the Coin
There are times when loneliness can serve a higher purpose too. If a person turns to more metaphysical things and to the creator, in times of loneliness major breakthroughs can also be found. Loneliness has the potential to elevate some people to another level of their spiritual journey. Of course, this is the case for some people and may or may not be true for everyone.
Let there be no lonely soul alive
On that note let’s spread the joy and even if you aren’t lonely make an effort once a week to make time for someone who you know is without their family whether it’s a colleague or someone at an old age home
Spread the joy and let’s make the world a joyous and better place to live!
Source: With some inputs from various sources
