How to Handle Loneliness

While loneliness manifests differently for each one of us, it is a universal experience. We all go through periods of loneliness. Even “successful,” “popular” and “active” people have bouts of loneliness. Feeling all alone is one of the most difficult experiences a person can have. We are “social animals” and need others. There is no such thing as being so self-actualized that you only need food and air to sustain you.

Alone, people can become fearful. Perhaps the worst part of pain and suffering is the feeling that we are alone in our suffering. As long as we feel that we are together with others, we can overcome anything. Yet, when we are in the midst of loneliness, it is hard to see both the universality of the experience and a way out.

Here is how to muster up the strength to transcend it.

Help Other People

One way to repair an issue is to help someone else who has that issue. When you are lonely, find other lonely people and help them. You can’t necessarily tell that someone is lonely, but when you reach out to help him or her, he or she might open up to you. Whether you are offering support and advice, or you are lending a helping hand, just reach out to other people. Talk to your neighbors. Say hello to someone for no reason. We repair the world through baseless kindness.

Find Activities That Give You Satisfaction

When feeling lonely find activities that give you some measure of satisfaction. These activities serve like anchors of support. When you find joy in one thing, such as your children, a project you are doing, a hobby, a volunteer effort, your work, that joy will effect the other parts of your life. Like muscles strengthened in one part of your body, they strengthen the rest of the body, helping you muster up positive energy to cope with the difficulties in your life. The best defense is a good offense. Fill your life up with positive activities. Don’t allow a void or vacuum to develop in your life. The positive energy that those activities will produce will spill over into other areas of your life. Build something in your life that you feel proud of every day. That will help you develop confidence.

Never Give Up

Do not give up. Do not bury yourself in your own misery and wallow in your own loneliness. If people ignore or reject you, keep trying. If your usual contacts feed your misery, seek out new friends. Find individuals who are gems. They are all around us; sometimes we only have to crack the hard rock that surrounds them. Connecting with upbeat people strengthens