Loneliness can cause health problems. Around the globe, about 1 in 4 adults says they're lonely. How to deal with this kind of problem? Here are some tips to get going.
1. Be curious
It's easier to connect with people if you have shared interests or experiences, so start paying attention to what's on your mind. What are you thinking about? What motivates you? What excites you? Knowing yourself can be a first step to bonding with others. If you know what's meaningful or fun for you, it may lead you to an activity or creative outlet.
2. Make something
The opportunities for creative expression are endless. You can also do a dance move, resurrect your grandma's pie recipe, plant an herb garden, or try a textile art. Make something that puts your thoughts and feelings and vision about who you are and what matters into a tangible artifact that then can express those thoughts and feelings to others.
3. Take a risk by having conversations
Share something about yourself. It can just be something you think other people might find interesting and compelling, and see where it goes. Even if you're nervous about being judged or dismissed, putting yourself out there requires a bit of a risk, and it's the first step to authentic connection.
4.
Whether it's volunteering for a cause you believe in or playing frisbee or Scrabble, try to find others who share your interests. And if you follow your natural curiosities, you may find something new. Share your thoughts and feelings in creative ways with other people who have that interest. And, hopefully, in those interactions you can begin to reveal yourself and share the unique things that matter to you. Then, other people recognize that, share their story in return, and it's like an electric circuit is connected.
5. Other people's loneliness matters too
Loneliness can spiral. If the pangs of loneliness go unaddressed, people can end up in a world of hurt. If you see someone who's experiencing loneliness, tolerate the risk of asking them how they're doing. Be kind. Other people's loneliness makes us lonely too.
A. Everyone can be "Picasso". B. Encourage people to get started on their own. C. Find a group that matches your interests D. It doesn't have to be the biggest secret of your life. E. That certainly connects you to people who share your interests. F. Take the risk to share something about your own experiences of loneliness. G. Explaining what you've made may make it easier to open up about who you are. |
