You can be alone, but not feel lonely. How?
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I originally wrote this article on Medium.com in 2019. However, I came across this article recently realizing that with the Pandemic many people have suffered through isolation and loneliness. The article below will explain how you can be alone but not feel lonely whether employed or unemployed. I hope it helps.
I have been single, married, lived alone, and lived with other people. Whatever the timeframe in my life, I can’t remember ever being lonely.
Except once…
That exception was when I lived in Key West, Florida. An island surrounded by water on all sides, nestled in the ocean. For a few days I experienced a deep emptiness crawling inside of me. As fast it came was as fast as it left.
Currently, I am single with plenty of work to do. Working part-time, helping out my kids, and volunteering keeps me very busy. I also choose not to date. Consequently, people have often asked me if I get lonely. Easy answer. No.
After giving this some thought, I have come up with at least 7 reasons in my life for not feeling lonely. You may recognize some of these in your own life.
- Mindset. I never think about being lonely. Negative thoughts can trigger negative emotions.
- Don’t live in the past. Sometimes the past can start you thinking about regrets in your life. Those regrets, perhaps in relationships, can trigger a feeling of loneliness. Live in the moment.
- Communicate and talk to other people, including strangers. This takes the focus off of yourself. Find enjoyment in people.
- Develop spirituality. This should be at the top of my list. Open prayer and communication with the Creator. A spiritual person is focused on building inner qualities.
- Laugh a lot. Taking things too serious can be a drain on your emotions.
- Volunteer. Statistics show that people that volunteer are happier and healthier. When you are helping others, there is no time to think about being lonely.
- Do something that makes you happy every day. It doesn’t need to be something big. Positive direction.
I do not work in the medical field. However, I hope that a few of these points can help you if you are feeling lonely.
Always seek professional help if your loneliness is plummeting or your negative feelings are out of control.
