If you feel lonely and want relief right now, just hit the play button, sit back, and relax into a guided meditation for loneliness led by Art of Living founder, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, a master of meditation.
Now that you’re feeling lighter and less lonely, let's talk about how to manage loneliness while increasing resiliency and improving your sense of connection with the world around you.
It’s easier than you might think.
“No man (or woman) is an island,” is how the saying goes, and yet sometimes we live as if we are just that. We may assume that we are the only ones feeling lonely, causing us to feel even more isolated.
We never visit our neighbors to borrow a cup of sugar and chat, and we definitely don’t let people know how we’re truly feeling. When friends and family ask how we are, we tell them we’re fine, even when we might be in need of help.
Somehow, we have come to believe that asking for help in any form is an intrusion. In reality, if our friends and family knew we were struggling with mental health issues like loneliness, they would most likely be compassionate and offer to help.
Extending a hand, either in need of support, or in support of others could be just the step needed to keep loneliness at bay.
You’re not alone in feeling lonely
The U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy says, “America is experiencing a loneliness epidemic.” At face value, knowing that you’re not the only one feeling lonely may be of little comfort, but we have to remember that no one is judging anyone for feeling lonely these days.
The entire world is going through a difficult time, and many of us are experiencing the doldrums of loneliness. Because of this, self-care tools like meditation have never been needed as much as they are today.
Banish loneliness
Loneliness may make us feel like we are stuck in quicksand and unable to move forward in life, but if you are reading this, you’ve already taken the first step toward a happier, more connected life.
Let’s dive in and explore ways to get rid of loneliness for good.
Find a community with similar interests
Sometimes loneliness can result from not spending enough time with like-minded people. If the people you come in contact with don’t share your interests, you could end up feeling isolated even among a group of friends.
Here are some creative ways to connect with like-minded people and find your tribe.
Passionate about taking care of the planet? Volunteer with a local neighborhood clean-up group.
Love to read? Join one of the many book clubs available online. With video chat, you can have a face-to-face discussion about your favorite book with someone on the other side of the world.
Dog lover? Join or start a dog-walking group.
Other opportunities to connect with your tribe include volunteering at animal shelters, senior centers, local schools, and nature preserves.
Creative ways to beat loneliness and grow your social life
Join a Facebook group for elephant lovers (or another group that matches your interests), and actively participate online with the other members. There’s a group for everything and everyone these days!
Try online speed dating from the convenience of your own home. You have nothing to lose, and you might even have a funny story to share with others!
Become a people watcher. Visit a park, mall, or any place bustling with people. Just sit and observe how entertaining we all are, and if you’re feeling brave, strike up a conversation and make a new friend!
Practice random acts of kindness. This simple activity can help you feel more connected with the world around you. My favorite random act is leaving a flower on the windshield of a car. It’s contactless joy!
Mental health wisdom
You’re not alone
One of my favorite talks given by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar touches on this topic. While answering questions about solving problems, he suddenly changes his tone and says, “Life is too short to keep solving problems one after another. Wake up and walk ahead. Problems will get solved by themselves. You are not alone, my dear! Wake up! You are not alone. All the problems are getting solved, and there is some power with you who is walking you through all the problems.”
But how do we come to really feel that we’re not alone?
Deep meditation gives us the strength, resilience, and connection we need to move through life with this confidence. It also frees us from negative emotions like loneliness, which keep us from extending our hand for our own sake, or the sake of others.
A meditation practice to prevent loneliness
The best meditation practice I have come across is SKY Breath Meditation, which utilizes powerful breathing patterns to release stress and other toxins from our nervous systems.
When practiced daily, SKY makes it easier to be alone without feeling lonely. Practitioners of SKY report enhanced optimism, increased life satisfaction, self-esteem, and joy! SKY is a miraculous technique that is backed by science, with more than 100 peer-reviewed studies published that confirm its measurable benefits.
Here’s one more way to feel less lonely and find more connections. You can join a free breath and meditation session online, where an instructor (not a recording) will guide you through breathwork and meditation. By the time you finish, you’ll feel refreshed and more connected to yourself and the world around you. I like it way better than online speed dating!
Click here to pick a day and time that works for you.
When you feel alone, breathe in love, and breathe out loneliness! #breatheinlove
