Overcoming loneliness

Description

Have you ever felt isolated, unwanted, unloved, and/or unimportant? That’s what loneliness kind of feels like. You feel as though you are shut-off from the world you so desperately want to be a part of.

Loneliness affects people from all walks of life — even people who on the surface don’t appear to be lonely. They have many friends and plenty of people who care about them, and yet they feel lonely and isolated. They feel as though they are emotionally disconnected from the world and their surroundings, and they have difficulty making the necessary changes to improve their state-of-being.

Loneliness isn’t something you feel all of a sudden when you wake up one morning. It is something that grows and develops over time. It’s therefore not one thing, but rather a combination of things, experiences and individual moments that come together and eventually leads to the feelings of loneliness. For instance, the loneliness you are feeling could be the result of hurt feelings, of persistent rejection, of ongoing criticism, or of neglect. Feelings of loneliness can also result from a broken heart, from losing someone you love, from a lack of meaningful social relations, or as a result of a social fear that leads to shyness.

Whether your loneliness results from a broken relationship, the death of a loved one or pet, or from a prolonged time of social isolation, a common unifying feeling is that you may feel powerless to relieve the pain of loneliness. Relief is perceived as coming from social connection which seems to depend on the reciprocal actions of others.

If you want to live a more satisfying, happier life alone, first you have to start believing that you can. You have to decide to think differently about aloneness.

And, at the same time, you have to start doing things differently.

The first step to mastering the art of aloneness is changing your perceptions of aloneness. Instead of viewing it as a shameful condition associated with loneliness, pain and emptiness, you need to begin to think of it as one of freedom, growth, and opportunity. At first, this isn’t easy. Changing these deeply ingrained preconceptions about aloneness – especially before you’ve changed your reality – is the hardest part of the process. It requires a leap of faith and relentless perseverance. But, simultaneously, you are going to start changing your behaviors.

Here’s why: Our perceptions produce our emotional responses. Our emotional responses drive our behavior, and our behaviors create our reality – the quality of our lives and the circumstances in which we live. Put another way, we are what we think. If you think of aloneness as a source of loneliness and misery, then the simple fact that you are alone can make you feel sad and lonely, and that can lead to inertia and depression. So, instead of having the energy to go out and do something that will make you feel good, energized, and inspired by the world around you, you end up sitting around and feeling sorry for yourself. Your life becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy – because you do the things that produce the very results you don’t want to achieve. That, in turn, continually reinforces your belief that aloneness is a source of pain instead of joy and opportunity. You are trapped in a vicious cycle. Your negative thinking is producing negative behavior, which in turn is reinforcing your negative thinking. You’ve got to break the pattern – by thinking differently about aloneness, acting in ways that reinforce your new attitude, and focusing on the opportunities inherent in your situation.

Creating healthier relationships through personal development

Mastering the art of aloneness will not only enhance the quality of your relationship with yourself and improve your life, but it will also dramatically change your relationships with others. Instead of seeking another person to make you whole, you engage in relationships with a sense of being complete and whole on your own. Learning greater self-sufficiency builds your self-esteem and confidence. It also allows you to participate in relationships with others out of conscious choice, rather than from a place of neediness or of fear that you won’t be able to take care of yourself.

Every step of the way, this course supports your progress by providing a clear understanding of how and why these solutions work. Your life is going to change for the better.

Module 1

Introduction

 

Module 2

Loneliness v Solitude

What is Solitude?

But is it Safe?

 

Module 3

Breathwork

The Sacred Breath Practice

 

Module 4

Not Good Enough

Feeling Not Good Enough: A Case of Mistaken Identity

Thoughts

What is Self-Image? What does it feel like?

You are not your Thoughts

What is our Soul-Self?

 

Module 5

Bottled Up

Quick Release of Painful Feelings

Mindfulness Meditation

 

Module 6

Connecting with Spirit

Why Meditate?

What are Mantras and How do they Work?

OM: The Core Mantra Meditation

 

Module 7

Guidance on Self-Acceptance

Audio:       Self-acceptance

 

Module 8

Needs we have to meet to feel Alive

The need for attention

Mind, body connection

Purpose and Goals

Connection to Something Greater than Ourselves

Creativity and Stimulation

Sense of Security and Safety

Intimacy and Connection

Sense of Control

The Need for Status

 

Module 9

Going Outside

Creating a Sacred Garden Space

Tap into Mother Earth Energy

The Great Outdoors

Tree Ritual

 

Module 10

Self-esteem

Imperfection is Freedom

Perfection is Death

Fear of Failure

From self-abuse to self-confidence

 

Module 11

Live from your Heart

The Importance of Choosing Positive Emotions

Gratitude

Acceptance

Mindfulness Meditation Walk

How to Start

 

Module 12

Walls around the Heart

The Powerful Energy of the Heart

Build Bridges not Walls

 

Module 13

Leaving the Past Behind

 

Module 14

Making Connections

How Positive Emotions create Connection with Others

Consciously take every opportunity to feel Positive Emotions Deeply

Heart Breath Practice

 

Module 15

Feelings

Heart’s Pleasure List

 

Module 16

Ways to Fight Loneliness if you Live Alone

Loneliness v Living Alone

Get Organized to prevent Inertia from Taking Hold

 

Module 17

Creative Things to Do

Wondering What to Do when you feel Lonely? Some Tips

Create Something New

 

Module 18

How to be Whole on your Own

 

Module 19

How to Cope with Being Alone at Night

Taking Care of Yourself

Keeping Yourself Safe

Know when to Seek Help

Connecting with Others

 

Module 20

Life is Interesting

Audio:       Life is Interesting

 

Module 21

The Beauty of Being Single

You Will Find Peace with your Past

 

Module 22

Laughter and Play for Wellness

Laughter And Play For Young And Old

What Is Wellness?

Why Is Wellness Important?

Dimensions Of Wellness

Laughter And Your Wellness

How Laughter Supports Your Health And Wellness

12 Ways To Laugh

Play And Your Wellness

What Does Play For Adults Really Mean

How Should You Play?

Why Do Adults Play?

The Benefits Of Play For Adults

How To Play More Often

Ten Ways To Play

Work And Play

 

Module 23

Surrendering to the Now

 

Module 24

Interconnectedness

 

Module 25

Overview