Some people believe that loneliness is a sign of our times, while others believe it has always existed as part of the human condition. After all, we come into this life and leave it alone. But intense loneliness and a sense of isolation can lead to depression, illness, sleep issues and general unhappi-ness. There is much that each of us can do for ourselves to over-come the feelings of un-necessary loneli-ness.
The questions that lonely people ask themselves are: Why am I alone? Why have I not found my soul mate? Others work twelve-hour days, sleep a lot, spend money they do not have and use shopping, alcohol or drugs to combat these feelings; some people are lonely because they are new to a strange city and have not yet met friends. Then there are many who are waiting for a special love - their soul mate - to cure them of their unwanted solitude.
What is most important when it comes to dealing with whichever brand of loneliness we suffer from, is that we understand the distinction between loneliness and being alone, and there is a wonderful story about what happened after a teacher read a book about an unpopular pig to a class of five-year-olds. It creates an insightful reference for us all! She asked the children if they knew the difference between the two concepts “loneliness” and “being alone”. A little boy waved his hand eagerly, saying, “I know, I know… being alone is when you don’t have any brothers and sisters: loneliness is when you do but they won’t play with you.”
We are part of a big universe… we have created communities around us of family, friends, neighbours, faith, special interests… and yet understanding that does not always fill the longing and isolation. We are at our loneliest when we do not know who we are and do not love and appreciate ourselves. Loneliness can isolate us not just from other people, but also from ourselves and our true nature and also, there is the feeling that a soul mate will heal us from our loneliness; people will fight tooth and nail to make that dream happen, believing that until they find that person they cannot be happy. They innately know that being in a bad relationship makes us lonelier than if we are on our own and not all of us are meant to find a life partner.
Some people may blame their loneliness on others, believing they are lonely because people do not respond to them, or visit, or take an interest in them, nor realising that the best way out of the problem is to take responsibility for their own happiness and say, “I am lonely, how can I change that for myself”.
Being alone, on the other hand (which is not the same as being lonely), can be an important part of our spiritual journey. It is crucial to go within and connect with our divine nature through meditation or anything that quiets the mind, such as walking, hiking, or sitting on the beach and allowing the sound of the waves to wash over you.
Human beings need time to be alone, yet some mistake it for loneliness. Those people may have to discipline themselves to relax and enjoy life, without constantly having someone else beside them.
The questions that lonely people ask themselves are: Why am I alone? Why have I not found my soul mate? Others work twelve-hour days, sleep a lot, spend money they do not have and use shopping, alcohol or drugs to combat these feelings; some people are lonely because they are new to a strange city and have not yet met friends. Then there are many who are waiting for a special love - their soul mate - to cure them of their unwanted solitude.
What is most important when it comes to dealing with whichever brand of loneliness we suffer from, is that we understand the distinction between loneliness and being alone, and there is a wonderful story about what happened after a teacher read a book about an unpopular pig to a class of five-year-olds. It creates an insightful reference for us all! She asked the children if they knew the difference between the two concepts “loneliness” and “being alone”. A little boy waved his hand eagerly, saying, “I know, I know… being alone is when you don’t have any brothers and sisters: loneliness is when you do but they won’t play with you.”
We are part of a big universe… we have created communities around us of family, friends, neighbours, faith, special interests… and yet understanding that does not always fill the longing and isolation. We are at our loneliest when we do not know who we are and do not love and appreciate ourselves. Loneliness can isolate us not just from other people, but also from ourselves and our true nature and also, there is the feeling that a soul mate will heal us from our loneliness; people will fight tooth and nail to make that dream happen, believing that until they find that person they cannot be happy. They innately know that being in a bad relationship makes us lonelier than if we are on our own and not all of us are meant to find a life partner.
Some people may blame their loneliness on others, believing they are lonely because people do not respond to them, or visit, or take an interest in them, nor realising that the best way out of the problem is to take responsibility for their own happiness and say, “I am lonely, how can I change that for myself”.
Being alone, on the other hand (which is not the same as being lonely), can be an important part of our spiritual journey. It is crucial to go within and connect with our divine nature through meditation or anything that quiets the mind, such as walking, hiking, or sitting on the beach and allowing the sound of the waves to wash over you.
Human beings need time to be alone, yet some mistake it for loneliness. Those people may have to discipline themselves to relax and enjoy life, without constantly having someone else beside them.
Article Source: Tenerife News Online
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