Another contagious global epidemic is loneliness. You aren’t alone if you feel disconnected from friends, colleagues, and loved ones. Harvard research estimates that around a quarter of Americans experience loneliness. This is heartbreaking, but the good news is that we can learn to thrive by loving ourselves and healing our loneliness.

“The worst loneliness is to not be comfortable with yourself.” ― Mark Twain

Loneliness can look different for everyone. For example, it’s normal to feel lonely when moving to a new city where we don’t know anyone. Drifting apart from old friends, feeling mentally exhausted, or being drained by work pressures can all create a sense of isolation that separates us from joy and contentment.

Feeling alone and lonely? Try these tactics to love yourself, be kind to your feelings, and create space for healing:

• Reflect on Your Needs: Understand what is truly needed emotionally and socially. Self-reflection and self-awareness are essential to satisfy personal needs.
• Develop a Daily Gratitude Practice: Write down three things you appreciate about yourself and three things you’re grateful for to shift focus from scarcity to abundance.
• Cultivate Self-Compassion: When you feel lonely, remind yourself that it’s a shared human experience and doesn’t define your worth.
• Find Joy in Solitude: Schedule time for activities you enjoy alone, like reading, gardening, or cooking, to build comfort and keep yourself company.
• Engage in Acts of Kindness: Help others through volunteering or small gestures. Acts of kindness connect you with others and reinforce worthiness.
• Self-Respect and Kindness: Replace critical self-talk with affirmations like, “I am enough” or “I deserve love and connection.”
• Join Groups or Classes That Inspire You: Explore hobbies or interests where you can meet like-minded people and learn something new.
• Set Boundaries to Protect Your Energy: Limit interactions that drain you and invest in relationships that uplift and support you.
• Practice Mindful Presence: Focus on being fully present, whether alone or with others. It strengthens your connection to yourself and others.
• Invest in Personal Growth: Take courses, read self-help books, or explore therapy to deepen your relationship with yourself and improve emotional resilience.
• Reconnect with Your Body: Engage in yoga, exercise, or mindful breathing to nurture a stronger connection with yourself physically and emotionally.
• Celebrate Progress Over Perfection: Acknowledge every step toward healing and self-love, no matter how small.
• Foster Connections Rooted in Authenticity: Seek safe relationships to express your true self and create a sense of belonging.
• Embrace Creative Expression: Use art, writing, or music to process emotions, connect with your inner self, and build confidence.
• Focus on What You Can Give: Offer your time, presence, or skills to others, which can foster mutual connection and self-fulfillment.
• Healing from loneliness is a journey of compassionate friendship with ourselves. Learning to love and befriend ourselves is an intimate act transforming isolation into a deep, fulfilling connection to the self.

Like what you’re reading? Want more consciously prepared brain food?

Listen to this Harvesting Happiness episode: Healing Loneliness: Learn to Love Yourself with Dr. Margaret Paul PhD or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Take an even deeper dive with More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness on Substack and Medium.

GUEST BIO: Dr. Margaret Paul is a bestselling author, relationship expert, and co-creator of the powerful Inner Bonding® self-healing process. She holds a PhD in psychology and is a member of the Transformational Leadership Council. Margaret has authored 12 books, the most recent of which, Lonely No More: The Astonishing Power of Inner Bonding, encapsulates her ongoing dedication to self-healing and personal growth.

Margaret’s innovative Inner Bonding® process combines psychological and spiritual principles to help individuals achieve emotional freedom and healing.