A SYMPTOM OF SOMETHING DEEPER. Yikes. This one may be much needed for a lot of us. Have you ever felt really lonely? Yep. Especially in a year like 2020 when a lot of us are distant and disconnected from others, loneliness can creep up on you and make you feel much more isolated than you really are. We're going to talk a little bit about our experiences WHY we tend to feel lonely sometimes… even when we can be in a room surrounded by people.

[1:35] Let's Start Out With Some STATS on Loneliness. These are a little eye-opening.

• Sharing a passage from "Braving the Wilderness" by Brene Brown. Living with loneliness increases our risk of dying early by over 40%... excuse me?!
• Dr. Vivek Murthy shared that in his research up to 22% of adults in America are affected by loneliness.

[5:00] What is Loneliness and How Would We Describe It?

• Perceived socially isolated
• Feeling disconnected
• Lacking sense of true belonging
• Pushed outside of a group we value

[6:50] The Different Types Of Loneliness. In Dr. Vivek Murthy's book "Together", he explains how there are many different facets of loneliness that people may experience.

• Intimate & Emotional: need for a close confident
• Relation & Social: quality of friendships
• Collective: network or group that share your purpose

[13:00] Loneliness vs. Being Alone: Lets define what being alone means… and how it is very different from just being alone.

[14:58] What drives us to feel this way?

• FEAR paralyzes us from connecting with others
• Lack of connection with ourselves.

[17:55] How Do We Combat Loneliness? We're sharing a few tips on how to feel a little less lonely. What can we do to connect and make ourselves feel better?

• Identify the root of the cause. Is it lack of depth in friendships? Low self-worth?
• Learn to treat signs of loneliness as a Warning Sign.
• Connecting with ourselves first... are you doing something that makes you happy? Sit with your feelings.
• Being vulnerable. Don't be afraid to have tough conversations.Vulnerability can open up deeper connections with others.
• Choosing courage over comfort. Think outside of ourselves.

Of course, we're going to close out with a beautiful passage by Maya Angelou, to remind you all that you are NOT alone. If you're feeling a little lonely, we hope this episode made you feel a little less alone.

Books/Articles Mentioned:

• "Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World" by Vivek Murthy
• "Braving the Wilderness" by Brené Brown
• NPR Interview with Vivek Murthy https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/05/11/853308193/in-together-former-surgeon-general-writes-about-importance-of-human-connection

Resources:

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Sending much love <3

Baklava,

Nat & Nina