When You Feel Lonely, Try These 5 Social Strengths

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“Do you ever feel lonely? Excluded? Isolated from others? When you have felt this way, which character strength (from this list of 24) was most helpful to lift you up? These were the questions that more than 12,000 people from 128 countries were asked to offer their insights. Here is what was found.

#1 Social Strength: Love

Love is like a connective tissue for our social life — it creates and solidifies bonds in any of our relationships at work, home, and community. When you are feeling the pangs of loneliness, one act of love (calling someone, a hug) can have a transforming effect. If there are no people around, you might turn to loving-kindness meditation and imagine a situation when you felt very loved by someone, allowing the feelings of love to flow in your body and mind.

#2 Social Strength: Spirituality

When you are lonely, walk outside. If you look around you — at the sky, the trees, wildlife — you are part of something much larger than yourself. Notice this fact. Feel it. It is “life” that is surrounding you. Allow that to fill you with meaning and interconnection. You can see that you are not alone. There is so much life with you right now. If you connect with the sacred around you, then you are flowing with a strategy that research shows can impact your loneliness.

#3 Social Strength: Social Intelligence

Social intelligence can also be used to ask for help and to share your inner experiences in an honest way. It might not always feel natural and comfortable. In fact, sometimes you might have to “force yourself” to be social. Research shows that one way to make a change with your personality is to “fake it until you make it.” So, make one phone call, send a couple text messages or social media posts, or get yourself out into that recreation group. With some practice of forcing it, it will feel more authentic.

#4 Social Strength: Perspective

The feeling of loneliness is very narrowing. Our attention becomes preoccupied and limited, our body heavy. In many ways, perspective has the opposite effect. Perspective is about opening up widely and being light enough to see and envision the larger reality, the bigger possibilities. This strength is also about providing wisdom to others. Research has shown that we can build our wisdom by flipping this approach — by providing ourselves wise advice. Therefore, answer this: If a friend or co-worker asked you what they could do to feel less lonely, what would you tell them?

#5 Social Strength: Hope

This character strength was defined as being optimistic; positive; future-minded; expecting the best. Many times when we feel excluded or isolated, we only need a small reminder of that “thing” within us that is already there propelling us forward."

Key Points:

• A large-scale, international study found that character strengths are important for handling loneliness.

• These character strengths are love, spirituality, social intelligence, perspective, and hope.

• Character strengths can help build social health."

Read the whole article at Psychology Today

#Strenghts #Personality #Loneliness

💬 Which character strength from this list was the most helpful so far to lift you up?