Hey Everyone,
This is something I've been thinking about recently.'
Here in Singles especially, we often talk about loneliness, but what exactly IS loneliness in the first place?
A quick Google definition gave this answer:
"Loneliness" --
1. Sadness because one has no friends or company.
2. The quality (of a place) of being unfrequented or remote; isolation.
* How would you define loneliness for yourself?
* Are there different definitions of loneliness?
The reason I have been asking myself this lately is because I find that when I can define something, I can break it down and hopefully find better ways to cope with it.
I personally think that loneliness is pretty sneaky. I've felt loneliness both when I was with people or alone, and when I was in a relationship or single. Realizing this has made me ask myself, "Just what IS loneliness, since I've felt such deep pangs of it whether I am around another person or not?"
I think that for me, loneliness is the state of a lack of comfortable expression.
* If I'm alone, but feel I have a way of expressing myself in a meaningful way (usually through writing, creating, or learning), I don't feel nearly as lonely.
* If I'm with other people and for some reason, don't feel comfortable with taking a turn at expressing myself, then I tend to feel extremely lonely.
I know we've had a lot of threads about how to deal with loneliness, but in this thread, I would like to know what CAUSES people to feel lonely in the first place, because I know some people can be alone most of the time, but don't seem to have as many struggles with loneliness.
What is their secret? (Besides a relationship with God.)
If you'll give me a few minutes, I'm going to create a poll (anonymous and multiple choice,) but I hope it won't stop people from giving their own definitions of loneliness as well.
So, how would you finish the following sentences:
* "I feel lonely when _____________________________"
and
* "My personal definition of loneliness is _______________________________________."
I'll have the poll up in just a few, and thanks for sharing.