Blogging About Communication

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Communication is the single biggest factor affecting our relationships. When our communication suffers, our relationships suffer. Once we experience social isolation, we may experience both a physical and mental decline. Social deprivation and feelings of loneliness weaken our resilience, compromising our well-being.

What It Means to Be Lonely

Loneliness begins with the belief that the relationships we have are deficient, that they lack in quality and meaningfulness. When convinced that neither our family members nor our friends care enough about us, we feel lonely. The perceptible discrepancy between the nature of the relationships we desire and those we have, exacts a toll on us.

What it Takes for a Relationship to be Labeled High Quality and Meaningful

High quality and meaningful relationships share the following attributes: (1) the parties find them enjoyable; (2) one party accepts the other party as they are; (3) the parties trust one another; (4) the parties respect each other; (5) the parties help and support each other; (6) the parties confide in each other, sharing their feelings willingly; (7) the parties understand one another; and (8) the parties feel free to be themselves.

Pay Attention

What steps can you take to tackle your feelings of loneliness? Pay more attention to words like these: engagement, care, excitement, and love. What and who engages you? Who do you care about and who cares about you? What and who excites you? Who do you excite? What and who do you love? Who shares your feelings?

Action Plan to Avoid Loneliness

Most of us yearn for engaged, caring, exciting, and loving connections. But are we working hard enough to achieve them. Identify ways you can work harder to nurture the social ties you need to keep from feeling detached and lonely.

One simple way to avoid feeling detached is to make the effort to attach yourself to others.

Identify specific individuals you can reach out to in order to make the connections you seek. Then do it!