Loneliness is killing you (yes, even you)

Loneliness is poison. It is deadly. Loneliness is literally killing us.

And if you just rolled your eyes, I’m especially talking to you.

Over the past couple of decades, researchers have repeatedly found a direct link between loneliness and a host of physical and psychological problems, like heart disease and mental illness. Loneliness slowly dissolves us physically and mentally, and makes it impossible to be spiritually whole. Our culture has sped up and become increasingly frantic and chaotic. It’s tough to find time for new friendships, let alone time to invest in deep, meaningful relationships. We’ve managed to get by on sips of connection from the forced relationships of our kids’ friends’ parents or people at work, and the forced isolation of a global pandemic is highlighting a loneliness and mental health crisis like we haven’t seen in our lifetimes.

But here’s some good news: Regardless of how old you are, how much loss you have experienced or how overwhelming it feels, you don’t have to live a lonely, isolated life. In fact, you must not live a lonely, isolated life.

Just like learning new ways to handle your money, learning how to connect and manage relationships requires a new set of skills. You have to be intentional and humble and commit to learning new things. In fact, you can learn to cultivate new, whole and authentic relationships with people. You can learn to trust and be trusted. You can enjoy depth and connection, but you have to make it a priority and do the work.

Make no mistake: You are worth the work. Your kids, your spouse, your friends, your business and/or your community are all worth the work.  

Here are five tangible and powerful practices that will help you find connection and relationships and live a joyful and whole life.

1. Be honest about your loneliness. Who would be the first person you would call if you got word that your mom was sick? That you’d just lost your job? That you need help changing a tire in your driveway. If you’re like many Americans, you would have no one to call. No one.

This should sound every personal and cultural alarm that we have. Finding connection first begins with admitting that you are lonely, with no one to call. That you have no one you can tell the good stuff, the bad stuff and the painful stuff too. That you have no one to lean on.

Or you might have a ton of people to call, but you find yourself lonely in a crowded room. Either way, you’re lonely — and disconnected.

So, inhale deeply and say it out loud: I’m lonely. Then exhale.

Admitting you’re lonely doesn’t mean you’re weak or a loser. It means you’re human. I’ve felt lonely in a crowded room of people who love me, on stage in front of thousands of people, and even when surrounded by family at my own kitchen table.

If we aren’t honest about our loneliness, we run the risk of mislabeling our feelings and experiences. We might blame our feelings on any number of other things, from politics to neighbors, to people who have different beliefs. Instead of blaming or numbing, what you need is people on your team, someone to argue, laugh, eat, watch a game with — or maybe cry with.

2. Be proactive. Develop a plan to connect with people. Loneliness can quickly turn into a pity party if you’re waiting for others to reach out to you. Telephones, visits and letter writing work both ways. You can be upset that no one has called or written, or you can begin reaching out.

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