In their book Never Be Lonely Again: The Way Out of Emptiness, Isolation and a Life Unfulfilled, Drs. Pat Love and Jon Carlson offer suggestions on how to develop an effective approach that will help people learn how to find the necessary time to maintain friendships, be truly present for a partner, and reach out to people when in need.
“It is important to tackle the problem of loneliness head on. You have to create behaviors that help you to be healthier and more emotionally satisfied,” said Drs. Love and Carlson.
The doctors believe that there are five questions that are well-worth asking ourselves, as they can literally change the course of our lives.
- Who Am I?
Your core values reflect who you are. Think about how you want the people you love to remember you, and then live each day demonstrating these characteristics and your life will take on a new direction and energy.
- Am I Connected?
You need three to five people in your close circle of contact – people who know you and pay close attention to you; in whom you can and do confide. If you improve the quality of your connections, comfort and contentment will greatly increase.
- Am I Living In Community?
Invest in people outside your close circle of friends/family and you feel a true sense of well-being and belonging.
- Are My Talents Being Utilized in meaningful Work?
Work doesn’t have to be the activity for which you get paid. Talents are something you enjoy doing – when you use them to benefit others you feel productive and useful, like you are earning your keep here on earth.
- Am I Living Out the Purpose of my life?
Chances are, if you concentrate on the other four questions you will answer “yes” to this question, but it bears asking. Am I doing what I was put here on earth to do? What could I do that would make the answer to this question “yes”? Do it and your live will improve in every possible way.
