Loneliness can be a very tough part of an individual’s life. It can cause sadness, anxiety, and depression over time.
What many people don’t know about loneliness is that it doesn’t only happen to single people, people who are geographically isolated, or people who have very few friends.
Loneliness can happen to anyone in any situation at any time, and it’s a serious problem that needs to be separated from its stigma before we can truly help those struggling with it.
If you’re feeling lonely, know that it’s okay to feel this way and there are plenty of things you can do right now to help yourself. This feeling might be a message from your body, mind, and spirit that you need to change something in your life.
Loneliness reminds us not to get stuck working on our own projects while neglecting the relationships around us. It also encourages us to form new relationships if we don’t have any at the moment.
Here we have compiled a list of 20 affirmations for loneliness, all focused on self-love and compassion. Choose the ones that speak to you most and say them out loud when your loneliness feels the strongest.
20 Affirmations for Loneliness
1. I am enough just as I am.
2. I am fun to be with.
3. I enjoy my own company.
4. People love being around me.
5. I attract loving, supportive people into my life.
6. It’s okay to spend time alone.
7. I have patience for myself.
8. I love myself unconditionally.
9. I am self-aware and confident.
11. I deserve all the love in the world.
12. I can take care of myself with love and compassion.
13. I can make it through the temporary feelings of loneliness.
14. I feel content and at ease when I spend time alone.
15. I enjoy time for self-reflection.
16. I can draw on my inner strength.
18. I am whole and complete exactly as I am right now.
19. I effortlessly attract loving relationships.
20. I give and receive love with ease every day of my life.
What Causes a Person to Be Lonely?
People are lonely for many different reasons, so it’s important to understand what might be triggering your feelings of loneliness.
Some causes of loneliness include:
- A divorce or a breakup
- Depression
- Anxiety
- A major move
- An illness
- The death of a loved one
- Overworking at a job or pursuing an education
- Being physically isolated from others, such as living in a rural area or being homebound due to disability
- Having few friends and little social support
- Introversion
- Co-dependent relationships
- Constant conflict in a relationship
These are situational causes of loneliness, while others may feel lonely for a deeper reason.
Some causes of more emotional or existential loneliness include:
- A lack of self-love and acceptance.
- Feeling that you don’t matter to anyone else in the world.
- Inability to communicate your needs effectively with those closest to you.
- Overbearing perfectionism.
- Feeling like no one understands you.
- A lack of a sense of purpose in life or fear that your life lacks meaning.
Loneliness can be brought on by any combination of these things, so it’s important to take an honest look at what might be going on for you. Then you’ll have the best chance possible at making the changes you need to feel loved and supported.
Loneliness vs. Solitude
It can be hard to tell the difference between loneliness and solitude. While loneliness can feel like a dark, heavy feeling of despair, solitude is the peace that comes from being content with yourself as you are in your current state.
In many ways, loneliness and solitude are a state of mind. While you can feel lonely in a crowded room, it’s also possible to experience solitude while surrounded by other people. It all comes down to how you’re feeling inside and what your expectations are for the situation.
Practice solitude by developing a deeper relationship with yourself. Spend time just being with yourself, without feeling the need to seek attention from other people or do anything else.
This will help you relax into your own skin and learn how to be okay on your own—something that is extremely important for overcoming feelings of loneliness in any situation.
8 Ways to Deal With Loneliness
In addition to practicing affirmations, there are many other ways that you can support yourself through periods of loneliness:
1. Reach Out and Make Plans With Friends
Sometimes we get stuck in a rut and reconnecting with others is truly as easy as picking up the phone. Call or text a friend and make plans to get together soon.
If you don’t feel like going out, ask your friends if they will come to hang out with you at home or meet for an activity that doesn’t involve being in a crowded place such as taking a hike.
Having company around as part of your normal routine can help you feel more connected and less lonely.
2. Take a Class
Look online for a community education class that interests you, and sign up.
If there isn’t something that sparks your interest right away, ask yourself what it is that you’d really love to learn or try out in the world.
Learning something new will take your mind off of the loneliness you’ve been experiencing. As a bonus, you’ll also meet a group of people who share a similar interest or goal as you.
Taking a class is also an opportunity to find out what your next step in life might be, which can help you feel less lonely by helping you see that there are many possibilities for the future ahead of you.
3. Find a Support Group
If your loneliness stems from a difficult time in your life such as a divorce or the loss of someone close to you, finding other people who are going through similar things can be comforting and empowering.
Support groups not only provide extra social interaction for those who need it, but they also offer an opportunity to share emotions and coping strategies with others who truly understand what you’re dealing with.
Go online and search for “support groups” along with the name of the city where you live. You’ll be surprised at how many options appear when you look around.
4. Get a Pet
Having a pet is a noble way of taking care of another living being and it can help you feel less alone. This will give you some extra responsibility and love in your life without taking up a lot of your time. The important thing to remember is that if you’re adopting an animal, it’s their forever home. So make sure this is something that you will be able to commit to.
If getting a new pet is too much on your own, volunteer at an animal shelter or offer to take care of someone else’s pets when they go away for the weekend.
5. Take Yourself on a Date
It might sound silly, but taking time out of your life to do something for yourself can be extremely beneficial when you’re feeling lonely.
Take the opportunity to enjoy some peace and quiet by treating yourself to a cup of tea or coffee at home with someone special—yourself!
If that’s not enough, go ahead and take it up a notch by putting on your best outfit, picking out some nice music to set the mood, and lighting up that scented candle you’ve been saving for just this occasion.
6. Volunteer
When we need support and company, sometimes the best thing to do is to give that to others. Finding out where you’re most needed will help you know how to best use your time, which can bring along feelings of empowerment and less loneliness in the process.
To get started, go online and find an organization that you believe in, then contact them to ask how you can help out. You might be surprised at what kind of response you get!
If it’s not practical for your schedule right now to volunteer on a regular basis, see if there are any events coming up, such as food drives or fundraisers where you can pitch in.
The time you spend helping others will make a difference for them, while also making you feel like your life matters and has a purpose.
7. Take a Trip
If you have the financial means to do so, traveling can be an excellent way of breaking up your day-to-day routine and putting some space between yourself and loneliness.
Travel embraces solitude while also taking you out of your comfort zone, which has the potential to make you more resilient and open in your life.
You could consider a quick trip into nature or a weekend getaway to a nearby city. You could even plan a longer international trip. You’ll be surprised at how much planning can help take your mind off of feeling lonely.
In the meantime, keep yourself busy by learning some new phrases in the language of wherever you’re going or by reading up on your destination’s history. Preparing for the trip is half of the fun.
8. Let All Your Feelings Out
We can become very lonely when we bottle up our emotions. Alienation is only made worse when we don’t let our feelings out.
If you find yourself holding back your emotions, take the time to write them down in a journal or talk about them with a friend or therapist.
Opening up and letting all of your thoughts and feelings come rushing out can be an overwhelming experience, but it’s an extremely cathartic one.
You’ll feel a lot better having expressed yourself and you might even find that the negative feelings don’t stick around for long.
Final Thoughts
Loneliness happens to us all from time to time, but that doesn’t mean you have to suffer through it alone.
The important thing is to take action and do something about it. Practicing affirmations on a daily basis is a great way to maintain a positive mindset and keep yourself motivated to get out there in the world.
When we take control over our lives and do what needs to be done, we can rid ourselves of loneliness and move on to a happier, healthier way of living.