People today, especially young people, are more connected than ever, yet more lonely than ever.
People need in-person interaction. We need social circles that support healthy behavior. We need to get together with groups of people who share the same interest that they understand – and understand them. We need a small group of 4 to 5 close friends. And we need one close confidant that they can share anything with.
(The number one reason people see a counselor is loneliness.)
Social Media is not going to cut it for long, nor is long-distance learning or working remotely. The metaverse is no place for us either. Living on a screen or through one ain’t makin’ it.
People are wired to be in groups for survival. Without the group, we couldn’t take care of ourselves, and we died. The human strategy depends on belonging. It’s baked into our nervous system.
Lack of belonging brings about shame, anger, loneliness, and depression.
Do you have your people and do you get with them in person – enough?
This is one of the most important messages I’ve read on ThinkDaily – thank you for writing it. The message is also timely for me because I know a few people who are truly struggling with loneliness. Unfortunately, I didn’t understand/accept loneliness until it hit people I know. It’s a genuine ailment with far-reaching impact. A sense of belonging is a critical factor for happiness. And that’s really why we’re all here – to live a happy life that allows us to be a positive influence on others.
I absolutely agree! I come from a large family (9 siblings), my wife is from a large family (7 siblings) and so far we have 8 children of our own! I could not survive without my people around me! Fortunately I need people as much as people need me and so I will always do my best to make sure people know I care for them. Many of the greatest travesties in life are due to lonely people. Suicides, school shootings, dysfunctional children and a host of other problems are due to people feeling like they aren’t a part of a group of people. We need to feel like we belong and have purpose and it should be our goal to help everyone towards that end!