"Loneliness" is a quiet time that nurtures you

Introduction

Lately, I've been feeling a bit lonely.
Even when I have friends or family around me.
Is it because of my age? 😅
No! Even young people feel this way sometimes, right?
How about you all?
I'm sure loneliness is something everyone feels.

Why do we feel this way?
What do you do when you feel like that?

I've been thinking that it would be nice if we could gently accept our loneliness and make things a little easier on ourselves 🤔

Gentle ways to ease "loneliness"

Loneliness is objectively being in astate
of being alone. Loneliness is subjectively anemotionwhere the heart feels unfulfilled.

For example:
Loneliness (Kodoku) = "Being alone in a quiet room where no one else is present"
Loneliness (Sabishisa) = "A heart that cannot bear that silence and feels a desire for someone to be there"

I spend a lot of time alone, and I find myself feeling lonely because I cannot bear the silence.

So it's both! 😂
My deep breath turned into a deep sigh...

💡 I want to become someone who loves solitude

Thinking positivelyis something I realized is important.

For the first time in a while, I made a dish that took a bit of effort.
🍢 Oden 🍢
Peeling the daikon radish, cutting it, boiling it...
As I prepared each ingredient and made the dashi broth, my heart suddenly felt lighter 🎈
I found myself wanting to make something delicious for myself and for my family.

🍀 Think positively
🍀 Do things for yourself, or for someone else
🍀 It's okay if you get so absorbed in an activity that you lose track of time

The effects of loneliness on the body

When loneliness intensifies, it strengthens the thought that "I am not accepted" at work or school,
leading to avoiding interactions with others.
As a result, a vicious cycle occurs where loneliness deepens and leads to isolation.

"No one cares about me"
"Maybe I'm disliked"
"I'm not needed"

Negative thinking also affects the body.

When lonely, stress hormones (cortisol) rise,
making heart rate and blood pressure more likely to increase.
Also, it is said that oxytocin and serotonin, which are secreted when social connections are made,
become deficient, reducing feelings of security.

👆 If you leave feelings of loneliness unchecked, it's not good for your body.

Ideas and care for enjoying solitude

First, change your mindset from "I'm lonely" to "What shall I do now? 🎵"
Then, fulfill your heart.
What things fulfill your heart?
↓ Here are some simple ways to fulfill your heart.

I think using your body is very good.
Light exercise like walking or stretching releases serotonin and endorphins, naturally making your mood more positive.
"Moving the body = moving the heart," which helps break the vicious cycle of loneliness.

The cooking I was doing is actually good, too!
・The sound of cutting ingredients, the aroma of dashi, the texture of the food, the colors → Full use of the five senses
・Carefully preparing food not just for someone else, but for yourself → Compassion for yourself

🌸 When you feel lonely or isolated, it might be a sign to take care of yourself.
If you can fulfill your heart and become positive, you can just think,
"My heart has grown a little!" 😊
That's a chance!
I hope you can turn loneliness into time to think about what you can do now for your future self, learn,
or take on new challenges!

📖 Thank you for reading until the end!
I hope your heart feels a little lighter...

Next time...

I felt that "habits" are truly amazing.
You hear about people who have changed their lives through habits, don't you!
I am also learning and practicing such habits!
I would like to write about that 🌷