Being alone and feeling lonely are two entirely different things.
It is possible to be in a room full of people and still feel lonely. Many people in a long-term relationship feel lonely.
Being lonely means you don’t feel heard, you don’t feel seen. Loneliness is the isolating feeling you get when nobody gets you, or the situation you’re in.
To help someone feel less lonely it’s not always enough to be there with them.
Encourage them to open up to you… Don’t preach, but be an active listener. Don’t come up with solutions, but validate their feelings. Don’t rationalize, but empathize.
Every human has the need to be seen. We’re social beings.
To a lonely person, a listening ear can be a life-saving gift.
Also read: To Be Empathetic Is To Stop Problem Solving.
