Self-Compassion For Isolation
Bad Weather Can Lead To Isolation
We all need self-compassion for isolation, especially because it is one of the sneakier problems to have. A spout of bad weather keeps you at home, which you make the best of by watching something on television, curling up in front of a good book, and cooking something savory that you have planned to do for months. When the weather is bleak for multiple days, we often get used to this routine, and find comfort in our self-reliance. This is all well and good until one day we realize that we feel lonely, but by this time going out and connecting with people has become so foreign that we struggle to take first steps. We imagine these feelings will pass, but one day soon, we find ourselves following the brush strokes of paint on our ceilings, and then it hits us. We feel isolated.
It is important to note how common this scenario is, especially if you live in a place that is prone to harsh weather conditions at certain times of the year. Our immediate reaction is to try to downplay these feelings, but after a while that little bit of isolation feels like a lot of depression. While some fantasize that depression is a restful state in which you spend hours luxuriously wrapped up in silk sheets, it is actually a very active, stressful, and burdensome state, which creates social anxiety, negative self-thoughts, and pessimism about the chances of ever living a happy life.
Of course, if you realize early in the process that you are becoming socially isolated, you might feel that you have the means and opportunity to reach out to family and friends. In many cases, we are just too busy to notice it until it’s too late. With this in mind, let’s look at a self-compassionate means of managing this isolation, so that we can return to a state of well-being, connection, and hope.
Three Easy Steps To Treat Your Isolation Symptoms Successfully
First, notice the feeling of isolation, name it, and soften around the areas of your body that are filled with tension. Second, acknowledge that you come by it naturally. “There sure have been a lot of gloomy days. No wonder I decided to stay in side.” Third, think about how you might be kind to yourself. “I should call Paula, and see if she will meet me for dinner, coffee, or drinks tomorrow.”
As your discomfort with venturing out or acknowledging your isolation comes up, return to the previous two steps, including the third step, when you want to make an extra effort. Remember, sometimes we need time away from the things we value most to establish our priorities with respect to self-compassion, and our core values.
365 Days Of Self-Compassion. Day 190. In The Books.