Positive affirmations for loneliness

We all feel lonely at times – it’s a natural human emotion. We're biologically wired for social contact, and loneliness is simply our signal that we need more.

Loneliness can feel overwhelming, and something out of our control, so it can be helpful to start with small, simple ways to feel more connected with ourselves and others. Today we're looking at affirmations - a powerful tool for promoting your self-confidence and belief in your own abilities, as well as challenging negative thoughts.

Practicing positive affirmations can be extremely simple, and all you need to do is pick a phrase and repeat it to yourself. Here are a few to help inspire you:

The Science Behind Affirmations

Affirmations are positive statements that you repeat to yourself regularly. These statements can help shift your mindset from negativity and self-criticism to positivity and self-empowerment.

The science behind affirmations lies in their ability to rewire your brain. When you consistently repeat positive affirmations, you're creating new neural pathways that promote a more positive outlook. They activate your brain's reward system, which can alleviate stress and emotional pain. Additionally, repeating affirmations can convince your brain that the positive visions they portray are factual, leading to increased self-belief.

People can mistakenly think affirmations are about “seeking perfection or seeking greatness,” said Chris Cascio, an assistant professor who has studied the practice. Instead, Cascio said, the key concept of affirmations is: “As you are, you are good enough, and you’re valued being you.”

How can affirmations help loneliness?

Affirmations can help with feelings of loneliness by addressing the negative thoughts and self-doubt that often come with it.

When we're feeling lonely, we can more easily slip into being self critical, or feeling like we're unworthy of connection - like the world is out to get us. Affirmations can help to counteract these feelings by promoting self-compassion and self-acceptance.

They can help us change our perception of loneliness too. For example,

instead of seeing loneliness as something empty, or a lack in your life, imagine it as a blank slate on which to build new experiences, friendships and interests.

It might take a bit of effort when you’ve been feeling a certain way for so long but keep going. We’re not defined by what happens to us in life but how we react - and putting a positive take on our loneliness definitely helps!

As always, let us know how you get on by commenting below, on social media, or sending us an email to: info@marmaladetrust.org. We'd love to hear from you!