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I feel so alone. Sometimes I feel connected – especially to learning…
I love those “light bulb moments” – when something new clicks.
I wish I could share it with someone – but I dont know who.
I get so frustrated that people want to stick with old news… & not look for other perspectives.
Especially when they put me down for sharing something that goes against their comfortable fantasy.
I can’t blame them – I do something like that too, but it still ticks me off!
Why are we so scared of TRUTH?
Could it be because the truth takes us off on the “road less traveled” where it’s lonely?
I think that each person, who embraces who they are, the validity of their life’s experiences, and their own intuition will likely find life a very lonely path. There is the basic truth that we get taught in Church (there is a God, there is life after death) but after that, truth is very personal…and therefore, lonely. I think loneliness is the price we pay for individuality. I’ll take the individuality….
Featherina, I empathize. I hope tomorrow feels better.
Yes. When we keep pushing forward, eventually there’s a point when the pursuit of our own truth becomes a solo adventure. We spend a large part of our life feeling connected to our social group, believing that they believe and think like us. Perhaps that is true to a point. But one day, if you go far enough, you are on your own. It’s scary and exhilarating at the same time. If we want a truly close and personal relationship with God, it’s gonna look lonely: because it’s just us all alone … and God. Two people does not a crowd make. To end on a bit of upbeat humor, my favorite footprints in the sand picture:
[img]http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l8ou93Vgze1qz4foko1_400.jpg [/img] I would say it is a solitary journey – that might or might not be lonely. I think it is more or less lonely depending on what percent of your time is devoted to it – and I’m not a proponent of spending excessive or obsessive time on anything. I like a balanced life (even though that will vary individually), and a big part of that is because “balance” helps lessen loneliness by compartmentalizing solitude, if you will.
There is a certain level of truth that seems universal and applies to all…the simple stuff, like “love your neighbor” “say please and thank you” “share your toys” – and those other things kindergartners are taught in the sandbox. But for many things, as we dig deeper, it depends greatly on our point of view and our experiences. We find comfort in validation from a group that what we think is also true to others … but there are some personal truths based on our point of view and experience that others don’t understand. Those are the times when it feel lonely. But that doesn’t make it wrong. The Savior felt lonely at times, when he had to go on alone to complete His experiences, and it saddened Him when he found his friends asleep when He needed them and their support. But at times, we have to go on alone, and push through it. Perhaps those times are when we find truth most powerful for us in our lives.
The canned answer I often hear is, “You are never truly alone” – I dunno about that, to be honest. What do you think? Do you feel God is still there for you, that there is something you are able to learn on your own, or are you just lonely?
You’ll find many geniuses have had lonely lives/childhoods or just been written off as weirdos. Thank you, so much for your replies. 🙂 This is one of the reasons I appreciate this forum so much!
SilentDawning,I also take individuality – over conforming & losing myself.
I think it’s tough to get out of the habitual thinking of “all or nothing” – the idea that either 2 agree on everything or they can’t feel connected. Before, there was never 100% agreement – I just never dug deep enough to find out. Part of it is this digging deeper – in questioning religious beliefs, I’ve also questioned my motives for doing things & realize I & others are not as perfect as I liked to pretend before.
A friend of mine seems to have this gift of reading people… he can tell so much about a person he hasn’t known long. He can get into the hearts of people who are normally clamed up – I’ve seen it – & it’s amazing. He sees the negative right along with the positive & seems to be able to still focus on the positive. I want to get like that.
Mom3,Thanks. It’s good to feel empathized with.
Brian,Maybe we feel lonely, because we’re the only ones with our life experiences, shadow self etc… to sort through to realize more closeness with goodness/God.
Cute picture & caption about Sandpeople – single file. lol
It kindof reminds me of a quote about how we shouldn’t look to what spiritual leaders pointed to, but instead we should consider why they pointed.
Ray,I agree that balance is really important… to consider how we’re doing & what our goals are spiritually/emotionally, socially, physically, financially, intellectually etc. I’ve come to a point, after being preoccupied with others, I’m realizing the need to connect with myself – to even out the balance of loving others & loving myself. And to give myself a break from thinking too deeply about too much.
Heber,You’re right – just because we may feel unvalidated by others, doesn’t make what we think & feel wrong. That’s very important to remember, especially if we leaned on the approval of others before.
Well, in a physical & maybe spiritual sense, we are never alone… tons of life within us & around us.
But feeling alone – that’s different. My friend (who’s LDS & had a NDE) asked me to consider the word al-one… as ALL ONE.
I still felt alone, but it’s something to meditate on. Sometimes, when I hike up the mountains… & I put my hand on & lean against a tree, it’s amost like I can feel its energy. It could be in my imagination (one of those functional illusions that give you a good feeling) – but sometimes it seems like everything is so alive – & even somewhat aware of me & I feel less alone, even though I’m not with any other people.
There are times when I feel lonely – when I think others are against me, or don’t understand or even misunderstand me. But sometimes, just remembering times when I felt understood & connected to someone, I feel better. So maybe how much God is there for us depends on how we connect… & because we’re imperfect & there must be opposition in all things, we’ll feel lonely at times, so we can appreciate the togetherness & connection other times.
SamBee,lol – That’s good to remember! Featherina wrote:And to give myself a break from thinking too deeply about too much.
I think we need breaks from that sometimes. Sometimes, I think it is OK to let yourself feel lonely for a time, and just accept that is a valid emotion too. It just can’t go on too long or it becomes destructive.
I sometimes try to relax, meditate, and listen to buddhist teachings that help me let go of worrying or feeling guilt or over-analyzing the past and why people think or say things to me…and let go of worries and stresses of what I think may happen in the future…and just be present now. Even if that now is sometimes lonely.
By the way, your description of being in nature is exactly how I feel, and sometimes feel closer to God that way then when I go to church on Sunday.
Yes, it can be a very lonely road, which, as I’m sure you have discovered, makes places like this so valuable. For those free-thinkers that came along before the advent of the internet, it must have been a lot tougher to find any kind of validation. doug wrote:I’m sure you have discovered, makes places like this so valuable.
This is where the lonely people all come to be together
Heber13 wrote:This is where the lonely people all come to be together
All the lonely hearts in one club, like being in a band.
Featherina wrote:
SamBee,lol – That’s good to remember! Remember, just because you’re doing something unpopular doesn’t mean it’s wrong!
People have got into various popular movements over the years, and we can see the results of those in history!
Heber13 wrote:Featherina wrote:And to give myself a break from thinking too deeply about too much.
I think we need breaks from that sometimes. Sometimes, I think it is OK to let yourself feel lonely for a time, and just accept that is a valid emotion too. It just can’t go on too long or it becomes destructive.
I sometimes try to relax, meditate, and listen to buddhist teachings that help me let go of worrying or feeling guilt or over-analyzing the past and why people think or say things to me…and let go of worries and stresses of what I think may happen in the future…and just be present now. Even if that now is sometimes lonely.
By the way, your description of being in nature is exactly how I feel, and sometimes feel closer to God that way then when I go to church on Sunday.
Thanks for understanding, Heber.I LOVE nature – & I can see why Jesus, Moses & many others in scriptures (like Nephi & the brother of Jarod) went up to the mountains to pray & feel close to God.
I read “The Power of Now” (Tolle) & it changed how I saw a lot, like how we can only experience anything now (not yesterday or tomorrow).
There are times to learn from the past & plan for the future, but sometimes what is most needed is to appreciate now.
I was thinking about how SPG (on NOM) mentioned that evil in essence, is the avoidance of consequent pain.
Say, somebody hits you – isn’t a natural, almost instinctive reflex to hurt back, or somehow protect yourself from further pain?
I wonder how we can “roll with the punches” without becoming a door mat.
doug wrote:Yes, it can be a very lonely road, which, as I’m sure you have discovered, makes places like this so valuable. For those free-thinkers that came along before the advent of the internet, it must have been a lot tougher to find any kind of validation.
Thanks, Doug. This place really helps a lot – Thanks to everybody!
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