Final Remedy: Don’t Wear Disguises
Hello, Fabulous People!!
Welcome back to our final remedy of overcoming social isolation. I hope you enjoy the weekly tools and tips for overcoming lockdown loneliness. The last week was rather short and to the point about the blame game. If you miss it out on the questionnaires, check out last week’s remedy.
As I process my emotional wounds, the tools were helpful. I wanted to share with my tribes who are looking for a remedy to resolve the pain. Here is our final solution for overcoming social isolation, and please take action to alleviate the discomfort. Please leave your comment and share it with friends and family who would benefit from it.
Part 5 Remedy: Unpack those Emotional Wounds
If you are feeling isolated, are you turning to social media for approval or validation? Sometimes social media detracts from the real world and causes more isolation. There are distinct reasons and results. Sometimes it’s easy to blame the increase of social media use, which results in less time for actual, real interactions. That’s where loneliness needs to be resolved interpersonally.
Older folks know that young people are reaching epidemic levels of social isolation because of their involvement in social media. There is a growing concern that young adults only care about getting “likes” and “friends” and “followers” rather than engaging in the real world. They disguise themselves to heighten their experience in the anticipation that people will pay attention to them. People craft their social media handle inappropriately, but it becomes a mask that intensifies their isolation.
Social Acceptance
Social media isn’t just a platform for posers. We wear disguises in real life too. For example, being a people pleaser is asking to be a walking doormat for the lonely. Pleasers do whatever is needed to be liked. Pleasers get heavily involved in making others happy for one reason: acceptance. Pleasing others when you don’t benefit is unhealthy behavior. This particular mask is a defense tool to prevent others from criticizing us. In our vacant mind, we believe, “If they like me, they will be kind to me.”
But that is not always the case. Being helpful and caring for others is a good thing. The world could use more compassion. But motivation also matters. Here is a quote from Jim Carrey: “Your need for acceptance can make you invisible in this world. Don’t let anything stand in the way of the light that shines through this form. Risk being seen in all of your glory.”
The quote to me is when it comes to social acceptance present yourself with modesty and curiosity. You will see light at the end of the tunnel.
Final Thoughts
These remedies are for you to release emotional baggage so you can free yourself from isolation, blame, and disguising. These are only the reactions of people who try to overcome the pain of loneliness. But they don’t work, and they never will because they’re synthetic substitutes. And being alone can only be defeated with authenticity. Be mindful of your well-being, and know you are never truly alone.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my weekly series of overcoming isolations. Please sign up to be part of my tribes of togetherness.
Helpful sources if you need immediate support
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ 1- 800-273-8255
The NAMI HelpLine can be reached Monday through Friday, 10 am–6 pm, ET.
1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or info@nami.org
Or in a crisis, text “NAMI” to 741741
Because we’re in this together, you are not alone.
