Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
All right, let's dive
in.
Today we're going to be talkingabout loneliness.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
And we're actually
looking at this blog post from
Lestallion.
Have you heard of Lestallion?
Speaker 2 (00:10):
I have.
They make beautiful journals.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
They make gorgeous
journals and they have this blog
post called 50 Journal Promptsfor Loneliness.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Interesting.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
So we're going to use
these prompts as, like, a
jumping off point.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
You know, to kind of
explore this feeling of
loneliness and how it impacts usand maybe even look at some
solutions.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
I love that idea, and
what's so fascinating about
this blog post is how it'sstructured.
Yeah, it breaks these 50prompts down into three distinct
categories.
Oh, wow, it's almost like aroadmap, leading us through
understanding our own loneliness, building a stronger connection
with ourselves and then finallyexploring how we connect with
others.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
That's a great way to
think about it, like a roadmap.
I love that.
So they start right off the batwith this first section
understanding your feelings andone of the prompts that really
stood out to me was describewhat loneliness feels like to
you.
Is it a physical sensation, anemotional void, or something
else entirely?
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Wow, that's such a
great prompt because it really
encourages us to go beyond justsaying I feel lonely, right To
really pinpoint what's going on.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
That's true.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Is this sharp pain in
your chest, or maybe it's a
dull ache that just kind of sitswith you?
You know, identifying thosesensations, those unique
feelings that come with yourloneliness, can be a huge step
in understanding where it stemsfrom.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
It's like we become
investigators of our own
emotions.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
There's another
prompt in this section that
dives into that even further.
It says reflect on the momentswhen you feel the loneliest,
what triggers those feelings andhow do they impact your mood.
So now we're really gettingdown to the nitty gritty.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Yeah, triggers are so
interesting, right, because
sometimes they hide in plainsight.
It's like they're lurking inthe shadows, and by reflecting
on when you feel most lonely,you can start to shine a
spotlight on those shadows andreally understand not just the
what of loneliness but the whybehind it.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
That's so true Right.
And sometimes those triggersaren't even external.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Right, right.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
It can be our own
thoughts, our own patterns.
But speaking of digging deeper,there's this other prompt that
says reflect on the differencebetween loneliness and solitude.
How can you redefine your alonetime to feel more empowering?
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Oh, that's where
things get really interesting, I
know right, because solitude,that time spent alone, can
actually be such a wellspring ofcreativity and strength and
even renewal.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
So this prompt is
challenging us to shift our
perspective.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Can we take those
moments of being alone and
transform them from something wedread into something that
empowers us?
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Because I think a lot
of times we do dread being
alone.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
We do and it's like.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Can we reframe that?
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Yeah.
So for you listening to this,what does all this mean?
It means that understandingyour loneliness starts with
paying attention.
You know, becoming aware.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Right.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Noticing those
triggers, those physical
sensations, and really flippingthe script on alone time.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
It's about reclaiming
that time and making it a
source of self-discovery ratherthan a source of distress.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Exactly.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Powerful stuff.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
It is.
And now getting into the secondsection, building
self-connection.
This is all about turninginward and focusing on ourselves
.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
And I'm really
excited to dig into this one,
because I feel like this iswhere we start to find some
solutions.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Yeah, the second
section is all about getting to
know yourself better, likereally becoming your own best
friend.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
Yes, and there's this
one prompt that I think speaks
directly to like our learnerside.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
You know it says
write about a skill or hobby.
You've always wanted to explore.
How could diving into it makeyour alone time more fulfilling.
Oh, I love that I know like Ican already feel my to-do list
growing what's fascinating aboutthat prompt, though, is that
it's not just about keeping busyright studies actually show
that engaging in a hobby thatyou're passionate about can
(04:01):
actually reduce cortisol levelsoh, wow which is that nasty
stress hormone.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
So it's really about
finding those activities that
light you up and make you feelmore connected to yourself.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
Yeah, it's like those
hobbies become a bridge between
you and you.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Exactly Okay.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
This next one's a
little bit more touchy feely,
but I kind of love it, it sayswrite a love letter to yourself
acknowledging your strength andresilience during moments of
solitude.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Ooh.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Now I know that might
sound a little cheesy at first.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
But imagine actually
doing it, like pouring out all
those positive feelings on thepaper.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
I love that, you know
it's such a powerful exercise
in self-compassion.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
And self-validation,
and it can really help cultivate
a more positive inner dialogue.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Because we're often
our own worst critics.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Oh, absolutely.
We are so hard on ourselves.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
So it's like giving
yourself that pep talk but, like
in a way that lets you reallysoak it in.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Sometimes that's
exactly what we need Just a
reminder of our own strength andresilience.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
So ready to shift
gears a little bit.
This third category, exploringconnections this takes us
outward, you know, focusing onthose bonds with other people.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
This is where the
rubber meets the road.
Yes, right, because whilecultivating a strong sense of
self is essential, we humans arewired for connection.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
We are.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
We thrive on it.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Yeah, and I love how
practical these prompts are.
Okay, like, for example,there's this one reflect on
someone who brings joy to yourlife.
How can you reach out to themin a meaningful way?
It's not just about thinkingabout connection Right.
It's about taking action.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
I love that, and
those actions don't have to be
grand gestures either.
Yeah, you know, a simple phonecall, a handwritten note.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Right.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Even just a heartfelt
text can make a huge difference
.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
Totally.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
It's about nurturing
those relationships that bring
meaning to our lives.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
And then there's
another prompt here that really
resonated with me.
It says reflect on the type ofrelationships you want to
cultivate.
What qualities are mostimportant to you?
It's like they're encouragingus to be really intentional
about the people we surroundourselves with.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
That's so important.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
It is.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
It's about aligning
ourselves with people who share
our values, yeah who support ourgrowth and who make us feel
seen and heard totally.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
And then this one, I
think, speaks to those who might
be feeling a bit lost sociallyokay it says think about a
community or group you'd like tojoin.
How can you take the first steptoward becoming part of it?
Speaker 2 (06:24):
I love how
action-oriented that prompt is.
It is, it's encouraging us toactively seek out connection.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
So this raises an
important question for you, the
listener.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
What steps can you
take today to foster those
connections?
Speaker 2 (06:39):
Maybe it's reaching
out to an old friend, joining a
book club, or even volunteeringfor a cause you care about.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
The possibilities are
pretty much endless.
They are you know it's worthnoting that this blog post
doesn't sugarcoat things.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Right.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
It acknowledges the
pain and the isolation that can
come with loneliness.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
But it always comes
back to this message of hope and
resilience.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
And that's so crucial
because loneliness, while often
unwelcome, is a part of thehuman experience.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
It is.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
It's not a weakness,
but rather an opportunity for
growth and self-discovery.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
So we've journeyed
through these 50 prompts,
uncovering so many layers ofinsight along the way.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
We have.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
We've talked about
understanding our feelings,
building self-connection andexploring connections with
others, but where do we go fromhere?
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Well, that's where
the real journey begins.
The prompts have given us aframework, like a set of tools
for exploration.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
Yeah, it's like we've
been handed this incredible
toolbox.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
I love that analogy.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Filled with all these
different ways to approach and
understand loneliness.
Exactly Now, it's aboutchoosing the right tools for you
and getting to work.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
And what's so
exciting is that the real
treasure isn't even the endresult.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
Oh, tell me more.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
It's the process
itself.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
It's about those aha
moments you have while
journaling.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Those insights that
emerge when you least expect
them.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
So, as we wrap up our
deep dive today into these 50
journal prompts, I'm curiouswhat really resonated with you?
What's that one nugget ofwisdom you're going to take away
from all of this?
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Here's a final
thought for you to ponder,
inspired by what we've exploredtoday.
If loneliness were a teacher,what lessons might it be trying
to teach you?
Speaker 1 (08:16):
That is a powerful
question.
It is.
It really flips the wholenarrative on its head, doesn't
it?
Speaker 2 (08:21):
It does.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Instead of viewing
loneliness as something negative
, something to avoid at allcosts, we can approach it with
curiosity.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
With a willingness to
learn and grow.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Exactly Because
sometimes the most profound
growth comes from those timeswhen we feel the most alone.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
It's true and
remember, you're not alone in
this journey.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
You're not.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
Loneliness is a
universal experience, and we're
all navigating thesecomplexities of human connection
together.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
So grab your journal,
find a quiet corner and let the
exploration begin.
You might be amazed by what youdiscover about yourself.