Welcome to our quarterly feature from our resident life coach, Linda B! Linda B is a leading international life coach from Iceland and is a LET Communication Consultant, Trauma Resiliency Model expert, Former President of the Icelandic Coaching Federation and Board of Icelandic Women’s Business Association.
We met Linda whilst working with global charity, The Unity Of Faiths Foundation, as she was one of their Ambassadors. Linda is an inspiring woman with a wealth of knowledge about social issues and she is also a published author. Her latest book, Book Of All Seasons, is a book of useful life advice and quotes and has been met with critical acclaim globally. Here’s her latest La Vida feature….
CHECK OUT LINDA’S BOOK OF ALL SEASONS ON AMAZON! FOR A FREE LIFE COACHING CONSULTATION CONTACT HER ON FACEBOOK!
According to researches done around the world we are facing a new epidemic — loneliness. Everywhere I looked for statistics I could see numbers concerning loneliness that sent a chill through my spine! In UK and Japan they now have Ministers Of Loneliness and that just tells me that this is a growing problem in a world that has never been so connected but at the same time so disconnected!
The Campaign To End Loneliness organization reports that over 9 million people in the UK often or always feel lonely, and around 1 in 4 people say they feel more isolated during the winter months. In a survey conducted by the BBC, over 55,000 people in the UK participated — revealing that loneliness is prevalent across all ages. The survey found that young adults aged 16-24 and adults over 75 reported feeling the loneliest.
CHECK OUT LINDA’S BOOK OF ALL SEASONS ON AMAZON! FOR A FREE LIFE COACHING CONSULTATION CONTACT HER ON FACEBOOK!
Loneliness is not just a concept or a feeling, it has health consequences and can have a great impact on mental health and also lead to a variety of negative consequences. Research has shown that people who experience chronic loneliness are at an increased risk of developing depression, anxiety and other mental disorders, and that sleep quality appears to worsen with loneliness. Loneliness has also been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline, as well as depression and anxiety.
I think that we are too occupied and stressful today and we are forgetting the things that really matter in the end, and it’s even funny to know that we are more isolated than ever before in spite of the world wide web. To change the situation I think that Fred Rogers was so right when he said “There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind.”
And I like to add, be kind and give your time to those you think might need it the most. Today we are so busy that we don’t have any time to spend on our parents or elderly people in our family which is so sad because perhaps the only thing that matters in the end is what we did to make life happier for the people we love, and to show kindness to our fellow man.
CHECK OUT LINDA’S BOOK OF ALL SEASONS ON AMAZON! FOR A FREE LIFE COACHING CONSULTATION CONTACT HER ON FACEBOOK!
So how can we change this situation?
- Promote and prioritize social connections
- Foster an inclusive society
- Provide mental health support and resources
- Promote an active and healthy lifestyle
- Improve public transport and infrastructure
- Encourage volunteering and civic engagement
- Increase education and awareness
- Utilize technology
- Support intergenerational activities
- Encourage empathy and kindness
CHECK OUT LINDA’S BOOK OF ALL SEASONS ON AMAZON! FOR A FREE LIFE COACHING CONSULTATION CONTACT HER ON FACEBOOK!
We ourselves can do so many things to make our lives a little less lonely. We can reach out to our community and join all kinds of activities where we can perhaps find new friends. We can also find an online game or a chat group we can join etc.
We can practice self-love and also stay positive and we can encourage ourselves to step out of our comfort zones and to do some charity work in our community, that might ease our loneliness in a big way. So my dear reader, what we all should bear in mind if we want to see the loneliness statistics go down is to never let anyone dine alone and we should reach out to help where ever help is needed.
CHECK OUT LINDA’S BOOK OF ALL SEASONS ON AMAZON! FOR A FREE LIFE COACHING CONSULTATION CONTACT HER ON FACEBOOK!
