Getting rid of a feeling means suppressing it. It never really goes away when you suppress it.
A better strategy is accepting the feeling. Befriending it. Be curious about it. During meditation, watch the feeling. Relax around the feeling. Notice if there are any thoughts associated with it. You can replace that thought with a new empowering thought. Notice how this new thought makes you feel. Notice that the feeling has changed.The feeling of loneliness will return. Practice the strategy I outlined again. Every time loneliness returns, practice the strategy. You will have to do it over and over again until it becomes second nature. You will be strengthening your ability to transform your feelings. It all starts with accepting the feeling.
The goal is to transform loneliness into aloneness. Aloneness is the ability to appreciate solitude without feeling that anyone or anything is missing.
©2016 Stephen L. Martin
Painting: Solitude by Jean Jacques Henner
