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Are you lonely? If so, is loneliness affecting the quality of your life? Perhaps holidays don’t feel the same without a significant other in your life. Or maybe a lack of friends make you feel sad and isolated.
In this week’s deep dive, I’ll share one powerful idea that can help you overcome chronic loneliness.
If you like this week’s deep dive, my full-length video and article go even deeper.
In Loneliness, John Cacioppo and William Patrick describe three dimensions of connectedness that contribute to loneliness.
The first, intimate connectedness, involves your closest relationships, like your spouse, best friend, or parents.
The second, relational connectedness, refers to a broader group of relationships, such as your cousins, friend group, or co-workers.
Lastly, collective connectedness is the broadest category, including affiliations with universities, professional organizations, or favorite sports teams.
Your closest relationships tend to be the most pivotal in keeping loneliness at bay. However, you can feel lonely if you fulfill all three dimensions of connectedness.
For example, married people typically experience less loneliness. But you may soon feel alone if your partner prevents you from interacting with friends.
For this reason, Cacioppo and Patrick recommend creating and maintaining relationships that meet all three dimensions of connectedness.
I’ve experienced chronic loneliness several times, and this concept has been very helpful. Each time, identifying and fulfilling the missing dimension has solved my problem.
Check out my full-length video and article on loneliness.
I was listening to the My First Million podcast the other day, and they told a story that I thought taught a great lesson. I’ll share it with you here.
Note: I’m paraphrasing.
A man was struggling with golf. Every swing resulted in a slice. When he grew tired of watching his ball go straight for 50 yards, then veer off to the right, he hired a professional to help him with his stroke.
When the man arrived at the golf course for his first lesson, he believed everything had to change. But the professional didn’t utter a single word as he watched the man swing.
The professional remained silent for a whole basket of balls, and the man grew increasingly anxious. He couldn’t understand why the instructor wasn’t reworking every part of his stroke.
As the lessons progressed, the man’s anxiety intensified. And when he couldn’t take it any longer, the man yelled at the instructor.
He said he wasn’t paying him to be silent and demanded that he fix his setup, takeaway, backstroke, downswing, and follow-through.
That’s when the instructor calmly looked at the man and said, “I agree. Your stroke is flawed.” He then walked over to the man and said one simple thing. “Rotate your right hand 2 mm to the left, then hit the ball.”
At this point, the man was convinced that he had just wasted hundreds of dollars but decided to hit the ball. To his amazement, it flew straight as an arrow for 250 yards.
Reflecting on his experience, the man realized an important lesson: sometimes, success is closer than it seems.
When things aren’t working, it’s easy to let yourself believe that you’re doing everything wrong. But often, that’s not the case.
The golfer believed that his entire stroke needed to be reworked. But a 2 mm change was all it took.
So consider how this lesson might apply to your life.
If your business isn’t working, it’s easy to believe you’re doing everything wrong. But that’s rarely the case. More often than not, a few small changes can lead to big results.
Likewise, if your marriage is struggling, it’s natural to think everything has to change. But commonly, a minor adjustment to your communication style can lead to significant improvements.
DISCLAIMER: Please be aware that the information presented in this email is for educational purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The creator of this email is not a licensed financial advisor and any decisions made based on this information are at your own risk. It’s important to consult with a qualified financial professional before making any financial decisions, as this information does not consider individual investment goals, risk preferences, or financial situations. Please remember that past performance does not guarantee future results, and all investments involve risk, including the potential loss of your initial investment.
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