lonelinessproject .

org

The Five-Dimensions (5 D's) of Loneliness:

Often we think of loneliness in a singular way. She is lonely or she is

not lonely. I am lonely, or I am not lonely. However, a more
comprehensive view of loneliness includes five-dimensions.

Loneliness in relation to:

- family/relative ties
- spiritual connection
- self
- friendships
- romantic relationships

So, one could be lonely in a specific dimension but not the others.
For example, one may be experiencing loneliness in relationship to
friendships in her life, and feel fulfilled in the other four dimensions.
This helps us to identify more specifically where our loneliness is
being experienced in our lives.

The 5-Dimensions of Loneliness also help us to see that while three

of the dimensions involve other people - friends, romantic partners,
family/relatives - the other two; spiritual connection & self, don't
necessarily involve a direct relationship to another person. Since
relationships with others are two way (i.e. it takes two to tango) we
don't have control of them. However, our relationship to connection
of a spiritual nature and to ourselves can be developed without
dependency on another person. This may bring hope to someone
who is feeling stuck in loneliness. Perhaps, it can be a place for
someone feeling lonely to begin developing a greater feeling of
connection in their life.

ART