"Forget about being world famous, it's hard enough just getting the automatic doors at the supermarket to acknowledge our existence." -Doug Coupland
Walking Alone
Not long ago, I was walking down the sidewalk in a large metropolitan city. There were scores of people walking towards and with me. Some would be entering stores while others would be running out in order to catch a bus or taxi. I am sure you have been in a similar situation, lots of people passing by and you being one of them.
What I remember most is that nearly everyone was oblivious to each other. Each person was wrapped up in their own world. There seemed to be no acknowledgement of the fact there were others in close proximity.
I certainly understand that people have thoughts on their mind, have places to go, appointments to keep. But on that crowded street, I felt lonely and that feeling was going against some of our basic human needs for esteem and belonging.
Hierarchy of Needs
An American psychologist, named Abraham Maslow, wrote in 1943 a paper called "A Theory of Human Motivation". In it he described his "Hierarchy of Needs" which is a pyramid depicting the levels of human needs, psychological and physical.
What I found interesting is that if I looked at someone, smiled or said hello, that loneliness collapsed. In nearly every case where I did, the other person smiled or responded nicely and without any rude gestures. It was one person acknowledging the other in a world filled with too much to do and too little time to think of others.
Extending a Smile
Everyone needs some level of acknowledgement in their life. It validates our existence and raises our hopes of a great life. There are many things that being acknowledged impacts at both physiological and psychological levels. Being lonely can lead to a lack of happiness in life, but there are ways for you to combat it.
Gretchen Rubin wrote The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun
and also hosts a blog with the same name, The Happiness Project. She wrote in a Psychology Today article, about strategies you can use to combat loneliness. In short (read the entire article for more detail);
Movement creates change
It was this last step, a step out, movement in which I acknowledged others. In return they acknowledged me and the lonely walk became a walk with friends. It changes the whole atmosphere.
Sometimes, to change our place in life, we have to create the movement. We have to be the ones to step out, acknowledge others by smiling and simply saying hello. You will be amazed how it changes your life when you change someone else's life.
Stay inspired my friends.
