Q. J of southern Iowa wonders… “Is there an end to loneliness?”

A. Loneliness, my beloved, is a state of mind. And through this state of mind you have projected what seems to you reality. It is like a filter or lens that shows only what you expect to see and feel. In this way you miss out on the full spectrum of human experience and feel separate from others. But you are not the only one. Almost every person on this planet does the same.

You can end your experience of loneliness by first connecting with the core of your being; the essence of your soul and experiencing your true self – the black and white parts of you, the tender heart of you, the shadow and light, without judgment. Tune into your heart and acknowledge what you have long repressed and ignored. As you tune in, you must lay the brain, the intellect and the ego aside for they know nothing of your your true depths. They would have you believe that you are separate from all others.

Become a child again and feel. In this way you allow your heart to thaw. There is no longer any need for you to hide the full experience of you – the flawed vulnerable human you – from your own awareness anymore. Become your own best friend, your own loyal companion. In this way you practice what it is to have the relationships you desire. When you learn to do this, you will learn to recognize and connect to the hearts of others.