When you see birds flying together in the sky in a strange formation, what does it remind you? When you see groups of animals roaming in the wilderness of Africa or Australia sharing the same food and habitat, what does that bring to your mind? When you look at life in general, it becomes obvious that plants, animals or humans, generally tend to live in groups. The animals may not have our intelligence. But they know instinctively that living together is safer than living apart.

Social ostracization is a peculiar trait found not only among human beings, but also among many animal communities. When it comes to punishing others, both humans and animals find isolating the target a very convenient solution. People suffer from loneliness for many reasons. Ones own behavior, inner disposition, circumstances and so on lead to a situation where a person has to live alone and suffer alone. Changing social norms, deteriorating family values and confused marriage roles, coupled with the pressures of modern life, are increasingly becoming responsible for the generation of single parents and lonely people. Whether it is in the east or west, north or south, in today's society even children are not free from this malady. Because of increasing number of divorces, work pressures, social maladjustment, war, terrorism, political instability, ethnic violence and several such factors, many children are forced to suffer from loneliness and isolation from an early age. While most of the social or institutional factors are clearly out of the bounds of an ordinary individual, the problem of loneliness is not completely beyond our control.

At the personal level it can still be managed with some degree of success and with some ingenuity can be even turned into an effective tool to build, not to destroy, the quality of life. Loneliness is the cherished condition in many eastern religions for the spiritual advancement of soul. While we do not advocate enforced loneliness to any one, unless one has an irresistible urge to renounce life and become a solitary person, in which case also you may require the personal guidance of a spiritual master, for those who are in the prime of their lives or spiritually not inclined, we consider loneliness as an undesirable condition which need to be addressed promptly. If circumstances bring loneliness into our lives, we must deal with it effectively to our best advantage.

The following suggestions are not meant for those who suffer form chronic depression and are in need of psychiatric help and counseling. These suggestions are meant for normal and healthy individuals who become victims of loneliness for one reason or the other and are shaken by its impact. For example a person may live in a foreign country and may not have good social life because of the law and order situation in the country. A person may suffer from some debilitating illness and is unable to move freely. Or a person has gone through terrible marriage situation and is forced to lead a life of loneliness. A younger one might have lost his near and dear in a calamity and is forced to live miserably through the trauma. These suggestions are basically meant for such individuals who are still in control of their lives and are still capable of adapting themselves to the circumstances but have unfortunately become victims of loneliness.