Vishal Srivastava Newsletter

Loneliness, Connection, Inner Child

Hello friend

Loneliness and disconnection are two sides of the same coin.

You get lonely when you feel disconnected. This disconnection is not just external.

In fact, more often than not, it is internal.

It is the disconnection with ourselves. When we cannot connect with ourselves, we cannot connect with others.

That’s why you need not be alone to feel lonely.

If you feel disconnected from yourself, you can feel lonely in the arms of a stranger as well as amidst a crowd of thousands.

Ironically, in our hyper-connected digital world, we are more disconnected and lonely than ever.

This is what happens when the obsession with “Like, Comment, Subscribe” replaces the genuine smile, vulnerability, and human connection.

This brings me to what I want to share this week:

Book of the Week: Healing Your Aloneness by Margaret Paul

This is the book I read while exploring the concept of the Inner Child. It is based on the premise that we have both the Child (feeling part) and Adult (logical, thinking part) parts of ourselves.

The connection and the balance between the loving Adult and the loved Inner Child constitute the Higher Self. It is similar to the analogy of yin/yang, God/Goddess, Masculine/Feminine.

Favorite Quote:

We all yearn for deep emotional and spiritual connection to another person. Connection is the feeling of wholeness and unity that we have within ourselves when we are in harmony with the Inner Child, and the feeling of oneness we have with others when each person is open to his or her own Child and therefore open to others.

Podcast of the Week: The Loneliness Epidemic by the Minimalists

This is the podcast that triggered the theme of this newsletter. It is a fascinating discussion on codependency, intentional solitude, making friends as adults, finding long-term partners, & building meaningful relationships.

Must-Watch Series: Moon Knight

I just finished watching the finale of Moon Knight- the latest Marvel series. And it was one helluva ride!! Disguised as a superhero series, it is a mind-bending psychological thriller about multiple personality disorder, triggered by trauma and grief.

Coincidentally, I also observe things related to the concept of the Inner Child and the Adult and how it could have led to completely different personalities of the protagonist. (Probably an idea worth exploring in an essay!??)

That is all from me this week!

Until next time
Love
Vishal