Mindset & Emotion
Life and business strategist, Ismael Cala,
explains why the younger generations suffer
from a greater measure of loneliness than the
elderly and the importance of creating social
networks. offers valid proposals for our elders - like the
‘companion robots’ in China, Japan, Spain
and Portugal - but this does not replace the
experiential relationship we need to build
throughout our lives, so we do not feel alone.
Nowadays, who feels loneliest? The elderly or
the young? The fact is, that the latter are the
most affected by the social phenomenon of
loneliness. According to a survey called the
BBC Loneliness Experiment, in which 55,000
people from around the world participated,
40% of young people aged from 16 to 24
years, ‘feel alone often or very often.’ The figure
contrasts with the 27% of loneliness among
those over 75 years. In our emotional path, using mindfulness, we
must create social networks (real, and not only
virtual) which allow us to enjoy an exchange
with others, even if we do not create a family.
But also learn how to manage loneliness as a
moment of reflection and self-discovery. As
the French writer Guy de Maupassant said,
‘our great torment in this existence comes
from the fact that we are eternally alone - all
our efforts and all our actions are directed
toward escaping this solitude.’
What are the main explanations?
The experiment, created by academics from
three British universities, points to ‘a moment
of new freedom to have fun, get out of school
and have more control over our lives,’ but
also ‘of transition: moving from home, starting
college, starting a new job, a stable relationship.’
Undoubtedly, all these factors count, but two
extremely important ones are missing: the
technological impact and the lack of emotional
education in the first years of life.
How much of the day do we allow our children
to immerse themselves in video games, tablets,
computers or televisions? What impact does
this have on the feeling of loneliness they later
manifest?
Self-induced
Loneliness
The fact that digital natives show a perfect
mastery of new technologies is a blessing, but
historically the ‘social factor’ has been decisive
in the development of human beings. If
interaction with the environment is irreflexively
substituted, we become solitary wolves,
unable to express feelings and to live together
in society. In this case, the technological factor
leads to self-induced loneliness.
We become
solitary
wolves,
unable to
express
feelings
If the young people of today are the most
affected, the data does not predict anything
good about the future, because the world
enjoys greater life expectancy. Technology
Ismael Cala is a life and business strategist, best-selling author, and
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international speaker specialising in personal development and mindful
exponential leadership. The New York Times identified him as “the Latino
Larry King”. He is a member of the National Speakers Association (NSA),
USA. Founder and president of CALA Enterprises Corporation - focusing on
leadership, mindfulness, happiness, productivity, and excellence.
www.IsmaelCala.com
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