CONJURE YOUR ‘CARING COMMITTEE’

You’ve become an ace at virtual meetups, but the accrued effect of having to miss out on so many real-life gettogethers is catching up with you. Before you know it, feeling lonely leads to feeling “less than” as you yearn for the support that used to buoy you up.

Just visualizing loved ones can help you see your inner strength. “Imagine sitting with six people who love you, or your ‘caring committee,’ and let them explain to you why you’re worthy of love,” urges Hanson. “Opening up to what they would say, lets you see your own innate wisdom.” Your caring committee, in other words, represents parts of yourself that you may have taken for granted. “You know what it feels like when something is true, like the fact that you love your daughter or that toast is better with butter,” says Hanson.

“To bring that level of belief to your visualization, let yourself enjoy how rewarding it feels. A lot of us live in an invisible cage of self-doubt and loneliness, but just seeing how rich your connections are, helps you break free.”