Lean into Loneliness: The Drive Magazine

Good news to share!

This month I published my first psychology advice column for a Canadian magazine.

The same magazine that profiled my work in positive psychology.

My intention for the psychology article is to inspire and comfort individuals experiencing loneliness during the holidays.

 Writing Hopes

I have been writing psychology textbooks for McGraw-Hill Ryerson since 2009 and blogging since 2015.

But truth be told, I have always longed for something more.

To write a psychology advice column for a magazine and eventually a book about psychology in everyday life.

Psychology for the people

My intention is to make psychology accessible, engaging, and easy to apply.

Integrate all of the stories, life lessons, and adversities I have witnessed over the years as a psychologist and now professor.

Empower the readers to find the strength inside

Which is why I am thrilled to share an excerpt from the December PSYCH DRIVE column for The DRIVE Magazine.

 Lean into Loneliness —  Introduction

When we feel a painful emotion, our first instinct is to pull away. To numb the pain. To hide from the intensity.

This was the case for Sarah and Jack, two unique individuals with vastly different circumstances.

But they each experienced the same emotion: loneliness.

An emotion that is heightened during the holidays.

Knowledge is power

1. Understand the emotion

We need to first understand an emotion before we jump to the conclusion that it’s either good or bad, because in reality, emotions are almost entirely physiological in nature.

There’s not a negative or positive to them.

It’s in our mind that we make it one or the other.

This concept is supported by Schachter-Singer’s theory of emotion.

To continue reading the article — click here

Lean into loneliness by Dr. Andrea Dinardo

Read All Psych Drive Articles

— Click Here

51 thoughts on “Lean into Loneliness: The Drive Magazine”

  1. I have found that instead of figuring out what is wrong, how to process is a better question because regardless of the issue, we still have to get through certain things and being more equipped mentally has been a benefit to effecitvely working more.

    1. Huge compliment coming from you (Dr.) Mirissa! The most positive & uplifting (future) dentist I know. Thank you for taking the time to read the article and comment. Your thoughtful feedback is cherished.

  3. “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” So true! So true!! So difficult, too! Like conquering any bad habit, it takes great effort and commitment to view our struggles in a different light. But I believe you are correct – we have to “make space for the lessons beneath the suffering.” Wonderful article! And congratulations!

    1. Amen KJ! Difficult but soooo worth it!

      I always love hearing from you KJ. Thank you for reading the complete article and for sharing your insights.

      Together we cheer each other on to “make the space for the lessons beneath the suffering.” (I love that you shared my quote from the original article!)

      Happy (almost) New Year! xo

      1. Yes, together!! We truly must be there for each other. And by the way, there were so many good points in this article – Quote-worthy all the way through! 🙂 Happy New Year to you, too!

  4. Interesting post. I find December a particularly lonely time following the death of my mother three years ago. I love the idea of declaring December a month of Renewal and Reinvention.
    I try to journal daily but this practice has been quite hit & miss for some time. Maybe more time spent blogging accounts for this.
    Since my return from The Gambia after a four month stay my journaling has been ‘all over the place’ (Abit like me).
    Autumn seemed to mean slot to me and I became energised from walking in nature in our local park & taking photos.
    In my journal on 11th September I added ‘eventually September’ to the month’s recordings. October titled ‘Catching up & looking forward’ & November ‘recall & remember.’

    1. You are one wise and soulful woman Margaret. Thank you for adding your wisdom and personal experiences to my “Lean into loneliness” article & post. You give gravitas to my writing. Grateful for you. Warm Wishes, Dr. Andrea 🙂

      1. Thank you Andrea for such a beautiful compliment. Posts from bloggers like your wise self give me the motivation to carry on blogging when the going gets tough.
        Happy new year to you & yours 🙂💁🏻

  5. Congratulations Andrea! 😊Read your complete article and it’s absolutely amazing.
    Though I didn’t get chance to study psychology in school or college, psychology as field of study interests me a lot. So I keep reading some books and blog related to it. I’m so glad that I discovered your blog today. It beautifully explains everything and gives great insights into this field. I wish I had discovered it earlier. Thanks for sharing your valuable insights😊

    1. So happy to meet you in the blogosphere! Thank you for taking the time to read the complete loneliness article. And aprovide feedback. In doing so, you give me the motivation to keep on writing! I hope I can do the same for you. I love the title and theme of your blog. I look forward to reading more. Have a wonderful day! Andrea 💃✨

  9. Loved this article! I’m a natural sprinter–running away from anything uncomfortable. I am trying to lean into unpleasant emotions so I can learn the lessons and move one instead of repeating the same mistakes. Appreciate your concise take on this.

    1. You so get it! Thank you for reading Pamela. And for taking the time to reflect & share your life experiences. You live and breathe the title of your blog “Loving Lessons”. 📖💙

  12. You did an amazing job. You communicate well in a very understandable way. I appreciate your efforts to let us lay people better understand what you’re talking about!

  14. Congratulations. Excellent article. Again, I find that I’ve developed a mechanism or process to cope, learn, and overcome, and then read a post or article where you identify a more structured and insightful process of what I’ve been doing, and give additional tips. Even knowing these things, though, requires a certain mindfulness to catch yourself as you slip into these vortexes of feelings.

    “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”

    That’s a powerful statement. Writing fiction, it’s tremendously useful as character development, story arcs, and plotting is pursued, but that insight is even more helpful in relationships and dealing with life.

    Thanks once again for more memorable and useful insights. Cheers.

  15. Congratulations Andrea. I know you have a wealth of knowledge and useful tips to share with people. You remind me that counseling or psychology was a choice that I didn’t make, but probably wish I did.

    1. Thanks Brad! Your vote of confidence goes a long way with me. Especially since you are already doing what the best psychologists and counsellors do. Writing (people) to freedom and happiness. Every single day! ☀️

    1. What a small world Donna! I absolutely loved that article and your book! A Year of Living Kindly was on everyone’s lips at The DRIVE Magazine’s Christmas party last week. Grateful to be in such wonderful company. 🙏💙

      1. Well, that just made my evening, Andrea! I am so impressed by that magazine and the folks I’ve talked to there. I bet they had a fabulous Christmas party! Thank you!

    1. Thanks so much Caz! Your feedback means a lot. Your writing helps people cope with (invisible) physical ailments in so many empowering ways. Together, we make a difference. xo

  21. Great article. Loved the idea of reframing the emotion. Asking the questions of what we’re supposed to learn. Nothing happens randomly to us! Well done, my friend.

    1. Thanks so much for the feedback Dayle! And for taking the time to read. I was so nervous about taking the leap from blogging to magazine writing. But with 55,000 readers in the mail distribution — it was worth all my trepidation!

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