Belonging: Finding where you fit

How does your puzzle piece fit with those around you?

Maybe you’re wondering if this is even the right puzzle. Do you feel like you’re missing a piece inside of yourself? If you’re struggling with feeling like you fit and belong where you are, you’re not alone although you may feel like it. Brene Brown says that “belonging is the innate human desire to be part of something larger than us.” Having a sense of belonging is important, so important that psychologist Abraham Maslow labeled it as one of the most basic of human needs.

Belonging is a basic human need.

Maslow labels physical health and safety as the most basic of needs, and then love and belonging. It can be difficult to move up the hierarchy to developing a healthy sense of self identity and self esteem without first believing that we belong where we are and also having connection and communion with other people.

As humans, we are wired for connection, and without that sense of belonging, something just feels off. We crave connection and acceptance, and feeling like we belong within a certain group of people satisfies those cravings. When we’re missing out on that sense of belonging, discontentment and unhappiness can creep in and start taking over, or we may feel numb to the world, or even experience physical suffering. Brene Brown says that in order to fully experience true belonging, we have to accept ourselves, even with our inadequacies, and be willing to share our true and authentic self with the world.

Help finding where you fit.

If you’re searching for your value in your relationships or fulfillment in your community, or trying to learn to accept yourself, don’t hesitate to reach out. Call Lifeologie Oak Cliff today at 972-590-8030 and set up an appointment with one of our professional counselors.

References:
https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/pieces-mind/201403/create-sense-belonging
https://upliftconnect.com/brene-brown-on-true-belonging/