Belonging… a critical emotional, intellectual and ‘need to know’ concept – I suspect that’s why I write about it, in its many manifestations, as I do. Where you ‘belong’ identifies you as much to others as to yourself, but especially to ourselves. Do you know where you belong? Are you in your place of belonging? Undeniable is the issue of belonging – we really aren’t islands unto ourselves. However, it’s not just where you belong it’s also what you do with your belonging – that tells the tale.
Equally important is – do you know that you may belong in more than one place? Maybe the question is more – where do you want to belong? What I mean by this is I was basically talking about the visible involvement not necessarily your internal ‘place’. Example: belonging can be something you ‘join’, such as: do you ‘belong’ to a fitness club? If so then this says that you value physical fitness. Another example is where you choose to go to church… or not. This demonstrates your allegiance. Participation v. merely attending tells the tale of your depth of involvement and valuing.
But, where do you want to belong? Belonging is as much a you choose as being chosen – both have to exist – and yes, I am primarily talking about the interpersonal components that define your life. Belonging carries with it responsibility, a deeper level of commitment than a casual involvement. Belonging also carries with it rights and privileges. It can be argued that your place of belonging is your foundation – the place from which you find strength and solace.
As important as belonging is to our personal mental health and happiness, it must first start with knowing and accepting ourselves. Without a sense of who we are: our goals and aspirations, our abilities and dreams, our destiny… we have no frame of reference. And our frame of reference, I would argue, is what binds us together. It’s this foundation of beliefs and attitudes that gives us the basis to be. And this also gives us the security to be … different, our unique selves.
…but, what do you think?
