The Sense of Belonging

The feeling of belonging is deeply rooted in human nature—it’s what connects us, gives us purpose, and helps us thrive emotionally and psychologically. We are social beings, and from the earliest days of humanity, survival depended on being part of a group. That instinct has carried forward into modern life, shaping how we form Relationships, communities, and even our sense of self-worth. Understanding the importance of belonging is what our Experts in this area of the site talk about. As we are Aging, the social connections we maintain can significantly impact our overall well-being.

Belonging provides emotional safety. When we feel accepted and valued, we experience comfort and confidence in who we are. It also fosters personal Growth—when we feel supported, we’re more likely to take risks, explore new ideas, and chase our ambitions. A sense of belonging also strengthens societies. It encourages compassion, cooperation, and shared understanding, reducing loneliness and isolation. It’s why people seek out friendships, join clubs, follow traditions, or even cheer for sports teams—because connection makes life richer.

Belonging Specialists & Contributors

JoAnne Dodgson Ceremonial Healing

Joey Havens Author

Laurie James Laurie James, Author, Podcaster, and Somatic Relationship Coach

Philip Jayhawk Chan Lightspeed Investing Podcast

Royce Shook Blogger

Podcasts About Belonging

The Lead Up Podcast

Kindness Matters Podcast

The Advisor with Stacey Chillemi

The Art Of Imperfect Adulting

Online For Authors Podcast

Leaning into Leadership

One World in a New World - Apocalyptic Chats

Real Things Living

Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino

How To Founder

Soul Elevation: Guiding Your Ascension to New Heights

Teatime with Miss Liz

Books About Belonging

Osprey Gold

By Thomas Lion

The Art of Table Dancing

By D. C. Stanfa

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Article

The Architecture of a Worthy Decision

You are wrestling. I know the texture of that wrestling. It is 2:00 AM and the ceiling is a blank screen for your worst-case scenarios. It is the taste of cold coffee and the weight of a phone you can’t bring yourself to use. You have been told that a “good decision” is a clean one, no mess, n…

You are wrestling. I know the texture of that wrestling. It is 2:00 AM and the ceiling is a blank screen for your worst-case scenarios. It is the taste of cold coffee and the weight of a phone you can…

You are wrestling. I know the texture of that wrestling. It is 2:00 AM and the ceiling is a blank screen for your worst-case scenarios. It is the taste of cold coffee and the weight of a phone you can’t bring yourself to use. You have been told that a “good decision” is a clean one, no mess, no casualties, no looking back. That is a lie. A lie sold by people who have never had to choose between two versions of their own soul. Every worthy decision leaves scars. The question is not whether you will bleed, but whether the wound will heal into a scar you can live with, or fester into a bi…

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Royce Shook July 24, 2026

Podcast Episode

The Lead Up Podcast

Episode 495 Leadership Fails When Human Needs Are Ignored

In this episode of the Lead Up Podcast, host Mike Harbour explores why most leadership problems don't begin with poor strategy, but instead with unmet human needs. Using Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs as a foundation and applying it through the Harbour Resources lens, Mike shares how elite leaders inte…

In this episode of the Lead Up Podcast, host Mike Harbour explores why most leadership problems don't begin with poor strategy, but instead with unmet human needs. Using Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs as…

In this episode of the Lead Up Podcast, host Mike Harbour explores why most leadership problems don't begin with poor strategy, but instead with unmet human needs. Using Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs as a foundation and applying it through the Harbour Resources lens, Mike shares how elite leaders intentionally build cultures where people feel secure, connected, valued, and inspired. Rather than treating culture as a set of values on the wall, he explains how meeting fundamental human needs creates the conditions for stronger engagement, higher performance, better retention, and lasting organizat…

Listen · 32:54

Mike Harbour July 23, 2026

Podcast Episode

Kindness Matters Podcast

The Lesson of Gander.

Send us Fan MailI can't believe it's been nearly 25 years. 7,000 people step off diverted planes into a town they’ve never heard of, carrying fear, exhaustion, and the sickening uncertainty of 9/11. Gander, Newfoundland a place of moose, cold weather, and a quiet airport suddenly become…

Send us Fan MailI can't believe it's been nearly 25 years. 7,000 people step off diverted planes into a town they’ve never heard of, carrying fear, exhaustion, and the sickening uncertain…

Send us Fan MailI can't believe it's been nearly 25 years. 7,000 people step off diverted planes into a town they’ve never heard of, carrying fear, exhaustion, and the sickening uncertainty of 9/11. Gander, Newfoundland a place of moose, cold weather, and a quiet airport suddenly becomes the safest spot in the world, not because it has more resources, but because it chooses to treat strangers like neighbors.We walk through how 38 flights end up on this tiny corner of North America, what it feels like to sit on a plane for hours without answers, and why the mix of passengers matter…

Listen · 24:32

Mike Rathbun July 23, 2026

Podcast Episode

The Advisor with Stacey Chillemi

Scattered Yet Whole: One Woman's Journey Through War, Loss & Belonging

When war, exile, and loss scattered her across six countries, Miranda Hirezi-Mugnier discovered that the one thing no one could take from her was the home she carried within. In her award-winning memoir Scattered Yet Whole, she explores how love, loss, faith, and cultural displacement shaped her un…

When war, exile, and loss scattered her across six countries, Miranda Hirezi-Mugnier discovered that the one thing no one could take from her was the home she carried within. In her award-winning mem…

When war, exile, and loss scattered her across six countries, Miranda Hirezi-Mugnier discovered that the one thing no one could take from her was the home she carried within. In her award-winning memoir Scattered Yet Whole, she explores how love, loss, faith, and cultural displacement shaped her understanding of identity and belonging. Miranda shares what it truly means to remain whole when life scatters everything around you — and how empathy, faith, and shared humanity can bridge even the deepest divides. If you're searching for resilience, meaning, or a reminder that home lives within …

Listen · 44:25

Stacey Chillemi July 22, 2026

Podcast Episode

The Art Of Imperfect Adulting

Stay at Home Mom Guilt and Rediscovering Yourself with Emilie Karun

If you love the show and you'd like to support it directly you can tip the host here https://imperfect-adulting.captivate.fm/supportAmy Stone speaks with Emilie Karun about breaking free from perfectionist parenting ideals and redefining what it means to want “more than motherhood.” Hailing from…

If you love the show and you'd like to support it directly you can tip the host here https://imperfect-adulting.captivate.fm/supportAmy Stone speaks with Emilie Karun about breaking free from perfecti…

If you love the show and you'd like to support it directly you can tip the host here https://imperfect-adulting.captivate.fm/supportAmy Stone speaks with Emilie Karun about breaking free from perfectionist parenting ideals and redefining what it means to want “more than motherhood.” Hailing from central Illinois, Emilie shares her journey from aspiring to be the perfect stay-at-home mom to embracing her own dreams and becoming a life and success coach. The episode explores how societal expectations, family influences, and internal beliefs shape women’s choices, and how Emilie navigated t…

Listen · 52:44

Amy Stone July 21, 2026

Podcast Episode

Online For Authors Podcast

A Girl Who Hears Nature: A Story of Grace and Belonging with Author Carrie Birde

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Carrie Birde, author of the book A Small Tale of Uncommon Grace. Carrie Birde is a poet, artist, amateur photographer, and author of the debut novel, “A Small Tale of Uncommon Grace”. She reads of a wide range of genres, with particular interes…

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Carrie Birde, author of the book A Small Tale of Uncommon Grace. Carrie Birde is a poet, artist, amateur photographer, and author of the debut novel…

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Carrie Birde, author of the book A Small Tale of Uncommon Grace. Carrie Birde is a poet, artist, amateur photographer, and author of the debut novel, “A Small Tale of Uncommon Grace”. She reads of a wide range of genres, with particular interest in mythology, folk tales, and fairy tales. Like many of the women in those stories, she has friendships extending beyond the boundaries of species, among these several generations of Gray Catbirds, a kerfuffle of Eastern Chipmunks, a squad of Blue Jays, a singing Calico Cat, and a small, brown, Fe…

Listen · 23:34

Teri M Brown July 21, 2026

Podcast Episode

Leaning into Leadership

Episode 288: Building Belonging Through Microinclusions with Tom Walls

Relationships don't happen by accident. The strongest classrooms, teams, and organizations are built through intentional habits that communicate one simple message: You matter here.In Episode 288 of Leaning Into Leadership, Darrin sits down with veteran educator, football coach, and leadership speak…

Relationships don't happen by accident. The strongest classrooms, teams, and organizations are built through intentional habits that communicate one simple message: You matter here.In Episode 288 of L…

Relationships don't happen by accident. The strongest classrooms, teams, and organizations are built through intentional habits that communicate one simple message: You matter here.In Episode 288 of Leaning Into Leadership, Darrin sits down with veteran educator, football coach, and leadership speaker Tom Walls to discuss the power of what he calls microinclusions—small, repeatable actions that create belonging, trust, and buy-in without requiring hours of preparation.Drawing from more than 30 years of experience in classrooms and on football fields across the United States and Canada, Tom s…

Listen · 38:15

Darrin Peppard July 19, 2026

Podcast Episode

One World in a New World - Apocalyptic Chats

Why Healthy Organizations Begin With Healthy People | Fabian Szulanski

Ep 249 One World in a New World with Fabian SzulanskiWhat if organizational transformation begins long before strategy—and starts with the health, values, and relationships of the people involved?In this episode of One World in a New World, Zen Benefiel welcomes Fabian Szulanski, Managing Director…

Ep 249 One World in a New World with Fabian SzulanskiWhat if organizational transformation begins long before strategy—and starts with the health, values, and relationships of the people involved?In…

Ep 249 One World in a New World with Fabian SzulanskiWhat if organizational transformation begins long before strategy—and starts with the health, values, and relationships of the people involved?In this episode of One World in a New World, Zen Benefiel welcomes Fabian Szulanski, Managing Director of Being in Systems, co-founder of the Values Foundation, educator, and co-author of Transcending Personal Apocalypse: Replace Your Beliefs, Revitalize Your Future.Together they explore:• Systems thinking and organizational health• Why values drive sustainable leadership• Personal transformat…

Listen · 1:12:08 Watch Now

Zen Benefiel July 19, 2026

Podcast Episode

Real Things Living

He Almost Lost His Son — Then Found His Purpose / Drew Norton

A standard check-in call, an ambulance, and a mother's quick instincts changed everything for Drew Norton's family in a matter of minutes. That terrifying crisis became the ultimate wake-up call, completely reshaping how he leads, loves, and shows up for the people who matter most. In this episode o…

A standard check-in call, an ambulance, and a mother's quick instincts changed everything for Drew Norton's family in a matter of minutes. That terrifying crisis became the ultimate wake-up call, comp…

A standard check-in call, an ambulance, and a mother's quick instincts changed everything for Drew Norton's family in a matter of minutes. That terrifying crisis became the ultimate wake-up call, completely reshaping how he leads, loves, and shows up for the people who matter most. In this episode of Real Things Living, Brigitte Cutshall speaks with sales leader and founder of the Abundant Man Project, Drew Norton. Drew shares the harrowing story of his infant son's medical emergency and how his wife's split-second actions saved their son's life. He opens up with raw vulnerability about how th…

Listen · 29:41

Brigitte Cutshall July 18, 2026

Article

Solitude Isn’t Always Lonely

Photo by Toni Reed on UnsplashThe EndGame is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.In 2023 U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy declared that Americans were experiencing an epidemic of loneliness and social isolation…

Photo by Toni Reed on UnsplashThe EndGame is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.In 2023 U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vive…

Photo by Toni Reed on UnsplashThe EndGame is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.In 2023 U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy declared that Americans were experiencing an epidemic of loneliness and social isolation. An AARP survey in 2025 reported that 40% of adults aged 45 and older reported feeling lonely.My first impression on reading this was that it must be referring to older adults living alone (“solo agers”), but I was mistaken. For one thing, you don’t have to be living alone to feel lonely. You…

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Don Akchin July 18, 2026

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