F.O.C. n' Slides: Belonging's Brain Paradox

Main Concept: Belonging’s Brain Paradox:

• Can't belong with others unless you self-belong.
• Can't self-belong unless you belong with others.

Key Sections and Their Explanations:

Without Others, We Go Nuts

• Interdependency required: We humans need connections with each other to maintain mental health.
• Only so much that we can draw upon before the well goes dry: Our self-sufficiency has limits; we need others to sustain our well-being.
• 15-day isolation causes permanent neuro damage!: Prolonged isolation 15 days or longer causes severe and lasting negative effects on brain function. So much so, that the UN is marketed as illegal!

Self-Belonging (50%)

• Definition: You self-belong when, in the self-talk of the story you tell yourself, you feel, own, and care for yourself in your successes, dreams, and failures, just as you would for those with whom you belong.
• Self-Reflection: It’s about nurturing oneself with empathy, accountability, and compassion, mirroring how we should treat others in our social circles.

Two-Way Street

• Your Choice: You must choose you and them to belong.
• Their Choice: Likewise they must choose themselves and also you.

Belong with Others (50%)

• Part of a Shared Story: Belonging with others involves creating and sustaining a shared narrative that supports each member, even during tough times.
• Our Tribe Sustains Us: Our community remains intact ("we still belong") despite challenges, ensuring a secure and supportive environment.

Born Without Self-Belonging

• Born into an Us Story: We enter the world as part of a collective story that includes family, community, and society. And at this stage though, without self-belonging.
• Importance of 'You': Even though we are part of a larger narrative, to self-belong, you must include YOU. There is no "Us-Story without a U.

Summary:

Belonging’s Brain Paradox highlights the intertwined nature of self-belonging and social belonging. It emphasizes that while self-belonging is crucial, it cannot be fully realized without the support and belonging with others. Similarly, we cannot truly belong with others without self-belonging. The graphic suggests that a balance and integration of these two aspects are essential for psychological well-being and meaningful relationships.

For a deeper read on Belonging's Brain Paradox & Self-belonging click this link below:

Self-Belonging, Self-Talk, & Optimal Performance