Harnessing the power of belonging

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Last year I had three different clients who were all struggling with a similar issue. Each one described feeling low, lost for inspiration and stuck for motivation.

As we explored why, the word each of them used independently was "disconnected".

This is what it looked like:

For Faye, a small business owner living in the country, she lacked sparring partners and people to bounce ideas off, which left her feeling lonely and disengaged.

For Stuart, an entrepreneur, he was involved in so many initiatives that it left him little time to develop meaningful relationships personally or professionally.

For Susannah, a working mum with two kids, she had no time for herself, her friends or her interests in the constant juggle between home, work and life.

Although it presented in different ways for each of them, the crux of the problem was the same:

They were each missing a sense of community and belonging.

This reality is quite common for a lot of my clients. Whether you’re introverted, extroverted or somewhere in the middle, we all need to feel part of something in our own way.

The truth is that feeling attached, close to and thoroughly accepted by our people?is a prerequisite for our sense of self, our identity and our happiness.

And by "our people" I mean your tribe. The individuals or groups that you share similar values, beliefs, ideals, aspirations and good times?with.?

For Faye, Stuart and Suzannah, recognising the cause of their malaise enabled them to take stock and do something about it.

Faye joined her local chamber of commerce and a local women’s networking group, which revived her energy. She made new connections, shared ideas, got support and even picked up some new business.

Stuart reviewed his business interests, cut them down to a manageable number and spent much more time nurturing the relationships that were important to him. He’s now much happier (as is his girlfriend!) and he’s started to build a trusted network of partners that he works with regularly.

Suzannah worked with her husband to create time for her interests and friends. She re-started yoga classes with her two best friends and joined a running club that’s seen her add new buddies to her network, helping her rebuild her own sense of self and identity. ?

If these stories?resonate?with you?and you’re feeling a bit disconnected yourself, take ten minutes today to consider what you could change or introduce.

What online or in-person communities could you join? What courses or activities are likely to attract your tribe? What new connections might benefit you? How might you make more time and space for the people you love the most?

Then choose one thing to take an action on that will boost your sense of belonging.

Any time you make decisions that genuinely make you feel a part of something, your happiness quota is only going to increase ??

Alison x

P.S. If you are feeling disconnected from what makes you happy generally, come and join me as I explain how we get disconnected, the four signs indicating this is where you are at, and how you can uncover your intrinsic drivers that make up your own happiness markers. It's only 13 mins!