Belonging
John Cacioppo [1] of the University of Chicago, who does incredible work on loneliness, says that the only real biological advantage we have over most other species is our connection, our belonging; our ability to collaborate, plan and be in relationship.
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| art by shari jones |
Maybe belonging for you is having a depth and connection within your family of origin, the family we were born to or adopted into.
Some seek connection through excluding others, or relationships that are rooted in extremism, or just deciding to disaffiliate altogether - they connect by being off the grid...
The multiple platforms and proliferation of social media has intensified a sense of belonging. Online connections, sometimes faceless and nameless, give the illusion of connection.
Hopefully you have discovered beautiful relationships as part of social, religious or community organizations that foster goodwill and beauty in ways you’ve never experienced.
| “…I have called you by name; you are mine…” |
What are the bones of belonging? I think, the very heart of belonging is spirituality — not religion, not dogma, but spirituality. And by spirituality [2] I mean the deeply held belief that we’re intrinsically connected to each other by something greater than us. That thing that is greater than us fosters connection, love and compassion. [3]
The importance of belonging. Belonging is primal, fundamental to our sense of happiness and well-being; it produces spiritual grounding. I think, and this is just an observation, that maybe a deficit of belonging produces an increase of loneliness.Retuning my thinking or honing my understanding of belonging may require acknowledging and conceptualizing that belonging is a need [4] rather or a mere desire.
#MininstryinMotion #Pkes
1: University of Chicago | 2: University of Minnesota | 3: Ministry in Motion January 1,2020 | 4: Penn State University
