BELONGING

The feeling of belonging is associated with the inherent human need to form and maintain connections that promote the sense of being accepted, valued and understood. As a human living now, you are naturally nested in a hierarchy of relationships ranging from intimate, romantic and familial to casual relationships in your community, society and culture. Relationships are a part of belonging which define your experience of living in the relative world of duality. However, belonging can also be understood in terms of recognizing your innate connection to the entire fabric of existence, emphasizing the primordial nature of your mind. In this context, belonging is not limited to specific groups or individuals, but encompasses a vast sense of interconnectedness with all beings and all phenomena.

From this perspective, belonging is not based on external factors or the identification with a limited self. It transcends the boundaries of self and other, as well as the constructs of time, space, and individual identity. It is a recognition of the fundamental unity and interdependence of all phenomena, a direct realization that there is no separation between yourself and the world, that is One Life.

This sense of belonging is characterized by a profound sense of openness, spaciousness, and inclusivity. It is an experiential understanding that all beings and phenomena arise within the vast expanse of awareness, and that awareness itself is inseparable from the very fabric of reality. In this recognition, there is a deep sense of connection, compassion, and love that emerges naturally.

Belonging, is not something that needs to be achieved or acquired but is inherent in your true nature. Belonging is realizing that you are already part of the seamless tapestry of existence, and your actions, thoughts, and interactions ripple through the interconnected web of One Life.

There is a natural human desire to be part of something larger. This desire is so primal, you might try to acquire it by “fitting in” and by seeking approval, which are hollow substitutes for true belonging and can actually obscure the truer sense of belonging to One Life. Several factors can contribute to your feeling that you do not belong. These feelings of not belonging can become apparent from a combination of internal and external factors.

Experiences of rejection, exclusion, or being treated as an outsider in social settings or interpersonal relationships can lead to feelings of not belonging. The sense that your values, beliefs, or interests significantly differ from those around you, can also cause you to feel or believe you do not belong. When there is a lack of common ground or shared experiences, it may be challenging to connect with others and feel a sense of belonging within a particular group or community.

Your own self-perception and self-esteem can also influence feelings of not belonging. If you have low self-esteem, struggle with self-acceptance, or feel inadequate, you may perceive yourself as not fitting in or not deserving of belonging. Finally, when you feel you cannot express your true self, whether due to societal expectations, fear of judgment, or the need to conform, the disconnection between your internal identity and the external environment, can foster feelings of isolation and not belonging.

It's important to note that feelings of not belonging are subjective and influenced by your perceptions and experiences. They have to do with your sense of who you are in your world and your feelings in that nested hierarchy of relationships. In a conventional understanding “belonging” you may address feelings of not belonging by building supportive relationships, cultivating self-acceptance, and finding communities or environments where your authentic self is valued and embraced. Cultivating a sense of belonging in the world can be a valuable pursuit, but will most likely have limited results. We would suggest, however, that One Life Awareness as a direct knowing of your true nature can bring you to a state of true belonging that is absolute and unwavering. The absolute nature of belonging is truly your natural state.

​When you know you truly belong to All That Is, or One Life, it becomes easy to cultivate happiness, contentment, and fulfillment. Belonging to everything allows you to nurture self-esteem and self-worth without requiring you to build a self identity. So, permit your self to be All and Everything in relationship to All and Everything and know that you Belong to One Life, and that you are always connected to All That Is, and always profoundly and directly aware that you Belong.