Bloom Within: We Belong
Call it a midlife crisis, a new season of life or a spiritual awakening – there is often a shift in perspective about what really matters and our sense of purpose by middle age. We watch our children grow, our elders age and pass on. The speed of life keeps moving, no matter if we are mentally prepared for it or not. Our own mortality starts emerging. While that may seem to be a morbid fact of life, we also know that it is a privilege to age. There is something humbling about realizing we cannot solve the mystery of life. Perhaps we were never meant to. Experiencing the circumstances that shape, change, and influence us as human beings is only half of the journey. There comes a time when turning the lens we use to view the world becomes a mirror. Do we see a familiar, kind face that feels like safety and home? Or is there a vulnerable stranger staring back wondering how they got there – questioning their identity, purpose and legacy? For most of us, it is some combination of both—a reflection of our shared experiences and the delicate art of being human. This search for authenticity is deeply connected to our need to belong.
The human need for belonging has inspired me to begin a public conversation (hence this blog!). Unearthing the roots within ourselves so we can bloom into our fullest, most vibrant selves is easier said than done – even with the best intentions and whole-hearted approach. The truth is, there is no amount of self-development books, educational courses or lifestyle changes that can answer this quandary. The world around us is still just as it is, there is still injustice, pain, human suffering (both mentally and physically), prejudice and poverty. I am not naive to the fact that I stand on my own human privileges writing this. How can I possibly claim any insight on authentic living when my basic human needs are met and social injustice is not an immediate threat to my well-being? How do I harness self-love and share my own light with the world when it is in human nature to doubt this due to my own shame and feelings of inadequacy?
Perhaps authentic living isn’t reserved for those who have solved life’s deepest problems. Perhaps it begins with acknowledging our humanity while choosing to show up anyway. I recognize these conditions and choose to use my platform for good no matter who my audience may be – because that is what it means to be human. This concept is not new. It has long been explored by researchers and mental health professionals and continues to grow in public interest as conversations around mental health become more open and accessible. At its core, the struggle for authenticity is often less about self-awareness and more about belonging.
The very boundaries that keep us from fully becoming ourselves are often the same ones we put in place to keep ourselves safe. Our bodies sense risk and subconsciously (and often consciously) respond accordingly. We do not believe we belong; therefore, we perform, we retreat, and we exhaust ourselves swimming in self-doubt and shame—all for the underlying fear that we will be “othered.”
Our sense of self is shaped by how we grew up, where we grew up, the circles we moved through, our communities, and, on a broader scale, the cultures and world around us. Each layer is carefully woven into the way we see ourselves. These protective strategies keep us in our own shadow because the vulnerability of connecting with ourselves requires radical acceptance.
The irony is that the belonging we spend so much of our lives seeking often begins with belonging to ourselves.
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This blog is the start of topics and conversations surrounding connection, within ourselves and others. Leaning in with curiosity, holding space for vulnerable feelings without judgement and with care. I look forward to see how it blossoms, just as it is without forced agenda or urgency. Wishing you all love and light no matter where you are in life’s journey. ❤
Blooming Within 