Many of us think of belonging as an idea, a relationship, or a place. But before it becomes a thought, belonging is something the body feels.
When the body feels that it belongs, something relaxes. Breathing becomes fuller. Muscles stop making unnecessary effort. The nervous system feels safer. There is less need to defend, prove, or control.
When we do not feel a sense of belonging, the opposite often happens. Alertness increases. The body tightens. We work harder than necessary. Sometimes a subtle feeling appears that we have no place—not only in the world, but even within ourselves...
