At some level or another, we all want to “belong” to something bigger than ourselves. We crave relationships and feeling connected in some significant way to other people.
In other words, other people (and specifically the way in which we are perceived by and interact with them) matter!
So much, in fact, that our desire to find connectedness and belonging impacts just about everything we do. According to Dr. Marianna Pogosyan, “much of human behavior, thought, and emotion stems from our psychological need to belong.”
Our sense of belonging has a strong impact on identity formation. Oftentimes, the ways in which we view ourselves or perceive our strengths and weaknesses are in some way tied to the feedback we receive from other people.
Receiving a positive response from others can bolster your self-image and lay a foundation for a strong and positive sense of identity. Maintaining of a positive image of your personal identity and connectedness to a community can:
- Increase your productivity
- Encourage you to reach for higher goals
- Serve as a powerful source of motivation
On the flip side, when a person feels disconnected from community or lacks a sense of belonging, the way they perceive their personal identity can take a significant hit. This can lead to things like:
- Increased risk of depression
- Social anxiety
- Apathy when it comes to everyday tasks
- Feelings of intense loneliness
See what I mean? We all need to belong.
It’s the very reason we seek membership into all sorts of different groups!
Joining a church community, volunteer group, coaching program, gym, or even signing up for a subscription-based service, are all, in part, influenced by our inherent human need to belong.
It isn’t just us that benefit from membership in a group, the group itself benefits from having invested and committed members.
Have you ever joined a membership group, club, or organization where the people involved lacked true commitment? Maybe they didn’t participate in discussions or attendance to events was spotty at best?
Were these groups fruitful for you?
My guess is probably not.
When we embrace our need to belong and respond with commitment and dedication to the membership groups we choose to invest in, everyone benefits!
I want to hear from you! What membership groups do you find the most impactful in YOUR life? If you could change one tiny thing about them, what would it be? Please share your answers in a comment on this post.
I’m looking forward to learning from you!
RESOURCES:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/between-cultures/201704/belonging
https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-need-to-belong-2795393
Article was contributed by: Maria Lees, Team Writer with Sarah Boxx
