A Sense Of Belonging – Hosted by Nic Kleeman

Let me show you a method that can help to literally draw out our inner truth and show you what you need to feel like you belong. Instead of getting your head spin with endless thoughts and worries you will reflect on your needs, your values and your resources while drawing lines on paper. You could compare it to journaling without words, thinking out loud or brainstorming on paper. You do not need to have any drawing skills, just bring yourself to this 2h-workshop.

I do not feel seen”, “I do not feel heard”, “I do not feel acknowledge for all the work I am doing”, “They don’t value what I do for my team / my family”. “I feel not good enough”, “I don’t feel like I fit in here.” “I feel uncomfortable in this group/team/surrounding.”

Every client of mine and every women I know (and yes, me too) has at least uttered one of the above statements once in a while. And this can be amplified when we are the only women in the room, or even (like myself) when we are from a different culture, different ethnicity etc. And with each of these moments, we disengage a bit more. And at some point we will leave. We will leave the situation, the team, the job, the career, the people, the location (you name it) in the hope to find a place where we finally belong.

The thing is belonging is a fundamental human need. You even could say it is the first need that needs to be met when we are born. Though it often isn’t and that adds on to our shame and guilt pile. We do not feel good enough to be loved and as that feeling sucks, we create a lot of habits and beliefs that are supposed to help us feel like we are included, that we are loved and belong.

And still that feeling of not belonging or not being good enough to belong can stay and move with us. Until we learn that we are enough, just the way we are.   I hope to see you in class.