Belonging

Let’s look at the Merriam-Webster Dictionary’s definition of "belong: 1a: to be suitable, appropriate, or advantageous b: to be in a proper situation 2a: to be the property of a person or thing b: to be attached or bound by birth, allegiance, or dependency to be a member of a club, organization, or set Synonym: go, place, stay or fit (in). To have, hold, own, possess."

We go together. We belong together. We fit together. To belong to someone, or somewhere, can be a right or a choice.

Connection

What is happening in the workplace with the people you steward or your co-workers?

Do we realize many of them feel alone, unseen and disconnected?

Do we realize many of them feel alone, unseen and disconnected? They feel like they don’t belong.

With the word “belonging” can come a sense of obligation by leaders. This is where people are hurt, and feel expendable and unseen. If we feel as though the person we report to in the workplace doesn’t embrace us, or is intimidated by us or our gifts and talents, it is difficult to thrive and be the whole human being we are created to be.

Belonging requires acceptance. Without acceptance we cannot feel like we belong. How do we know we belong or we let others know they belong? Every human being desires to be seen, heard and understood. This is all about connection.

However, we cannot have connection if we don’t know who we individually are inside.

Alignment

If we are going to live out life effectively we must look inward and understand the state of our own emotional and internal positional health. I call this getting an alignment. Meaning, many times we think we are ok and have it all together, yet moments come up in our responses or words that shock us. Where did that come from?

I call this getting an alignment.

If we are to be intentional with making others feel like they belong we must be intentional with maintaining our own belonging. Who are we, and who do we belong to?

When we as human beings decide to position ourselves in right alignment with who God is, and believe who he says we are, that’s when we are able to in a healthy way create an atmosphere for others to feel and know they belong.

In God’s Image

We are to relate to others out of our belonging in knowing our position and placement as sons and daughters of the kingdom of heaven. When we see our co-workers and employees through the loving eyes of Christ, our eyes see from a heavenly perspective. This allows us to see them as humans who were made in the image and likeness of God.

We set the example by taking care of who we are and knowing where we belong. From this position of our belonging we create the space for others to thrive and fully live out their kingdom purposes – and to know they belong.

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Jeanette Robert has a passion to serve Executive Leaders in business by providing support for them to be successful in intentionally caring for their people. In her current role as Executive Director of Expansion with the employee care service, Marketplace Chaplains she travels the country educating and serving C-Suite leaders of public and private companies as they intentionally and proactively care for their employees and families. She can be reached at: jeanetterobert@mchapusa.com