Listen now | How cultivating radical self-acceptance sets the stage for belonging and steps away from changing our selves in order to fit in. With quotes from Dr. Brene Brown

Hello and good morning friends! Happy Friday. I'm Coach Kate coming to you with another Exploration Episode. I host this space weekdays as well as the Exploration Hour, and I am so excited to grow in this space with you all. This space is all about what things we stumble upon that excite us, intrigue us, or that we can dive into and explore together. I usually find a quote, or a piece of literature, or even art or perspective, that makes me go, hmmm and makes me want to learn or explore more. So this space is all about that! If that sounds like something you would be interested in too, feel free to give me a follow so we can explore together. 

So today's episode is all about belonging and it was inspired by Brene Brown's poignant interview about this very subject.

So Dr. Brene Brown I've quoted here before and for good reason, she is a leader in talks about belonging and shame, and she has done incredible research into this innate desire for community and belonging. Here is what she has to say about belonging

“The opposite of belonging is fitting in.” ~ Dr. Brené Brown.

This is so important to reflect on because we often put these two things in the same bucket: Fitting in, and belonging. True belonging is where we are accepted for who we are, and fitting in is where we need to adjust to the status quo. Here Brene Brown dives in a bit deeper:

“The truth is: Belonging starts with self-acceptance. Your level of belonging, in fact, can never be greater than your level of self-acceptance, because believing that you're enough is what gives you the courage to be authentic, vulnerable and imperfect.”

When we are allowed to exist in spaces where we feel safe, we belong. The truth is, everyone here on the planet, everyone who ever was here, and everyone who will ever be here belongs simply because we exist. We don't have to earn belonging. We don't have to be right, or perfect or prove our worth in this space of belonging. We are unimaginably enough to just exist on this planet here and now.

You are here for a reason, and if you ever doubt that for one single second, I want you to remember something: there are people out there just like you that need exactly you in their lives, and your community that big wonderful community of those people? They are out there just waiting for your kind of light to shine so that they can shine with you. It's all out there, and you're going to make the world better by owning that light and finding those spaces where you shine best. 

So this beautiful Friday-- get out there. Find the places, people, the songs, the foods that make your light shine.  And never, ever ever forget: You belong exactly as you are. 

I'm Coach Kate. Thank you for listening today and being a part of this community with me. Give me a follow-- looking forwards to building this together as we connect, and share and BELONG in this space here together. 

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