Obsessed with Belonging ft. Sedruola Maruska (The Brené Brown Inspired Series)

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Show Notes

What is belonging?

Brené Brown, author of Atlas of the Heart (a book we are obsessed with), defines belonging as:

A practice that requires us to be vulnerable, get uncomfortable, and learn how to be present with people without sacrificing who we are. We have to belong to ourselves as much as we need to belong to others. Any belonging that asks us to betray ourselves is not true belonging.

We all want to feel like we belong, that we are a part of something. It's a basic human need that drives our social behaviors. We see this in how we form groups, whether at school, at work, or in our communities. A sense of belonging is important because it can help people feel supported and connected to their community. It can also lead to positive emotional states like happiness, satisfaction, and pride.

And when people feel like they don't belong, they often experience loneliness, isolation, and even depression. In order to create a sense of belonging, there is a need to focus on creating an inclusive environment where everyone is welcome and feels comfortable sharing their ideas.

In this episode, our guest Sedruola Maruska shares her story of how she's always putting herself in uncomfortable places to grow as a human being and make connections with people of all cultures. Growing up in different environments shaped her desire to make people feel comfortable and feel like other people want to hear and understand what they're saying.

Sedruola (or Sadie) is a passionate speaker and consultant on accountability, equity, inclusion, and social justice, focusing on cultivating diverse cultures and spaces. Her podcast, Diversity Dish, delves into conversations with marginalized people from all walks of life who share stories of experiencing, overcoming, and finding solutions for discrimination, prejudice, and racism within industries.

What You Will Learn From This Episode

02:37 - The feeling of belonging

03:52 - Sadie’s experiences with different cultures

08:46 - Finding belonging in different cultures

15:00 - Authentically stepping into belonging

21:24 - Finding one’s voice through self-reflection

25:36 - Being intuitive and the self as a work in progress

28:58 - The importance of mindfulness

Resources Mentioned