How to Cultivate Belonging: A Guide to Improving Your Relationship and Connection with Others

Find greater connection and contentment in your everyday life

Close and meaningful relationships with other people are key to feeling happy and fulfilled. Everyone needs a sense of belonging, but it's not always easy to break through loneliness or form new connections. How to Cultivate Belonging is the actionable guide to finding a place in the world by working through what's holding you back and discovering better ways to find purpose. With a little guidance, you'll learn how to notice and appreciate the unique traits you have to offer, and share them with the people who make you feel welcome and wanted.

• Belonging for body and soul―Explore advice and activities that help you reframe negative thoughts, boost self-esteem, and be kinder to yourself.
• Building resilience―Practice bouncing back from mistakes and approaching new situations with curiosity instead of fear.
• Your authentic self―These writing prompts and questions guide you in identifying your deepest values and being truly authentic―not just fitting in.

Discover a sense of true belonging with strategies for forging bonds with others and knowing you who are.

ADELE ACKERT is a licensed clinical social worker in the state of Illinois. She has a background in community mental health and works primarily with children and adults who have experienced trauma or are suffering from depression, anxiety, or co-occurring mental illnesses.