Resilience Through Connection, Invited Workshop Project ECHO: Belonging from the Inside Out with Meg McKelvie (1 Hour)
Who doesn’t want to feel like they truly belong? The desire to be loved, accepted, and connected to others is a natural part of being human. It’s something that has helped us survive and thrive throughout history. However, while wanting to belong is healthy, many of the ways we try to meet this need can lead to stress, frustration, and disconnection (Hayes, A Liberated Mind, 2019).
In today’s world, where many of us feel isolated or disconnected, we often try to gain acceptance by presenting an ideal version of ourselves—whether it’s by being “special,” overly successful, or needing constant care. These efforts can lead to unhealthy patterns, like perfectionism, people-pleasing, or always striving for more, which ultimately leave us feeling empty and disconnected from both ourselves and others.
For those who work with individuals with disabilities, understanding and supporting the need for belonging is especially important. Many individuals with disabilities face unique challenges in connecting with others, often feeling isolated or misunderstood. As caregivers, educators, and service providers, it can be easy to fall into patterns of trying to “fix” or “improve” someone’s situation through achievement or social performance, rather than focusing on true, authentic connection.
In this workshop, we’ll explore ways to reconnect with a deeper sense of belonging—not through external achievements, appearances or abilities but by being more authentic and present in the moment. We’ll use hands-on activities like expressive writing and group discussions to help you let go of old self-stories and rediscover a sense of true connection, both with yourself and with others. We’ll explore ways to take what you learn to foster environments where people feel accepted for who they truly are, not just for what they can do.
Learning Goals:
1. Understand the deep human need for belonging and how it affects individuals with disabilities.
2. Recognize the ways the desire for belonging can be misdirected, especially in the context of disability.
3. Learn practical tools and experiential exercises to foster true belonging and self-acceptance for individuals with disabilities.
Psychologists Off the Clock: 199. Belonging From the Inside Out with Meg McKelvie
Humans are social animals by nature. Throughout our existence, it has proved important to belong to groups in order to survive and thrive in our environments. The yearning to belong is so strong that, when it’s mismanaged, it can control our behavior in unhelpful ways that are inconsistent with our relationship values. In this episode of Psychologists Off the Clock, Debbie talks with her friend and colleague Meg McKelvie, PhD, Clinical Psychologist and co-founder of ImpACT Psychology Colorado, about belonging. Together they unpack what it means to belong from the inside-out and provide practical advice on fostering a sense of belonging. Grab a friend, and listen in today to learn about embracing the ordinary, clarifying your values, expressive writing, and much, much more!
Listen and Learn:
About Debbie and Diana’s experiences with “belonging”
What you may have in common with sea anemones when it comes to belonging and vulnerability
Meg’s expert definition of belonging and why belonging is so crucial to us as humans
The relationship between belonging, birthright, and social justice
What typically gets in the way of people feeling a sense of belonging
How belonging is different from being liked (spoiler alert: belonging is not a popularity contest!)
Why you might consider dropping the desire to be special and embracing the ordinary
A way to clarify the motives behind your actions (and clarify your values in the process!)
The hidden gifts of being ordinary
What it means to belong from the inside-out and the outside-in, and practical advice for how to foster these types of belonging
How Meg found a greater sense of belonging from the inside out in her life
The important differences between self-acceptance and belonging
Meg’s thoughts on jealousy and competition and how they impact experiences of belonging
How expressive writing it can be helpful in processing emotions
How loneliness and belonging are interrelated
Meg’s evidence-based suggestions for building meaningful connections with others
ImpACT Psychology Colorado: Online Interview with Steven Hayes, Originator of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Video recording of an online Q&A with Steve Hayes about A Liberated Mind, hosted by ImpACT Psychology Colorado. Listen to Steve Hayes open up and inspire us with his remarks about Belonging, Transcendence, Pivoting, and Yearnings. He talks to therapists about learning Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and shares his personal story of writing this important book.