Can you stay true to yourself and still find belonging?
This episode of The Inner Space explores one of the deepest human paradoxes: the tension and harmony between authenticity and belonging.
We often silence parts of ourselves to fit in, at work, with family, or among friends, believing that belonging requires approval. But research and lived experience show the opposite: genuine belonging can only exist where authenticity is welcomed.
Drawing on insights from psychologists Anita Hagerty, Geoffrey Cohen, and Brené Brown, this conversation reveals how belonging is not something granted from the outside, but a subjective, felt experience that grows when we bring our full selves into relationships.
In this episode, you’ll explore:
- Why belonging without authenticity feels hollow
- What research reveals about “belonging uncertainty” and how to heal it
- How to balance the need for acceptance with the courage to be real
- Practical tools and reflections to practice authenticity in daily life
- A guided practice to experience what true belonging feels like
This is a thoughtful invitation to move from fitting in to feeling at home- in your life, your relationships, and within yourself.
Listen to the full episode to learn how authenticity and belonging can support each other, and how small acts of truth can create deeper connection.
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