By For years, I believed belonging meant being liked by everyone in the room.
So I tried to blend in—look like them, sound like them, think like them.
But the more I tried to fit in, the more I felt like an imposter. And lonelier than ever.
Eventually, I learned that belonging isn’t about changing who you are. It’s about loving who you are—because God already does.
As I explore in my book, Permission to Be Imperfect, knowing God’s love gives you permission to love yourself and embrace your uniqueness.
When you’re good with being you, you stop feeling like a stranger to yourself.
And that’s when something beautiful happens: you naturally find people and places that celebrate—not just tolerate—your authenticity.
And you’re even more at peace around those who don’t.
Take it from someone who’s been there. I’ve lived through the phases: denying myself, embracing myself and finally being myself.
And I’ve discovered that the greatest sense of belonging doesn’t come from being accepted by others; it comes from accepting yourself.
So if you’re feeling out of place, don’t rush to change.
Lean into who you are.
Your quirks could be qualities. Your differences may be divine. Certainly, your authenticity is your superpower.
You belong. Not because you fit in, but because you’re fearfully and wonderfully made by Your Creator who loves you.
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Need more help? I devote an entire message to “how to feel like you belong” in my series Good News & Good Advice, along with four other practical teachings about rejection, forgiving yourself and forgiving others. Get the full series today for your donation of any amount.