The Human Need for Connection and Belonging
Connection
“I define connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.”
Click to listen to entire Ted Talk
Vulnerability
“Vulnerability is…”Uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure.
…looks like courage in you but feels like weakness in me.
…is the first thing I look for when I meet you, but the last thing I want to show you.
The Myths of Vulnerability:
- Vulnerability is weakness.
- I can opt out of vulnerability.
- Vulnerability is oversharing.
- I can go it alone.
- You can engineer the uncertainty and discomfort out of vulnerability.
- Trust comes before vulnerability.”
Click to listen to entire Ted Talk
Grief and Loss
“Three fundamental elements of grief are loss, longing, and feeling lost. We run from grief because loss scares us, yet our hearts reach toward grief because the broken parts want to mend. Grief seems to create losses within us that reach beyond our awareness–we feel as if we’re missing something that was invisible and unknown to us while we had it, but is now painfully gone.”