Early on as children, we get a sense of belonging. We gather this sense from our family first and then in school. Are we accepted and valued and loved by the people who we live with, go to school with, and want to be around? If we are, we recognize it as a good feeling. It garners a sense of being at peace. If we are not, we question ourselves.
In reality, where we belong needs to come from within ourselves before we seek confirmation from the world. If you are happy, or at least content with who you are and with your values, you will not need the support of others to the degree that one who is floundering in their discovery of what they want out of life. There is a profound connection between self-confidence and feeling you belong. It also is closely connected to the approval of others. With self assurance you will depend less on the acceptance of others.
Ultimately we seek out others with similar philosophies to garner a sense of belonging for both you and them. As they say, power in numbers. In this case, it is more like self confidence, hence belonging, in numbers!
With the assurance of belonging, whether it be to a family, group, business, organization, etc., we often allow ourselves to explore our own unique self. The circle comes around: we seek to belong-we belong and garner self-confidence-we try out new philosophies (work, values, ideas, etc)-we seek to belong with these new principles- we garner self-confidence from belonging!
Get to know yourself, have confidence in your sense of being, seek others to build upon that confidence and enjoy the feeling of belonging! It will put a smile on your face!
May your path lead you to where you belong!