18/08/2026
I've recently come back from a retreat gathering, and I've found myself reflecting on something I spend a lot of time exploring in coaching and in life.
Belonging.
There was something about being there that felt very simple.
Acceptance. Mucking in together. Conversation when we wanted it, space when we needed it.
And, most importantly for me, the space to simply be myself.
It reminded me that belonging isn't necessarily about fitting in.
Brené Brown talks about the difference between fitting in and truly belonging, that when we're fitting in, we're often adapting ourselves in order to be accepted.
That really resonated with me, both personally and professionally.
We can become incredibly good at fitting in.
Reading the room. Adapting to what others need. Knowing when to stay quiet, agree, or make themselves a little smaller.
Sometimes those patterns have developed for very understandable reasons.
But when we spend so much time adapting to belong, we can gradually lose connection with ourselves.
That's something I'm often curious about in coaching.
"Where do you feel able to be yourself?"
Coming home from the retreat, that's what stayed with me.
You can muck in. You can contribute. You can connect.
But there's also room to just be you.
Maybe that's what genuine belonging feels like.
Where in your life do you feel most able to simply be yourself?