Need of Belonging

                                                                                          By Priyanshu

Belonging is kind of tricky to pin down and understand because it depends on what leads to it and what comes from it. We all know that feeling like you're part of something, like a group, makes us feel good. But, early, people didn't dig deep into it. Today, "The need to belong: Desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation." Basically belonging is a big deal for humans, and it's been with us since our ancestors were around.

 Throughout our lives, human connections play a crucial role. They kick off from a young age, keep changing and growing, and stick with us as we get older. These connections aren't static; they're influenced by how we develop as individuals, how our society changes over time, and the way we interact with others and react to their responses. So basically, our connections with people are like a lifelong journey, constantly shifting and shaped by both our personal growth and the world around us.

Today, we've got issues like loneliness, taking care of older folks, and thinking about the future. Today there is another way or platform to find our belongings. What is this another way to find belonging?

Sense of belonging, often turn to various social interaction too, and are one of the key places for connection. Social media isn't just a platform; it's like a bustling town square where people gather to exchange thoughts, experiences, and ideas with one another. In our daily lives, social media serves as a virtual lifeline to that feeling of belonging. It's where people spend plenty of time in their lives. It is like a global stage where individuals seek recognition and companionship from all corners of the world. For those who might be feeling a bit lonely, social media becomes their digital tribe, a place where they find kindred spirits and a sense of connection in the vast online wilderness. Through social media people or today's generation find their own goals to get motivated and happy, but social media have other sides like depression and negativity. So, social media gives us a feeling of belonging.

 Self–esteem of Belonging

Belonging is super important for us for well-being, success, and mental health. The need to belong is a big deal for understanding why we do things. We humans really want to connect with others. Another big moment in belonging is that self-esteem is a key part of wanting to belong. Self-esteem is how we feel about fitting in and how attractive we think we are to others. To be happy, people need to feel like they belong.

The question arises in our mind How much we need can affect how motivated we are to join groups, hang out with friends/family, or get involved at school or work. and the desire to connect with people in various ways. So, " Belonging changes as we grow up, in the stages of our lives, from childhood to school, college, and so on, and gives us the right to choose what we want in the stages of life.

So, the need for belonging is the way to motivate ourselves. And the way to make ourselves productive and happy.