40 Days of Resolution at Home

If you do not want to receive the 40 Days of Resolution at Home, instead of unsubscribing, please email development@mvmediation.org, and we will remove you from the 40 Days distribution list.

We want to keep you on our monthly Newsletter mailing list to stay in touch.

Day 29: BELONGING

by Sara Barnes

The problem of the twenty first century is othering

The solution is belonging.

These are the words of Dr. john a. powell who has dedicated his life to teaching and writing about othering, belonging and what he calls bridging;

the way to get from one to the other.

Here is more of what powell has to say about belonging:

“Belonging, as I am using it, means having the right to fully participate in and co-create the world you live in. Belonging means your story is fully seen and valued. Belonging means having the right to make demands on systems and structures. Belonging is being respected as an equal human being with full dignity...Belonging is not just asking for us to be afforded the dignity and the voice that we all as humans inherently deserve; belonging means we must also respect all others in the same way and afford them their dignity and voice."

As you consider belonging, think about the following components for yourself. Then reflect on creating a space, place or group where others

can belong:

Overall sense of belonging:

I feel a strong sense of belonging

Welcomed:

I feel warmly welcomed

Known:

I feel known as an individual

Included:

I feel included

Supported:

I feel supported

Connected:

I feel a strong connection

Community of Belonging:

Conflict resolution practices add up, I hope, to the creation of a community where all belong. As we put into practice the ideas of listening, accepting, collaborating and working to understand each other more fully, the vision is that no one will be other and all will belong.

Here are some self-reflection questions from powell's book The Power of Bridging: How to build a world where we all belong:

Where in your life do you feel you belong?
Where do you feel you don’t belong? Where do you feel like you are other?
Who to you is other and why?
Can you imagine a world where everyone belongs? What might it look like?

a graphic below from powell:

During the holiday season and when you are enjoying your family and community, one way to prevent conflict is to build spaces where all feel belonging --

at work, school, in your home and all the other places you spend time.

Happy Hannukah, the 8 day festival honoring of

light, perseverance and family

celebrated by the Jewish world.

Join our 40th Anniversary Campaign!

If you enjoy Resolution at Home, please make a donation to support our work. If everyone reading this gave just $10-$40, we would be so thankful for your help!

Donate here

Martha’s Vineyard Mediation Center

15 Merchant’s Court #5, PO Box 761

Vineyard Haven, MA 02568 info@mvmediation.org | 508.693.2999

www.mvmediation.org