In 2023, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy declared a loneliness epidemic—it's a real crisis that has serious effects on our emotional and physical health.
Fortunately, we have the tools to address the crisis head on. The Belongfulness Project is here to provide resources that raise awareness, offer best practices, and train you and the people you care about to feel connected. No one ever taught us how to belong, until now.
Belonging isn't just about being social. Check out our free playbook to start your journey towards greater connection to yourself and the world around you.
62% of employees experience serious loneliness—and they underperform as a result. That means belongful employees overperform. Learn how to make belonging your team's secret weapon.
Cafes, coworking spaces, bars, bookstores, and more—if you run a space that hosts gatherings and brings people together, you play an indispensible role in re-weaving our social fabric.
Public officials are in an ideal position to raise awareness of the health implications of loneliness and to point people to the resources that will help them the most.
Author of the wonderful books Ping and Spark, and the forthcoming People are My Favorite Place, Ani Castillo shared her personal journey overcoming social anxiety, the role of religious communities, the power of inner dialogue, and much more. Here, we delve into some of the major themes discussed.
Hope just became a strategy. Kathryn Goetzke, leading hope researcher and founder of The Shine Hope Company, unpacks the science behind cultivating hope and resilience in the face of adversity. In this conversation, we explore Goetzke's deeply personal journey, her research into America's hopelessness crisis, and practical strategies to design a more hopeful daily life.
I'm excited to be launching a new course on February 1. Read on for more details!
Loneliness can feel like an insurmountable challenge, a silent epidemic that touches countless lives. Yet, the path to overcoming loneliness often begins with simple, actionable steps. Whether you're feeling a temporary sense of isolation or grappling with a more profound sense of disconnection, these strategies can help pave the way to a more connected, fulfilling life.
The opportunity for a narrative shift is right in front of us. With WeWork firmly in the public's rearview mirror, and millions of newly minted post-pandemic remote workers still trying to find a balance, coworking is poised to set up big time. There's just one nagging thing between the movement and a new level of growth: the message.
If you're headed back to where you grew up this holiday season, you may find opportunities there to unveil parts of yourself that will help you grow into who you want to become going forward. Get my free printable playbook while you're at it. <3
Brad Kerner of Eco Evolution brings a fascinating journey to the table—a journey molded by personal convictions, a push for environmental sustainability, and adapting to world-changing events like the COVID pandemic. Let's dive into some of the key takeaways from our candid conversation which uncovered unique insights about community-building, environmental sustainability, and entrepreneurship in the context of modern societal shifts.
Are you feeling disconnected in a world that's more connected than ever? You're not alone. In a time when isolation and loneliness are on the rise, finding genuine belonging and connection is more important than ever. "Unmuck Your Life: 4 Transformative Steps to Belonging" is your guide to breaking free from the loneliness cycle and fostering fulfilling connections with yourself, your friends, and the world around you.
Stefano Sacchi, founder of Epic Llama, designs playful experiences to inspire human connections. Stefano has dedicated his work to creating inclusive spaces that break down barriers and allow people to authentically interact.
Matt Chavez is co-founder of Listening Lab, a project aimed at encouraging community interactions and sharing of personal stories through mixed-media installations. He's perhaps best known for Subway Therapy, an immersive public art project initiated in the aftermath of the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Public Participation: The project featured 2,000+ anonymous sticky notes posted by commuters on the walls of NYC's Union Square subway station.
We started gathering folks for a simple coworking session at our favorite local cafe. Read on to hear what I learned and get tips on how you can start your own.
As key stewards of public health, governments have many evidenced-based options to strengthen social connection from the policy level down to local community action. Here are some top recommendations based on the Surgeon General’s report.
The world needs places like yours in it. When you pledge to call your space a Belongful Place, you'll be joining our collective mission to help people find their people and beat the epidemic of disconnection.
Make belonging your team's secret weapon. In a workforce where so many suffer from feelings of loneliness and disconnection, belongful teams will have a huge advantage.
Once upon a time... I interviewed Rachel Saslaw, founder of StoryTell NYC. Rachel started StoryTell as a way to cultivate more meaningful connections and vulnerability through personal storytelling. She shared insights on how she democratizes storytelling, her personal birthday pie-off, her new family recipe heirloom, and more.
What if our crisis of disconnection was something each of us could play a part in solving? What if those things we could do were bafflingly simple? Like... checking in on a friend, hanging out at a cafe, hosting a dinner party? I published the State of Belonging 2023 report to answer those questions and many more.
What better way to bring people together than dumplings? Lenny An's Dumpling Discussions give people a simple invitation—come enjoy fabulous dumplings!—while also offering something deeper: an opportunity to have conversations about potentially challenging topics.
Earlier this year, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released a groundbreaking report of historic proportions highlighting how integral social connection is to our health, safety, prosperity, and overall wellbeing. This advisory puts forth a bold new vision for making relationships a national priority and provides a blueprint for strengthening our social fabric.
Moai is a social support group that starts in childhood and extends into the 100s. It's a tradition that's been around for centuries, originally serving as a village's financial support system. Today, it's a cultural cornerstone for companionship, a lifeline of connection in a world that often feels disconnected.
To combat loneliness, we must identify effective strategies and prioritize them. I'm developing a State of Belonging Report, highlighting key concerns, current impacts, and actions taken. It will suggest how each of us can act.
I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Meghan Talarowski, a renowned play researcher and playscape architect and the head of Philly-based Studio Ludo, about the importance of play for people of all ages.
I met Jacey at an event hosted by David Nebinski, as he recorded a live episode for his Portfolio Career Podcast. After I learned of her own show, Recalibrate, and some of her personal stories of finding community and belonging, I knew we had to record a conversation together.
I thought I had the solution to the loneliness epidemic: better gatherings. I'd seen just how poorly most social activities were often organized, and how much better the well-run ones were, and thought—if only people were exposed to the right kinds of experiences...
Let’s face it: dealing with other humans is a hassle. Meanwhile, staying at home is getting easier every day. There’s just one little problem: it sucks.
RuthAnn had been living in Kennett Square, PA for seven years before she started finding real connection to the town around her. It started with her church, where she learned of volunteer opportunities in the area. That led to her working at the library, where she could restock books in peace—and, over time, get to know both the staff and the patrons.
You can connect with Belongfulness on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube. Tony's contact info can also be found here!
In a literary landscape filled with tales of love, loss, and self-discovery, "My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness" stands out for its unapologetic honesty. This book doesn't sugarcoat the reality of grappling with one's identity. Instead, it offers readers an intimate and candid look into the turbulent waters of self-acceptance and the heavy weight of societal expectations.
Historically, loneliness was not just about being alone; it signaled danger. In early modern Britain, straying too far from society meant surrendering the protections it provided. A lonely space was a place where you might encounter someone who could harm you, with no one else around to help.
What would $500 a month in pure profit do for your business today? What if it also came with a compounding growth in your foot traffic and regular patronage?
“The soul that sees beauty may sometimes walk alone.” - Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe