A short spoken piece by Dr. Aziz explaining that the persistent feeling of not belonging is a remnant of past neglect rather than current reality. He advises an inner practice: tell yourself "I belong everywhere I go," then turn compassionate attention toward the anxious, empty feeling so it can 'belong' with you and be healed over time.
If you feel like you don't belong in any group that you're a part of, I want to share one profound secret that can radically change your life in this area. And it goes like this. That feeling of I don't fit in. I don't belong. That is not about your current reality. That is about something. It's a remnant from the past where you felt neglected, not connected with, not cared for. And now you bring that feeling everywhere you go, five, 10, 20, 50 years later. And the key here is that no external belonging will shift that. Because even if you're receiving it right now, part of you saying I don't really fit in, you just keep looking to confirm that. So here's what you need to do to shift it. You need to tell yourself belonging is already here. I belong everywhere I go. And then find that part inside of you'll feel it, that achy, quakey, scared, empty, not belonging feeling, and give it your loving attention. Let that not belonging feeling belong with you. And if you practice this, you will free yourself forever.
