Embracing Authenticity in a World Obsessed with Fitting In: The Spiral of Being & Belonging
In recent years, job dissatisfaction has reached unprecedented levels, as revealed by Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace: 2022 report. The study found that disengagement and unhappiness among workers are alarmingly high, with 60% of respondents reporting emotional detachment at work and 19% describing themselves as miserable. Only 33% of participants expressed feeling engaged, representing a decline since 2020. According to Gallup, the primary contributor to job dissatisfaction is a lack of workplace culture emphasizing respect, community, and recognition for contributions. Notably, this unhappiness extends beyond the workplace, as even those working remotely from home report feelings of discontent.
As I pondered these concerning trends, I couldn’t help but reflect on a profound realization I experienced several years ago…
Several years ago I woke up with an epiphany. “Life will ultimately take you where you belong”. I wondered how does one know where one belongs. When I look around everyone seems to be in a perpetual struggle to fit in. In a world where one is measured, benchmarked and judged for utility and productivity, one seems to feel the pressure to keep reinventing oneself to fit in. We hire coaches so we can project the right image and adopt the right behavior acceptable to those who sit in judgement.
Another epiphany followed as I continued to wonder: You belong where people care for you. People will care for you when they are able to relate to your open, authentic and consistent self. Our journey, therefore, is not one of seeking acceptance but of discovering our true sense of being reflected in the eyes of those in search of authentic, meaningful. and trustworthy relationships.
On the front page of my upcoming book, “Being & Belonging,” the spiral image symbolizes a journey of self-discovery and exploration. The spiral serves as a metaphor for insatiable curiosity, deep compassion, boundless imagination, and expanding consciousness – all qualities essential to the process of understanding one’s identity and place in the world.
In this cyclical journey, a spiral keeps us connected to our origins, as our consciousness evolves and deepens. This serves as a reminder that personal growth is a continuous process, where we broaden our understanding of the world and ourselves while nurturing our innate curiosity, compassion, imagination, and consciousness. In the face of widespread workplace dissatisfaction, one might ask: how might we foster a culture of authenticity and belonging that encourages individuals to embrace their true selves, ultimately cultivating happier and more fulfilling professional experiences?
