Exploring our sense of belonging and the connections we seek can help us understand what it truly means to feel at home and find our place in the world.
A sense of place is more than just geography; it’s about where we feel grounded, seen, and understood. It can be influenced by many things: our identity, the work we do, the people we are connected to, and how authentically we feel we can live. Some find it in a physical space, such as a hometown or a quiet corner of nature. Others find it in relationships, communities, or meaningful routines.
Our sense of place often shifts throughout life, especially as we work on self-growth, change careers, or navigate complex personal dynamics. It can be unsettling when we feel out of place or disconnected—but that is when the need for belonging becomes especially clear. Belonging helps us feel anchored, and it gives us a foundation to return to when everything else feels uncertain.
When we feel we belong, whether in a friendship, a chosen community, or even within ourselves, it supports our mental and emotional health. We are more likely to feel safe, confident, and connected. And when we do not? It can leave us anxious, unsteady, or isolated.
Finding or creating a sense of place takes time, but it’s worth nurturing, because we should all feel at home, wherever and however that may be.
It’s okay if we do not always feel like we belong. Many of us go through seasons of questioning this, not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually. That uncertainty can feel isolating, but it’s also a very common, shared experience, meaning that many people have gone through this and are happy to offer support and guidance.
Belonging is not always a fixed destination. Sometimes we find it and feel completely settled, only to lose track of that feeling as life shifts. Relationships change, careers evolve, values deepen, our sense of self grows, and suddenly, the space that once felt right no longer does. This often indicates that we are outgrowing the confines we, others, or society have placed on us, or that there is a more profound understanding of just how complex, multifaceted, ever-changing, and imperfect we truly are.
Finding or regaining a sense of belonging is not a one-time task; it’s part of the natural ebb and flow of life. As we move through different chapters, where we fit in may change too—this is normal. The important thing is to stay open to connection, to self-discovery, to trying again, and to being persistent with our personal development. Belonging may come in unexpected places or take time to rebuild, but it’s there for us to explore. You are not alone in this experience. Struggling to belong is not a sign of failure—it’s simply part of pushing the boundaries of what we thought possible.
I wrote this poem with all of this in mind, and how my sense of self and belonging has become more internalised and resilient. I hope it resonates in a way that makes sense to you and meets you where you are, while also inspiring you to nurture, nourish, and celebrate yourself.
We all deserve that.
What does this poem mean to you? How are you developing your sense of self/belonging?
Further Info:
30 Ways to Celebrate Yourself – Psychology Today
How To Develop Self-Awareness and Unlock Your Full Potential – BetterUp
This is part of my M.T.N. Poetry Collection. To share it on Instagram, Pinterest, or X (Twitter), please tag my corresponding social media accounts. Do not edit my work or remove/crop out my name or site address from being clearly visible within the post. For all other purposes, please contact me for permission so that information regarding terms of usage can be provided. Thank you.
transatlantic | notes 
A lovely poem about the sense of belonging. I agree with you, finding your belonging is the natural ebb and flow of life and it’s not a one-time task x
I’m glad that this resonated with you, as belonging is definitely never a one and done deal. Thank you so much for reading my post and poem!
What a beautiful poem! I also loved reading your intentions and inspiration behind it as well. It is such a powerful piece! Thank you so much for sharing!
I am so happy to hear that you liked reading my poem, and what went on behind coming up with it. I fe;t it to be quite powerful too, so I am glad that comes across!
So true. There are times and places that makes us feel we don’t belong. Not every place, things, and even people suit your soul.
This is a great way to see it. Things that suit out soul are essential to our feelings of strength, safety, and growth.
I travel a lot, and so I have always felt this way: wherever I am existing, currently, is my space. I love to disconnect from the busyness of contemporary living and just exist.
This is a great way to be as it helps to make the most of what we are experiencing or where we are. I love this!
I am glad you shared this Molly. I do think we all go through this, and sometimes more than a few times in life. I am currently on a journey myself, and it has been trying at times, but you just keep going and hope to find your new place again.
I 100% agree that it’s something we go through at different times in our lives—and that it can be a struggle. I am wishing you well and cheering you on as you navigate your own journey with this!
You can be in place and feel as if you do not belong there. It took me all long time to figure out that where I am is where I belong cause this is where my life choose to keep me placed. Poems is really good. Had me reflecting.
I am so happy it caused some reflection (which is what I hoped it would do for each reader—and that it’s interpreted individually, etc). I feel much the same, that for a long time I didn’t know where I belonged, but now I have come to a point that it is wherever I am/choose to be. Thanks so much for reading and sharing your thoughts!
I love that – ‘but instead exist where I persist.’ Very meaningful. It’s like it’s saying I’ve made my mark here, and this is home to me 🙂
Lindsay / The Travel Vine
This is a great way to see it, and pretty much what I was feeling/imagining when I wrote it, so it’s wonderful that it resonated like that with you too!
Beautiful poem! As change is the only constant in life, the feeling of belonging could change anytime with life. I feel embracing it and moving makes us resilient.
This is exactly how we should see life, as a constantly changing thing, and that we should embrace all that means for us. Thanks for reading!
What a beautiful poem, it offers comfort in acknowledging the common experience of feeling out of place and encourages a continuous journey of self-discovery and connection to cultivate a sense of home within ourselves and the world.
I am so happy my poem resonated with you in this way. I agree that we are all on a continuous journey of self-discovery and connection. Thank you so much for reading!
That’s such a lovely poem, Molly. It perfectly encapsulates the sense of self and place – home is where the heart is, wherever that may be!
Thank you! I am so glad that you enjoyed reading this. And I agree, where we feel at home can be wherever our heart is!
I find that we often think about where we fit in and it’s nice to have a gentle reminder to celebrate where we are. Life is always changing, so it’s important to take the time to be present in the moment before we move on to the next. Thank you for sharing!
I love the reminder about being present where we are (physically and emotionally) but also knowing that we are constantly evolving on some way. Thank you for reading!
What a lovely poem! It certainly resonates with me at this time in my life (retirement) as I try to hang on to a community of friends who are still working. I also think it transcends life itself – some of those that persist in my thoughts are those that are no longer with us. I can only hope to accomplish the same.
I love that you connect with my poem in this way. I had hoped that it would mean different things and have layers to it, so it’s great to see it come through. Thank you for reading this and sharing your thoughts/experiences!