Side note: I wrote this spiritual exercise with a small-group setting in mind. But you can certainly go through this exercise alone. Feel the freedom to use this exercise however you want to. Skip some steps, add some steps, alter some steps — do whatever you sense is best for you and/or your group. You may want to use just one of the steps. That’s great!

Through my own emotional and spirtiual journey, and as I’ve journeyed deeply with others, I’ve come to believe that it’s love that heals us, it’s love that helps us mature emotionally and spiritually. Some people describe the experience of unconditional love as experiencing “a sense of belonging” or “a sense of connectedness.” One of the primary reasons 12-Step Groups (such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Codependents Anonymous) are so effective is because they provide their members with a healing “sense of belonging.”

The more we experience a sense of belonging, the more healing and growth we’ll experience.

I hope this simple exercise helps you experience a deep sense of belonging!

STEP 1: In order to quiet our hearts and minds, we’re going to sit in silence together for about two minutes. Let your thoughts and feelings settle down. Perhaps ask God to help you become aware of his/her presence.

STEP 2: Take five minutes to listen to God and journal. Ask God to surface moments in your life when you felt like you really belonged. These are moments of unconditional love, moments of feeling really connected with God, others, yourself or creation. Make a list of these moments.

STEP 3: Ask God which moment he/she would like you to bask in right now. Take thirty seconds to listen to God.

STEP 4: For the next minute, let your whole self bask in that moment of belonging. Abide in that love. Breathe it in again.

STEP 5: Let’s take some time to share with each other. I’d love to hear about the moment, the memory, you were basking in, and perhaps why you chose to bask in that particular moment.

If you don’t feel like sharing or don’t feel comfortable sharing, you don’t have to share.

STEP 6: Let’s close in prayer.

**Special Note: I adapted this exercise from a similar exercise in the book Belonging: Bonds of Healing and Recovery, by Matthew Linn, Dennis Linn and Sheila Fabricant Linn. I highly recommend the book!

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