First, we will ask you a few questions to reflect on your sense of belonging in your local community. Then we will ask about bridgebuilding. When we step outside of our comfort zone to build bridges with others, we can help improve the sense of belonging for ourselves and others.
Assess Your Inner BridgeBuilder
When we step just outside of our comfort zones, we can make unexpected connections with people different than us and create stronger communities where everyone can feel they belong.
Sometimes, all we need is a moment to pause and reflect on our thoughts and behaviors. These 7 questions can help you explore your own sense of belonging and how you can take the next step in your bridgebuilding journey.
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To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
People in my local community welcome and include me in activities.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
My relationships with others in my local community are as satisfying as I want them to be.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
I feel like I can be my whole and authentic self around people in my community.
We all know what it feels like to feel left out. We also know how good it feels to find a sense of belonging with others.
Takeaway: Even small acts of connection can help others feel like they belong. When you are welcoming towards others in your neighborhood, you can help create stronger, more connected communities where everyone – including you – can feel like they belong.
Our brains naturally sort people into categories to process information - and that’s okay! Every day, we hear generalizations about whole groups of people, and many times, these generalizations live on in our subconscious.
But if we pause to question our perceptions of others, we can make sure we don’t miss out on what makes each individual unique.
Takeaway: We don’t want others to make assumptions about ourselves, so consider how we can get to know others who are unlike us on a personal level rather than making assumptions or relying on generalizations about them.
Now, think of a time you had a conversation with someone who held a very different view than your own. With that conversation in mind, answer the following questions.
How often was I really focused on what my conversation partner was saying, and not thinking about what I would say next?
How often did I listen with curiosity and wonder what might be new or what I might learn from the conversation?
Listening to understand the person you are talking to is the foundation of making strong connections with others.
We all like to be heard, yet we can overestimate how good we are at listening. Sometimes we are preparing our own response or hearing what we want to hear without asking for confirmation or clarification.
Takeaway: Consider how we can deepen connections with others in our lives by being an active listener during conversations.
Finally, think back on some experiences from your life when you worked with other people to accomplish a task. With this experience in mind, answer the following questions.
I can think of an example of a time when I’ve worked with someone very different from me to get something done.
I like working with others to make a positive difference for everyone in my community.
Every day we learn from people who are very different from us – neighbors, friends, colleagues and community members. Our communities wouldn’t function without our ability to disagree on some issues and yet work together on others.
Takeaway: Consider how working with others across lines of difference can actually strengthen our community.
Are You Ready to Build Bridges?
We hope reflecting on your experiences of belonging and engaging with people who are different from you has inspired you to think about the role we can each play in building stronger communities if we reach out and connect with one another – even if we think we’re different.
If your Inner Bridgebuilder is ready to learn more about belonging and bridgebuilding activities that can create more connected communities, check out these resources: