When individuals do not feel a strong sense of belonging in their relationships or community, it can sometimes feel challenging to express their needs to others because they are fearful that their perspective won’t be valued or understood. As a result, conflict can erupt because individuals are unable to communicate their goals and needs effectively.
However, respectful confrontation might suggest that an individual feels that they do belong in their relationships or community because they are comfortable and eager to express their opinion out loud, even if it is hard. Our ability to communicate our needs or challenges is informed by our sense of belonging in a given situation, as well as a belief that it’s worth confronting, expressing, or naming what might need to change in order to make everyone more satisfied.
Belonging to a community makes us feel safe and cared for, but it can be hard to get to that place for various reasons. Office of Student Conflict Resolution (OSCR) staff members are available to share knowledge and skills to help you navigate conflict and develop a stronger sense of belonging in your communities.
We encourage you to reflect on some of these questions as you consider what “belonging” means to you:
- What does belonging feel like to you?
- What do you need in order to feel like you belong in your community?
- What are some current experiences, identifiers, beliefs, and values that shape the definition of “who belongs” in your community? Do these experiences foster inclusion, and/or do they limit effective community-building?
For more information about OSCR and the different types of resources available, please visit oscr.umich.edu.