On this week's How To, I delve into the tremendous importance and power of inclusion. I begin with the concept of things that are high stakes and what it is that determines what is a high stakes experience versus not. One of my main points today is that the earlier the need in life, the more intense and important it will loom for all of your days. Well, what is more important than feeling loved? In this episode, I will help you consider why it is so crucially important to err heavily on the side of being inclusive and welcoming, since not feeling welcome can be devastating to a person's sense of belonging and self worth.
Like it or not, through the lens of a child — and even of a baby — we are constantly measuring whether or not we are wanted. The world is full of confirmations and, unfortunately many more disconfirmations of our being wanted. As a community, we can help each other live happier lives and even prevent depression and suicide if we just remember to take the extra time, sometimes in little gestures, to make people feel included, accepted, and welcome.
The bottom line is that we can all start to feel quite powerful, in the best way possible, when we recognize the impact we can have on others. This way of thinking about things simplifies things, so that you can go the extra mile, in a relatively easy way, and make all the difference in the world to someone. Because what is more powerful than feeling that you are valid and wanted?
