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The Power of Belonging

Finding connection in an age of isolation.

Politics
Belonging Is Bigger Than Politics

Kim Samuel on March 14, 2025

While anti-DEI campaigns are targeting terms like “sense of belonging,” the psychological drive for community, respect, and connection transcends ideological divides.

While anti-DEI campaigns are targeting terms like “sense of belonging,” the psychological drive for community, respect, and connection transcends ideological divides.

Politics
Real Freedom Requires Belonging

Kim Samuel on January 30, 2025

Politicians champion freedom, but what people truly crave is belonging. As isolation grows, we must rethink liberty—not just as independence, but as deep purpose and community.

Politicians champion freedom, but what people truly crave is belonging. As isolation grows, we must rethink liberty—not just as independence, but as deep purpose and community.

Stress
Stress Is Driving an Epidemic of Social Isolation

Kim Samuel on October 9, 2024

Stress and isolation are at all-time highs, harming our health and relationships. How societal choices are driving loneliness and what we can do to reconnect.

Stress and isolation are at all-time highs, harming our health and relationships. How societal choices are driving loneliness and what we can do to reconnect.

Politics
The Secret to Building a Politics of Belonging

Kim Samuel on August 29, 2024

A 1954 experiment reveals how shared purpose can reduce social isolation and polarization, urging investments in social infrastructure to foster unity today.

A 1954 experiment reveals how shared purpose can reduce social isolation and polarization, urging investments in social infrastructure to foster unity today.

While intelligent machines may help with some symptoms of dementia, over-reliance on robotic companions could worsen isolation and loneliness over time.
Dementia
The Ethics of Giving Robots to People With Dementia

Kim Samuel on July 26, 2024

In an age of intelligent machines and underfunded health systems, society faces difficult choices about how best to care for those facing social isolation and dementia.

In an age of intelligent machines and underfunded health systems, society faces difficult choices about how best to care for those facing social isolation and dementia.

It’s through time in nature and solitude that we come to know ourselves, to connect with our inner sources of inspiration, and to hone the skills of being able to listen, to care, and to be in relationship with others.
Loneliness
The Surprising Ways Solitude Is an Antidote to Loneliness

Kim Samuel on June 17, 2024

Amidst a global loneliness crisis, we’re losing out on solitary reflection. Yet time alone can, paradoxically, help us connect better to others. Here's how.

Amidst a global loneliness crisis, we’re losing out on solitary reflection. Yet time alone can, paradoxically, help us connect better to others. Here's how.

The Belonging Barometer indicates young people in the UK feel more lonely than older generations.
Loneliness
Key Insights From the UK's First Belonging Barometer

Kim Samuel on April 16, 2024

A survey of 10,000 people across Britain shows that experiences of isolation vary by age, ability, gender, and geography. The findings will inform solutions to foster belonging.

A survey of 10,000 people across Britain shows that experiences of isolation vary by age, ability, gender, and geography. The findings will inform solutions to foster belonging.

Social Media
We’re Running a Risky Cognitive Experiment on Our Own Kids

Kim Samuel on February 21, 2024

While social media promised connection, it has instead contributed to a crisis of isolation in youth. The onus is on tech companies and governments to shift our unhealthy reliance on screens.

While social media promised connection, it has instead contributed to a crisis of isolation in youth. The onus is on tech companies and governments to shift our unhealthy reliance on screens.

Mindfulness
How Mindfulness Builds Belonging

Kim Samuel on September 27, 2023

It’s good news that mindfulness is now mainstream. But there’s a risk in seeing it as an individual mental health intervention. Mindfulness is much more than that.

It’s good news that mindfulness is now mainstream. But there’s a risk in seeing it as an individual mental health intervention. Mindfulness is much more than that.

Schadenfreude
Community Is the Opposite of Schadenfreude

Kim Samuel on July 12, 2023

Social media has created the conditions for schadenfreude, the antithesis of community, to run rampant. Find out how to build belonging in the age of social media.

Social media has created the conditions for schadenfreude, the antithesis of community, to run rampant. Find out how to build belonging in the age of social media.

Career
How to Reverse the Psychology of Othering

Kim Samuel on May 11, 2023

We’re living in an age when “othering” is on the rise. Yet the tendency is arguably as ancient as humanity itself. Here are ideas and strategies for how to combat it.

We’re living in an age when “othering” is on the rise. Yet the tendency is arguably as ancient as humanity itself. Here are ideas and strategies for how to combat it.

Career
The New Psychology of Belonging

Kim Samuel on April 17, 2023

A conversation with Nelson Mandela underscores how belonging isn’t just a need, but a right.

A conversation with Nelson Mandela underscores how belonging isn’t just a need, but a right.