Trouble Fitting In?

“If I get to be me, I belong.  If I have to be you, I fit in” — Berne Brown

This resonates with me as I have had trouble fitting into social groups for as long as I can remember.  I always feel unnatural and awkward.  I am self-conscious and critical of everything I say or do in a social setting.

But there is a better way of living.  What if I told you you don’t have to handle social situations awkwardly?  To cure your anxious feelings and critical thoughts, you can be yourself.  

You might be thinking that will never work, but trust me on this.  So what if you aren’t the life of the party?  Maybe you will find someone that you can connect with while you are there.

So what if people judge you?  Let them judge you.  You are too important and special to pretend to be someone else to fit in.  God made us how we were meant to be, so just be you. 

If you are in a situation where people judge you, they are not your people.  You don’t need to pretend to be someone to fit in with the wrong crowd.

When I tried to find my people, I wanted to participate in groups of like-minded people.  I also wanted to find groups that were free or low-cost.

I started with my church community and joined a wonderful group of women who care for and support one another.  I am honored to be a part of this group.

Next, I checked out the library and joined a book club since I love to read.  The women in this group are kind and funny.  We have a great time together.

Finally, I found a NAMI group that I love to attend their meetings.  NAMI is the National Alliance for Mental Illness.  It is a group of peers who have mental health issues that get together to chat about their struggles and victories.  

This has been a game-changer for me.  I don’t have to lean on my therapist so much, and I don’t feel as alone because of my mental health struggles.  I cherish the friendships I have made from these peer-led meetings.

There are groups all over the country, so you should be able to find one.  Please contact me if you need help finding one, and I will help you search for one.  Have a great day, and know that you are awesome.