I'm Rufus Griscombe, and I'm Caleb Bissinger, and this is the next big idea.

Today, the word that explains why we're lonely, anxious, and disengaged. Think about your basic needs.

Food, shelter, safety.

What if there's another?

One you've overlooked.

One we'd never talk about. Mattering.

Feeling valued by the people around you and knowing that you make a difference.

It used to be baked into daily life. You know your neighbors, you helped each other out.

You probably belonged to a religious community. You worked at a company that rewarded your loyalty with a pension, maybe a gold watch.

These ecosystems, if you will, of mattering have eroded.

Jennifer Wallace is the author of the new book Mattering, published this week,

and she believes this erosion explains a lot of what ails us.

When we are made to feel like we don't matter, we can withdraw, we can become anxious, depressed,

turn against ourselves. But the good news, because we always try to bring you good news on the show,

do we? Well, mostly, I think we're aiming for a two to one ratio here, Caleb. But the good news on the show. Do we? Well, mostly, I think we're aiming for a two to one ratio here, Caleb.

But the good news is that we can do something about it. It may not be easy, but it's worth it.

To matter to the people around me, to matter to colleagues, to matter to my family.

It's not just small work or big work. It's the work. It's the work of being a

human. Let's get to work.

Today's episode of the next big idea is sponsored by Shopify.

Shopify gives you everything you need to sell online and in-person.

Sign up for your $1 per month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com slash NBI.

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