we have to have an own belonging to ourselves as a fundamental starting point of being able to avail ourselves of any other kinds of spiritual practice development formation,

otherwise we're subject to being corrupted beyond measure.

So do you remember a time when you felt like you just didn't belong?

Maybe you were the new kid at school,

or only one of your race in the room,

or never fully accepted by your family,

or maybe it was a new team or job or company,

and you felt like no one got you or accepted you.

Most of us have felt like an outsider at some point in our lives.

Some of us for most of our lives.

We all seek that profound feeling of belonging, of being seen, understood, and

embraced fully for who we are. This experience of belonging we know is also a key element of a life well lived of a good life.

So to wrap up our January jumpstart series we're diving into the world of

belonging and our guest teachers today really understand those deep human longings intimately.

Rev Angel Kyoto Williams is an author, Zen priest, and founder of the Center for Transformative

change, who has explored belonging through and founder of the Center for Transformative Change,

who has explored belonging through the lens of social justice.

And Melissa Carter is Senior Director for Spiritual Life at NYU,

helping students embrace their humanity and discover a sense of purpose.

As you'll hear, Revangel really calls us to belong to ourselves first before seeking external

validation, and Melissa helps peel away the false narratives so that she could live

authentically. The journey to belonging it really begins within by returning to our

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