Have you ever walked into a space and felt like you were on the outside looking in?
I’ve felt this many times in my life. Moments when I walked into spaces hoping to feel welcome, hoping to make connections, only to leave feeling even lonelier than before.
It’s a quiet ache—not being seen, not being included, and not knowing how to change it. You start to wonder if something is wrong with you, if maybe you’re just not the kind of person who belongs. But deep down, you know that’s not true.
It’s not that anyone was intentionally unkind. Most of the time, I’m sure no one even realized how I felt. But that’s what makes it so hard—not feeling seen, not feeling included, and not knowing how to bridge the gap.
Those experiences, as difficult as they were, have shaped me in profound ways. They’ve taught me that belonging doesn’t just happen—it has to be created.
And that realization became the foundation for Rising Goddess Fitness.
How Those Moments Shaped RGF
When I imagined what RGF could be, I didn’t just want to create a place for people to move. I wanted to build a space that felt different—a space where no one would ever feel invisible or alone.
So often, in other spaces, I’ve found myself feeling out of place. I don’t have kids, and at my age, I’ve often been excluded from conversations or events—not intentionally, but simply because people didn’t think to include me or maybe they are worried about not being able to relate to me. It’s not intentional, but it’s isolating. And it’s taught me how easy it is for people to feel invisible, even in spaces meant to bring people together.
Those moments made me realize how often the world falls into cliques—people connect over shared experiences like being in the same life stage or having similar jobs. And while those bonds are wonderful, they can unintentionally leave others feeling left out.
And it’s made me realize how often we miss opportunities to connect with one another simply because we don’t think beyond what’s familiar.
I didn’t want RGF to be a place where belonging happened by chance. I wanted it to be a space where connection and inclusion were intentional—the default – where everyone who walked through the doors felt like they belonged, just as they are.
The Universal Need for Belonging
Belonging is a fundamental human need. It’s what draws us to one another and helps us feel safe and connected. But in so many spaces, it’s treated like an afterthought.
Outside the walls of RGF, the world doesn’t always make room for belonging. So often, spaces rely on people just “fitting in.” If you’re different—because of your background, your lifestyle, or simply your personality—it’s easy to feel like you don’t have a place.
But at RGF, we don’t ask you to fit into a box. Instead, we ask you to show up just as you are. And when you do, we celebrate that.
Belonging doesn’t happen by chance. It’s built through the small but powerful actions we take to create connection.
I’ve seen it in action time and time again—a student nailing a move for the first time and being met with applause, or someone new to the studio finding themselves embraced by friendly faces and feeling part of the group by the end of their first class.
When we create belonging, we’re telling someone:
- You’re not invisible.
- Your story matters.
- You’re welcome here.
Once you’ve been part of a space where belonging is created intentionally, you realize just how rare it is. You start to notice the spaces where belonging is missing, and it changes how you move through the world.
Why Intentional Belonging Matters
One of the most beautiful things about RGF is how it brings people together who might never cross paths otherwise.
In the outside world, it might seem like we’re all so different. But here, those differences fade away. Whether or not you have kids, whether you’re an extrovert or an introvert, whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been practicing for years—none of that defines your place here.
What connects us is deeper than those surface-level traits. It’s the shared joy of showing up, the encouragement we offer each other, and the trust we build when we lift each other up.
At the studio, we’re reminded again and again that we’re more alike than we are different. That’s the magic of intentional belonging—it shows us how much stronger we are when we’re in it together.
Carry Belonging With You
Once you’ve experienced what it feels like to belong, it changes you. You start to notice how rare it is, and you begin to look for ways to create it—for yourself and for others. Whether it’s inviting someone into a conversation, offering a smile, or asking a thoughtful question, belonging starts with letting someone know they matter.
If you’ve been part of this community for years, you know what this feels like. And if you’re new to RGF, I want you to know this: you don’t have to try to fit in here. You already belong.
Because at RGF, it doesn’t matter where your journey began. What matters is that you showed up, just as you are.
And here, that’s always enough.
💙 Michelle