How Do We Create Belonging in a Disconnected World? | Paula Toledo - E30

Paula Toledo, artist, entrepreneur, and founder of Ode to Wonder Consulting, joins Mona and Minali to explore what it really means to belong—and why being surrounded by people doesn't necessarily mean we feel connected. Drawing from her own experience with profound loss, Paula shares how grief changed her identity, community, and sense of belonging, and creativity, play, and wonder helped her rebuild. She explains why social media can't replace genuine connection, why you can feel lonely even with a full calendar, and how social prescribing, art, nature, and community can help people reconnect. The conversation also explores belonging in the workplace, the importance of feeling both valued and valuable, and how intentionally noticing moments of awe and wonder can strengthen our connection to ourselves and others.

Key Takeaways:

• Belonging means feeling seen, valued, accepted, and like you contribute something meaningful.

• Grief can create secondary losses that affect identity, community, and a sense of belonging.

• Play, creativity, music, and community can help us reconnect with ourselves during difficult periods.

• Social media can facilitate connection, but it doesn't necessarily create true belonging.

• You can have a full calendar and still feel lonely if you don't feel genuinely seen or connected.

• Social prescribing can connect people with meaningful activities, including art, music, nature, and community.

• Belonging in the workplace requires seeing employees as whole people—not just their skills.

• Awe and wonder can be cultivated by intentionally noticing beauty, kindness, creativity, and meaningful moments.

Key Timestamps:

(00:00) – Why Belonging Matters

(01:42) – Loss and Rebuilding

(05:30) – Rediscovering Play and Wonder

(09:35) – Finding Hope After Loss

(14:16) – Can Social Media Create Belonging?

(15:50) – What Does It Mean to Truly Matter?

(20:21) – Why You Can Feel Lonely Around People

(25:06) – Why a Full Calendar Doesn't Mean You Aren't Lonely

(28:59) – What Is Social Prescribing?

(32:40) – Practical Ways to Reconnect

(34:30) – The Power of Awe and Wonder

(37:12) – Belonging in the Workplace

(38:00) – Empathy, Authenticity, and Trust

(43:17) – Where Do I Already Belong?

Key Topics Discussed:

Three Takes, Paula Toledo, Ode to Wonder, Belonging, Loneliness, Social Isolation, Grief, Loss, Identity, Community, Connection, Social Health, Play, Creativity, Music, Art and Wellbeing, Awe and Wonder, Social Media, Mattering, Workplace Belonging, Psychological Safety, Trust, Empathy, Social Prescribing, Art Prescriptions, Nature, Workplace Culture, Human Connection

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