Rooted in Flux: The Modern Quest for Belonging

Ever felt like a potted plant on a conveyor belt? Welcome to the 21st century, where we’re all trying to put down roots in shifting sands.

In a world where your office can fit in a backpack and “home” is wherever the Wi-Fi connects, the age-old question of belonging has taken on new urgency.

Are we a society of tumbleweeds, or can we find a way to bloom where we’re planted—even if that changes by the season?

In his seminal work “The Earth Has a Soul,” Carl Jung wrote:

“If you are in touch with the unconscious, you are in touch with the roots of your being, with life itself. And that gives you an enormous strength.”

These words, penned by one of the 20th century’s most influential psychologists, offer a profound insight into the human psyche and our perpetual quest for belonging. But what does it mean to be “in touch with the unconscious,” and how does this connection to our inner roots translate to strength in our increasingly rootless world?

The Unconscious as Our Deepest Root

Jung’s concept of the unconscious goes far beyond Freud’s repository of repressed desires. For Jung, the unconscious is a vast, primordial landscape that connects us not only to our personal histories but to the collective experiences of humanity. It’s a wellspring of archetypes, symbols, and instincts that have guided human behavior and understanding for millennia.

When Jung speaks of being “in touch with the roots of your being,” he’s referring to this deep connection with our inner world. It’s akin to a tree’s root system, which extends far below the surface, anchoring the tree and drawing nourishment from depths unseen.

If you’ve ever tended a garden, you know that even the hardiest plant species doesn’t stand a chance without establishing a robust root system. This fundamental truth of botany holds profound metaphorical significance for human life and personal growth.

In the plant world, roots serve several crucial functions:

1. Anchoring the plant in place
2. Absorbing water and nutrients from the soil
3. Storing energy for future growth
4. Sensing and responding to environmental changes

Without a strong root system, even the most beautiful and resilient plants will wither and die. This is true whether we’re talking about a tiny seed sprouting its first tentative root or a mature tree being transplanted to a new location.

From Internal Roots to External Grounding

But how does this internal rootedness manifest in our external lives? In a global world where physical and cultural displacement is increasingly common, can our connection to the unconscious provide the stability we crave?

I was once this  immigrant who leaves behind everything familiar to start a new life in a foreign land. As I settled in my new country, I felt a profound sense of uprootedness. The soil I had known all my life was no longer beneath my feet.

In those first few months, I stumbled over the new way of life, got lost in unfamiliar streets, and longed for the comfort of home.

This rootlessness manifested as anxiety, depression, & a pervasive sense of not belonging.

The Phenomenon of Rootlessness

But what does it truly mean to be rootless, and what happens to people who find themselves in this state?

I experienced rootlessness in various ways:

1. Cultural Disconnection: Loss of connection to one’s heritage, traditions, or native language.
2. Social Isolation: Lack of strong social bonds or community ties.
3. Psychological Fragmentation: A sense of inner emptiness or lack of coherent identity.
4. Physical Displacement: Frequent relocation without establishing a sense of “home.”

Sociologist Robert E. Park described the “marginal man” as someone who lives on the edge of two cultures without being fully part of either. This was exactly who I had become. The consequences of rootlessness was profound and far-reaching:

I looked around and found many others struggling just like me. The common symptoms were:

1. Identity Crisis: Without a solid foundation, individuals may struggle to define who they are and what they stand for.

2. Mental Health Challenges: Rootlessness has been linked to increased rates of anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.

3. Difficulty Forming Relationships: Those who feel rootless may find it challenging to form deep, lasting connections with others.
4. Lack of Purpose: Without a sense of belonging or connection to something larger than oneself, rootless individuals may struggle to find meaning and purpose in life.

In our hyperconnected world, rootlessness has taken on new and complex forms. These modern forms of rootlessness, born of technological advancement and globalization, challenge us to redefine what it means to belong in a world where traditional anchors of identity and community are increasingly elusive.

I have seen them all and lived as perpetual expat who turned into a cultural orphan.

In the professional realm, Perpetual Expats hop from job to job, industry to industry, in pursuit of growth and opportunity, yet often feel unmoored, their sense of professional identity as fluid as their LinkedIn profiles.

Alongside them are the Cultural Orphans – second and third-generation immigrants who straddle two worlds, never fully at home in either their ancestral culture or their birth country.

Perhaps most pervasive are the social media citizens, whose curated online lives create an illusion of connection while paradoxically deepening their sense of isolation in the physical world.

The latest breed is Digital Nomads, freed from geographical constraints, find that working from anywhere can be both liberating and disorienting. The ability to set up office in Bali one month and Berlin the next comes at the cost of deep connections to place and community.

Beyond the individual psyche, humans also set roots in their communities and cultures. The rootless crowd acutely lack:

1. A sense of belonging and identity
2. Access to shared wisdom and traditions
3. Support systems during challenging times
4. A framework for understanding the world

The Delicate Balance: Attachment vs. Groundedness

As we consider the importance of roots, a question arises: Is setting roots the same as attachment? And if so, doesn’t that conflict with philosophies that advocate for detachment and flexibility?

This is where the plant metaphor becomes particularly instructive. A plant’s roots don’t represent rigid attachment but rather a dynamic, living connection to its environment.

Roots grow, adapt, and even “communicate” with other plants through vast underground networks.

Similarly, human rootedness doesn’t mean inflexibility or an unhealthy attachment to place or ideas. Instead, it represents a grounded foundation from which we can grow, adapt, and reach out to others.

The Stoic philosopher Seneca offers a perspective that balances rootedness and flexibility:

“The wise man is self-sufficient, yet he desires friendship; he wants nothing, yet he wishes for many things; he possesses everything, yet he seeks more.”

This suggests that true rootedness allows for both stability and growth, connection and independence.

Existentialist philosophers like Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus grappled with the concepts of roots and rootlessness in their work. They saw rootlessness as both a challenge and an opportunity.

Sartre’s famous statement, “existence precedes essence,” suggests that humans are born without a predetermined nature and must create their own meaning and identity.

After the initial phase of sadness, I was able to tap into my internal sources and was able to tap into a reservoir of motivation, much like a plant tapping into underground water reserves during a drought.

I managed to build a strong connection to my inner world – my personal and cultural unconscious – and realized remarkable resilience.

Roots and Rootlessness: Grounding Identity in a Fluid World

In our fast-paced, increasingly digital world, the tension between rootedness and rootlessness is more relevant than ever.

We’re often encouraged to be mobile, flexible, and unattached. However, the enduring human need for connection and groundedness suggests that roots are more important than ever.

Psychologist Erich Fromm argued that modern society’s emphasis on individualism and consumerism has left many people feeling rootless and alienated. He wrote: “The danger of the past was that men became slaves. The danger of the future is that men may become robots.”

By consciously cultivating our roots – in our psyches, our relationships, our communities, and our connection to the natural world – we can resist this alienation and find a deeper sense of meaning and belonging.

Balancing Roots and Wings

Despite the challenges, rootlessness doesn’t have to be a permanent state.

Cultivating inner stability and creating portable traditions while engaging deeply with the place and provide a sense of connection to something larger than yourself.

Perhaps the goal, then, is not to be permanently rooted or perpetually rootless, but to find a balance – to cultivate strong enough roots to provide stability and identity, while remaining flexible enough to adapt to change and embrace new experiences.

As the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius wisely said:

“The green reed which bends in the wind is stronger than the mighty oak which breaks in a storm.”