Author Randy Elrod knows what it’s like to have your whole life blow up in 12 hours. In one day he lost most of his family, friends, and peers. His social networks and the business that provided his income became a barren wasteland. What had once felt like a stalwart tribe of people left him with almost no friends or natural support system.

Many of us can relate. We find ourselves alone, ghosted, or estranged from our former tribe. We struggle to find a sense of self and a sense of place, and our loneliness is emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and physically devastating.

Our fragmented world no longer encourages a sense of tribe. We are divided over politics, race, gender, and religion. Many of us no longer feel comfortable with our political party, our church community, our family, our friends, and our social networks. The loss of belonging affects our motivation, health, and happiness.

This could be the most urgent question we face in the 21st century: How, in all this fragmentation, all this division, can we lead lives of wholeness and meaning?

A sense of belonging is a basic human need, just like the need for food and shelter. Having a tribe is essential to seeing value in life and in coping with intense emotions such as grief and betrayal.

Elrod explores 10 practical ways to regain a sense of belonging by finding healing, finding your self, and finding others. The journey to a new (and better) tribe is possible. There is hope. Our differences are stark, but our yearning for belonging and a better tribe is genuine and compelling.

We have more things in common than we think, and we need to discover those who share our desire to live a meaningful life. We can find a new and better tribe and feel connected again - and have the support system we so desperately need.