The Healing Power of Being Seen: Why Human Connection Matters
People need people. It's a simple truth, yet one of the most profound drivers of our lives. At our core, we yearn to be seen—not just noticed but deeply understood for who we are. We all have needs, small and large, simple and complex. And we weren’t created to go it alone. People need people.
It can be hard at times for some to feel okay with having needs and depending on others. I often wonder: how do our unspoken or spoken needs lead to us being truly seen? To be seen means having someone recognize and affirm your authentic self—the messy, beautiful, imperfect reality of who you are. It’s about being accepted without judgment. It's about someone seeing you on a deeper emotional or personal level. It's about them noticing when you're quieter than usual and asking why. It's about them, over time, knowing your story and taking an interest in who you are. It's about sharing your space and time to create space and time for another person to be seen. It's about noticing the nonverbal cues that communicate a message they might lack the courage to speak aloud.
Being seen by the right people in the right way leads to healing. To truly see someone, we must step outside of ourselves. It means putting aside our assumptions, listening deeply, and holding space for their truth. Seeing isn’t just about knowing. Knowing is more intellectual; it’s retaining information or, as we say, being a "know-it-all." Seeing is about understanding, which is relational. Understanding involves leaning into the full story and bringing your humanity to it—understanding the pain points, the overwhelm, and seeing the fears, joys, and struggles of another person.
Maybe learning to see others and allowing ourselves to be seen go hand in hand. It’s what creates connection. You have to be courageous in both. That is the starting point: the balance of revealing ourselves while embracing the truths of those around us. And maybe that all starts with our ability to see ourselves—confronting our fears, embracing our imperfections, and celebrating our unique strengths.
Here’s to hoping those around you truly see you, and that you see others.
About the Author
Sarah Currie, Ph.D., LCMHC, is a therapist at Halos Counseling in North Carolina. In her work, she strives to offer clients the opportunity to be truly seen and to help them see themselves in ways that foster healing, growth, and meaningful connection.