For as long as I can remember, I have been searching for belonging and connection. Growing up in Norway, my family moved several times, and during most of my childhood I felt as if I didn’t fit in anywhere. As a young woman, I was eager to travel and find my home. In high school, I went to the United States as an exchange student. Later, I moved to France and then to Switzerland where I got married and founded a family. But even with a family on my own, I felt that something was missing. That’s when I realized that I wouldn’t be able to fill that hole inside of me with more people, material objects, or titles. I had to come to terms with me, my wounds, and reconnect with that young girl inside of me who was not only hurt and angry—but who is strong, courageous, and tells the truth.
When I decided to share my story, I found that many people felt the same: loneliness and lack of belonging in our cultures. Although the details of our stories are different—our struggles are universal.
But we don’t have to go it alone. In fact, we’re not meant to.
Download my FREE guide to deal with loneliness and disconnection.
Courage
We need courage to dare to be seen, to be vulnerable, and to connect. When we are connected, we also feel understanding and compassion for others.
Faith
Without faith in ourselves and in a higher purpose, we fall into hopelessness and despair. You already are all that you need to be. You are good enough. You just need to peel off the unnecessary baggage of your conditioning.
Unity
Unity is knowing that we are all part of each other’s lives. When you are consumed by your own story—and lies—you are blind to see other people for who they really are behind their masks. You fail to see that you are connected to them and they to you.
Norwegian-born Unni Turrettini is a best-selling and award-winning author, international speaker, and loneliness and connection expert. Her work is about helping people find deeper connection and belonging, so that they can thrive in their personal and professional lives.
Unni works with professionals and organizations—helping them thrive by resolving conflict, building a culture of connection, and increasing productivity. During her years in law and finance in Paris, France and in Geneva, Switzerland, she realized that when people don’t feel seen and valued, they fight for power and influence. “We believe power will make us feel worthy and relevant,” she says. “We think we need to prove our worth to belong—and we seek
belonging because what we’re really longing for is connection.”
Disconnection is the main underlying reason for selfish leadership and abuse. By disrupting global beliefs and challenging mindsets of separation, her goal is to redefine and implement a new type of leadership.
Unni has law degrees from Norway, France, and the United States and is a member of the New York Bar. Her multicultural life has provided her with a flexible worldview and a deep understanding and compassion for differences in people and cultures. After more than twenty years abroad, she now lives with her husband and two children in Oslo, Norway. She travels frequently to speak, hold workshops, and retreats.