The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast 1KHO 691: The Universal Need to Matter | Jennifer Breheny Wallace, Mattering
Jan 26, 2026
Jennifer Breheny Wallace, New York Times bestselling journalist and author of Mattering, explores the deep human need to be valued and to add value. She explains why transitions and achievement culture erode that feeling. Short, practical practices and small gestures for rebuilding connection are highlighted. Stories and simple prompts show how everyday acts can restore a sense of significance.
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Mattering Vs. Belonging
- Mattering is deeper than belonging: it requires both being valued and adding value.
- Jennifer Breheny Wallace frames mattering as the need to feel valued and to have opportunities to add value.
Actively Re-Establish Mattering In Transitions
- In transitions ask: where and how can I matter next?.
- Use role models and the power of invitation to rebuild connection and mattering.
Use The SAID Framework
- Use the SAID framework: Significant, Appreciated, Invested in, Depended on.
- Strengthen those four ingredients to restore people's sense of mattering.
