Community

In preparation for a talk that I’m doing next week, I’ve been reflecting on what is community?

Sure, it’s a group of beings who share something (space, interest, values, mission, etc). And yes, we know the science of how we’re hard-wired to be part of a group for survival. But what happens if I drop into heart coherence and reflect on community? The question becomes, what does it feel like to be part of a community?

Connection, on various levels, is what community gifts us. For some this might feel like being seen, for others it could smell like a meal shared with loved ones. What’s connection feel like for you?

Organic connection seems more challenging to experience these days.

I was talking to a client earlier this week about technology detox (turning off the phone and being in nature) and how it can bring awareness to our relationship with our devices, our daily behaviors, and our thought patterns. 

Any device that alerts us to something in the digital world takes us out of the here and now of the present. When we are constantly distracted from being and connecting with the organic beings around us, we also become disconnected from our true self. Sustained disconnect leads to dis-ease. 

We have been sold the promise of staying connected to loved ones through online platforms. Sure, at first, maybe this was true. And by now, our habit of using those platforms is solidified. At the cost of what? 

Our mental health, our physical health, our ability to connect in real life with loved ones. Our brain’s ability to be satisfied with the dopamine level of hearing birdsong or ocean waves.

I am grateful for the Tender Hearts community that Gillian and I are building. Every event we plan is aligned with integrity, intention for the greatest good, and the desire to support people in reaching self-empowerment. 

I recently watched Eric Church’s commencement speech that he gave at UNC at Chapel Hill. He used the six strings of a guitar as a metaphor for how to live a life in harmony. There were a handful of moments that resonated with me, and one of my favorites was this:

“Build the thing your community needs, even if the internet will never see it.”

I love this call to action. It’s recognition that important work is being done every day, off line, by caring people who are connecting with each other in real life. 

Soul nourishing connection is all around us. It’s a whisper compared to the blaring, never-ending news cycle. This is your nudge to give yourself permission to get offline and connect with something real, something beautiful, something that fills your heart with love that balances out the fear energy that so wants our undivided attention.

May the force be with you 😊