COMMUNITY...but in a hyper-individualist culture
What does it ACTUALLY MEAN to build regenerative and liberation-focused community?
We all know that the answer is community.
That’s obvious.
But what does community building really mean?
Some less-often mentioned bits to consider…
#1 - getting comfortable navigating disagreements.
“Community” doesn’t mean “I go into a room where everyone agrees with me and affirms my worldview just the way I like it”.
Can we profoundly disagree with someone and still see them in their humanity?
Can we profoundly disagree with people, even as we actively cultivate community alongside them?
#2 - getting comfortable with the fact that you’re gonna trigger people you love.
If you’re bringing your Whole Self into the room, there’s gonna be parts of your expression that trigger deep wounds in those around you.
Can you trigger people without jumping straight into blaming + dehumanising yourself?
Can you move towards accountability and repair, while still holding yourself in all your humanity?
#3 - getting comfortable with the fact that people you love are going to unintentionally hurt you.
We are diverse creatures. How glorious! We all have different ways of navigating our emotional landscape. How wonderful!
Can you embrace the fact that the way some of your people navigate their own triggers might unintentionally hurt your feelings?
Can you hold the fact that this is your comrade who loves you, even in the midst of the tension of accidental missteps?
#4 - getting comfortable with the fact that humans are not static creatures.
We are going to grow, change, evolve. This is good.
The way someone responds + relates to you now might not be the way they respond and relate to you next week, or next year.
Can you allow your people the grace to evolve and change, the way all humans do?
Can you let go of the clutching need for your people to be predictable?
#5 - getting comfortable with the fact that our people are immeasurably valuable, regardless of how much they “do” for us.
Our “worth is productivity” conditioning bleeds out onto our people too - making our relationships subtly (or overtly) transactional.
Can you truly, down to your bones, recognise the preciousness of the human in front of you…
…when they are giving you nothing, doing nothing for you, putting in no labour on your behalf whatsoever?
I’m so grateful you’re here!
Thank you.
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Love you. Glad you’re here.