Reflection: The Importance of Finding Community

?? On the go? You can choose to listen to my recorded audio version, or simply continue reading below.

? The feeling that we are NEVER alone

Let’s talk about Community and Connection shall we?

I'm sure we all understand the benefit of these at a surface level. But I found myself reflecting last week on the immense importance of both, and how my life has been positively shaped by ensuring that my need for this type of support is met.

So what caused this particular reflection in me?

Well on Wednesday… I joined a catch up call with some incredible women who were a part of a coaching program that I also participated in last Autumn, and I found myself feeling extra grateful for the extraordinary relationships we had built over the last 7 months.

Our check-in was both Meaningful and Inspiring (yet again) — Full of celebrating wins, empathizing with hardships, and offering supportive advice.

Upon clicking the red button to leave our Zoom call, I felt sad that we were parting ways for another month. But I also felt a flood of Joy and Gratitude within me — Gratitude for each of them, and the light they bring into my life.

THIS is what life is all about, I thought!

The feeling that we are Never Alone, always part of something greater than ourselves, and forever supported with love and understanding by those around us.

This is genuine connection. This is the feeling of Community!

? Seek connections that ALIGN with your evolution

When you actively seek out NEW connections that align with the current evolution of yourself (and ideally the next-level version of you also), you'll find yourself entering into a New Season of growth with people that can help to expand you — Rather than keep you playing small!

Now that’s not to say that your close relationships can’t offer you expansion also.

But we can grow Exponentially More when we’re exposed to a variety of people with unique stories, perspectives, backgrounds, and skills — Especially ones that drastically differ from our own.

Friends, family, partners, and colleagues can all play a Key Roles within our lives.

They may offer us unconditional love, safety, and support… but on the flip side, they can often be tied to challenges that are better left discussing with a third party (in order to gain unbiased perspective).

This is why there is something quite special about finding trusted community OUTSIDE of your close relationship sphere. There is often less judgement held, and more rational advice given, as these unbiased parties Do Not hold a stake in your life in the slightest of ways.

Being a part of a variety of communities can help to:

• Elevate your awareness, consciousness, and perspective
• Up-level your education on specific topics of interest
• Or simply provide safe spaces for you to discuss and process the challenges you're facing in any particular season.

? Shape your life WITH community

I have been SO Very Fortunate to be a part of many communities throughout my life, and especially since 2015 (when I started down an entrepreneurial path through my various Ariem brands).

Each of these groups and communities listed below has offered me a uniquely inclusive space to Learn, Grow, and Play, as well as be able to share my knowledge and skills for the benefit others.

• The Rising Tide Society (Tuesday's Together, Southern NH Group) - a national collective of small business owners in the creative industry, with local chapter groups, fostering a "Community over competition" mindset.
• Creative South - a design conference with the motto "Come as friends, leave as family" …which lives up to this, by offering an event each year that is As Much About creating genuine connections with attendees, as it is about providing great educational content.
• The Mastermind Retreat (2017) - a boutique business retreat in Charleston, SC, for female creative entrepreneurs looking to learn and support one another through a mastermind community.
• The Enneagram Group - a small group of local women who created a space to learn together and discuss how understanding 'The Enneagram' benefits their own self-awareness and their ability to better connect with others.
• RISE: Divine Feminine Empowerment - a 3 month coaching program with a small container of women who are ready to rise to the next level within their lives through the safety of a loving sisterhood.
• Universal Hermetic Ray Kabbalah (Class of '23-'24 in Boston, MA) - an empowering and educational 10 month program with likeminded souls, who are ready to ascend and awaken the Tree of Life within themselves to benefit the greater good.

Honestly, my list could be much longer, but the ones I've mentioned here are the communities that I feel have Truly Shaped my life in massive ways.

And while my communities have often been centered around creativity, entrepreneurship, and spiritual growth… I hope you realize that the possibilities are endless.

Heck, you can even start your OWN Community if you don't find what you're looking for, after much digging!

And even if your supportive community resides within your workplace, I urge you to consider finding another group as well that can help to expand you further.

There's certainly no harm in being involved with Multiple communities at the same time, and the rewards often compound.

In fact, I've benefited from such a snowball effect myself — Having collected many Lifelong Friends through the participation in these groups, programs, and events (sometimes back to back, or often overlapping).

? SEEK what you desire

Do you have Supportive Community within your life?

If you DO, then that's fantastic! Please remember to be grateful for these people. Not everyone has found this sense of 'home' yet, and they likely feel quite alone as they navigate the turbulent waters of life.

If you DON'T have community in your life, we need to change that! You are so very deserving of love, support and connection my friend. Not to mention that, feeling part of a community is integral to your physical, mental, and overall well-being.

I can say with conviction that my ability to overcome burn out in years passed, was Heavily Supported by the 'feeling that I was never alone' through the communities I was a part of at the time.

So my advice… (if you're unsure where to find community outside of your inner sphere), is to start by creating a list.

What are all YOUR hobbies, interests, and passions, or even activities you've wanted to try, but just haven't made time for it yet? Jot them down.

For example:

• Do you love crocheting? There are groups for that.
• Are you an avid hiker? There are communities centered around that activity.
• Want to strike out on the path of entrepreneurship? There are definitely groups that will support you on that venture.

The key is that, you just have to get very CLEAR about what you want in a community, and then take the necessary action to seek out what you desire.

There are groups (both in person and virtual offerings) for Almost Anything!

Don't let your limiting beliefs tell you otherwise, and if you feel like you're stuck and don’t know what type of support you need (let alone where to look) — Please reach out to me. I’d be happy to help you on your quest for community!

? A final note of GRATITUDE

Thank You (from the bottom of my heart)… to all the incredible men and women that I’ve had the privilege of meeting through the communities I’ve been a part of, am a part of now, and Will Be a part of in the future.

I deeply cherish the Genuine Connection and Support I’ve received from you all, and I will never take it for granted!

Each group of beautiful souls has taught me important lessons, offered advice and encouragement, and supported me through some of my most challenging seasons — All in meaningfully unique ways.

I honestly don’t know what my life would look like or where I would be stationed on my journey, without these communities. But I would wager that life itself would NOT seem as beautiful to me.

Community and heartfelt connection are the golden threads that hold the tapestry of our lives together. We did not come here, to experience life alone. We came to learn and evolve, and we came to love — Together!

Who is offering you the GIFT of expansion my friend? And will you accept it when it's presented to you?

Think about it.

? Thank YOU for reading…

And as a final reflection point for you today: What communities have you been a part of, that were instrumental to your growth and overall well-being? — Let me know in the comments!

Wishing you all the best my friend,

?? Lisa

PS. If you enjoyed the message in this article, please help me reach my goal of bringing light led leadership to the workplace and beyond, by sending it to someone in your network who you think might benefit from it too. I appreciate you!