Human beings are social creatures. It doesn’t matter whether you see yourself as an introvert or extrovert; people thrive in community. Being part of a community creates a sense of self, builds social connections, offers a support network and provides a sense of belonging. And with belonging comes a sense of responsibility to support our fellow members.
There are small steps you can take to increase your Community Super Powers. Let’s look at each one, but first, let’s get clear on the meaning of community.
A community is a social group with shared socially significant characteristics. It is common to belong to many communities such as your family, your friends, your neighbors, your colleagues, your church group, your workout group, etc. Within these groups you give and take in a way that offers you and the other members many benefits.
Sense of Self
In our communities we have many titles and roles. Some titles could be mom/dad, wife/husband, girlfriend/boyfriend, sister/brother, friend, coworker, neighbor, classmate, golf buddy, yogi, tennis partner, etc. The role you play under these titles helps to define who you are, what you value and believe in and how you express yourself. It helps you learn about yourself and what you are capable of as you experience trials, struggles and successes and as you grow and experience fulfillment. This all adds up to your sense of self.
Look at the roles you play and foster a sense of appreciation for who you are. Is there a role you enjoy more than others. What do you like about it? Why do you like yourself in that role? Drill deep and determine why, then take that element and apply it to your other roles. You can enhance your sense of self by gaining greater awareness of your roles and seeking to improve what you give in each community and what you allow others to give to you. Make small tweaks in your sense of self, and you will increase your community super powers.
Build Social Connections
You can also build stronger community super powers by expanding your social connections. When you venture outside of your existing connections, you can meet new people, establish connections and build relationships. Consider supporting a local sports team and meeting like-minded people. Consider volunteering with community projects. It could be a craft fair, a clean-up, a walk, a playground build, a food drive or a community garden. Supporting a good cause puts you in touch with people who share similar interests. You will feel a sense of connection and strength working together to accomplish a shared goal.
Other ways to build social connections are to join a faith-based group, take up a sport, find a hobby, help the elderly and support local businesses. Regular involvement in these groups will allow you to become a familiar face. Then people will learn your name, get to know you better, and you will build new connections. Increasing the number of connections and the strength of those connections will help you build your community super powers.
Offer a Support Network
Communities help to foster a support network. As you increase your sense of self and connection in groups, you may develop an interdependence with the other members. This network can be one you draw from and one you give to.
When you need assistance, encouragement or support, the other members of your community will be happy to give to you. When others need support, you can reciprocate and give to them. Asking for help and giving in service to others are steps you can take to increase your community super powers.
Learn to not only enjoy your networks but also rely on them, and you will find greater value and meaning. Sometimes the greatest gift you can give someone is the acceptance of what they offer to you in support.
Sense of Belonging
Communities provide a sense of belonging. Being a member of a group helps you feel valued and included. These groups could be your pickleball team, your creative team, your family, your neighborhood association, your Bible study group or many others.
Being a member of those communities helps you feel accepted, at home and like you belong. There is strength and peace in that sense of belonging.
Within those groups, you can welcome new families when they move in, new coworkers when they join the company or new volunteers in the cause you support. When you are welcoming, it creates an atmosphere that helps ease the transition for newcomers into the group. The new people more quickly grow to feel a sense of belonging.
See what groups you can join or who you can welcome into your groups. It will help to grow your community super powers.
Sense of Responsibility
With belonging comes a sense of responsibility to support your fellow members. You become more than individual members but rather a group of people united. In communities, you share goals and values and feel a sense of loyalty to others. You are impacted by what happens to other team members and you care for them and about them. This leads to a sense of responsibility. You want the best for your team members as they do for you. Think about the various people in your communities. Is someone struggling or celebrating? Join in and help or celebrate with them. You will help to build your community super powers when you focus on responsibility for others in your community.
We are fortunate to have opportunities to interact with people in our communities, become close with them and develop special relationships. To build these interactions into community super powers, reflect on the roles where you feel your best sense of self, find small ways to build more social connections, give and take of the support network, help others feel a sense of belonging and take some responsibility for supporting your team members. You will find these small steps can add joy to your life and help you feel stronger in your communities.
Thank you for reading.
Wishing you beauty and joy, kindness and compassion, and community super powers.
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About Super Powers
We break the year down into 12 areas of balance. You will achieve greater growth and life balance by intently focusing on one area at a time. This month’s Super Powers focus is on creative life. Next month is about community life.
See the full year’s schedule.
Our goal with the Super Powers newsletter is to guide you with small, easy steps to improve many areas of your life. Over time these small changes add up to significant growth and improvement. You will be amazed at how far you have come when you look back at all your progress.
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Read a weekly positivism on our website.
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Use your personality to serve the energy of your soul.
It’s time to start building your Super Powers!
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We will help you make small changes in 12 areas of balance by intently focusing on one area at a time. You will achieve greater growth and life balance and develop Super Powers.