How to Find Your Community
This week’s theme is the POWER OF COMMUNITY. We hope that everyone knows what it feels like to be in community. The feeling of security, love and inclusion that can bring. Community can help us feel empowered and motivated, community creates environments where we can do good for others, and be truly ourselves.
The world, however, is a tricky place to navigate. There are hundreds of reasons why many of us feel like we can’t access community spaces or that there is no community out there for us.
Finding community, and spending time in community has become increasingly hard during the pandemic. While the internet has provided a lifeline for connection, and even helped many people find their tribe, nothing can substitute face to face contact.
In fact, in an article in Harvard Magazine, journalist Jacob Sweet explores the biggest pandemic of all; the loneliness pandemic. The loneliness pandemic started long before the Coronavirus outbreaks but the viral pandemic has certainly made the social pandemic even worse.
Fortunately, one of the most impactful antidotes to loneliness is community.
Here are MoveMe Studio’s top tips for finding and building community:
Follow Your Passions - You’ll Find Your People
Think about the things you love doing or even the things you loved doing as a child.
Did you used to love rollerblading, or crafting? Did you always want to be a professional hockey player, or play in a jazz band?
As an adult do you love playing video games, or want to learn more about new cuisines? Do you want to learn a new language or learn more about astronomy?
Whatever your passion is you can guarantee there is a whole community of folks out there who share your passion - no matter how niche! In fact, the more niche the better.
You can start with a simple Google search. For example: Arts and Craft groups in X (and type in your location).
Or you can look at Facebook groups. Open Facebook and click ‘groups’ type in the search bar your interests and you will almost certainly find a Facebook group of likeminded people waiting for you.
Bring a Friend
Joining a new community, or club, can be daunting. One way to make those early introductions less anxiety inducing is to bring a friend along. This way you have some company and someone to share the experience with.
From your friend’s perspective they have the opportunity to extend their community too. From the communities perspective they are getting two new friends - it’s a win-win for everyone!
Think Local
Look at your local notice boards and talk to people you know in your local area about clubs and communities that you can join. There is always something going on everywhere you go.
If there isn’t a community locally that aligns with you, maybe this is your opportunity to start one! Put up a flyer in your local coffee shop and see who turns up!
Finding communities online is accessible and a great option for when we can’t get out and meet people, for whatever reason that may be.
Finding communities locally has double the impact. It helps us to feel more connected to the wider community that we live in and this is the first step in creating social change.
Are You Compelled to Take Action?
Your challenge is to find yourself a new community to be a part of and be active in.
Use the tips discussed in this blog as your stepping stones.
We’ll give you one final tip!
If you are struggling, take a look in the comments section of MoveMe Studio social media posts.
Reach out and say hi to the folks there...you’re already part of our community!