Community is Essential
They say it takes a village to raise a child… but I think it takes a village to support every human through their whole life’s journey. The village need not be large. Even a few close friends or family members may be enough.
What I know for certain is that we cannot grow and thrive in isolation.
This is not to say that solitude is not important, it is. However, solitude without the possibility of connection, without the support of a community around you when you need to reach out, is not solitude, it is loneliness.
A friend recently said to me that she suspects loneliness is contributing to her overwhelm. It hit me like a punch in the gut. It felt so true. In a time of incredible connectivity, there have been plenty of studies showing that we are lonelier and more isolated than before we had things like social media.
On the other side of a generation-shaping pandemic, the importance of community has become so much more obvious and the effort involved in cultivating meaningful connections has become more apparent. I have spoken with many women who are no longer satisfied with surface-level friendships and conversations. Women who only want to put in the effort for relationships that are deep and meaningful. At the same time, many of these women have told me that it has been hard for them to re-connect in this “post”-COVID world. What used to feel easy and part of the normal routine of life (making plans, going out with friends, etc.) now feels energy intensive and overwhelming.
Perhaps, like me, you have felt even more lonely since restrictions have eased than you did during the height of the pandemic. Because things are not like they were before, and never will be.
As humans, we are meant to be in connection with other humans. We are meant to live in interconnectedness. We are meant to turn to each other for support, wisdom, guidance, love, and encouragement. I know that I feel more overwhelmed and exhausted when I don’t take the time to connect on a real and intimate level with my community, especially with other women. The best (for me) is gathering with people in person. However, I also feel nourished and supported in Zoom rooms, sending voice notes, and on phone calls with friends, family, and mentors.
Another thing that COVID heralded in for many of my clients and the women in my life was massive personal growth and change. With so much time on our hands, many people turned to personal development. This has contributed to some of the difficulties we have encountered with re-connecting as restrictions lifted. With growth and change, often comes a shift in your community. There is excitement and fear in this.
Sometimes our old community no longer feels welcoming as our mindset shifts, sometimes people don’t understand who we are becoming, or can be resentful of it.
One of the scariest parts of growth and self-development can be losing the community you have been part of for a long time. What I have learned as I have changed and grown and shifted over these past several years, is that the people who truly love me at my core, for who I am, will never drop away as I evolve. Rather than wanting you to stay the exact same forever, the people who are for you will be excited for your evolution, even if it means that your relationship must evolve to accommodate your growth.
Not everyone is prepared to support you in choosing yourself, in taking care of yourself, in growing for yourself.
Sometimes, the path to growth can leave relationships strewn along its borders. If this is something you fear, or perhaps have already experienced, it can hold you back from living into your greatest potential. A coach can provide support, encouragement, and serve as a stable part of your community. This can allow you to take the steps to growth feeling safe and supported. Even more potent is finding a community of women to sit in circle with.
Where women circle together, magic is present.
Connections are created and strengthened. You discover that you are not alone in your trials, your fears, your desires. You realize that you are made powerful by the presence of the others. You lift each other up and comfort each other when you fall.
Together, we rise.
Together, we are empowered to take aligned action in the world and in our lives.
I invite you to circle with me. Join me in community for the Wheel of the Year ceremonies or inside of my Rekindled program.
Rekindle your relationship with yourself.
Need some more reasons why? Keep reading.
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Here are some of the benefits of women’s circles:
Community and Connection: Women's circles provide a sense of community and connection with other women. They create a safe space where women can share their experiences, struggles, and triumphs, and feel understood and supported.
Personal Growth: Women's circles provide opportunities for personal growth and self-discovery. Through sharing and listening to others, women can gain insights, learn new perspectives, and discover new tools for personal growth.
Empowerment: Women's circles empower women to embrace their authenticity, voice their truth, and make meaningful changes in their lives. They provide a platform for women to build confidence, develop leadership skills, and create positive change in their communities.
Healing: Women's circles provide a space for healing and emotional support. They create a supportive environment where women can process and heal from trauma, stress, and other challenges.
Ritual and Ceremony: Women's circles often include rituals and ceremonies that honor the cycles of life and the feminine energy. These practices provide a sense of sacredness and connection to something greater than oneself.
Women's circles are an important and powerful way for women to come together, support each other, and create positive change in their lives and communities. Find your women.
