I just spent two vastly different weeks, both amazing experiences, but for contrasting reasons.
In the first week, I hiked for 150 Km alone through the countryside with only my thoughts and my ukulele for company. It allowed me to be by myself in all senses and although I never felt lonely, I always welcomed the chance to engage with someone when it came up.
In the second week, I attended a retreat where I spent the time surrounded by people, participating in group events and having a lot of shared experiences. The contrast was very clear and although it was a tough transition and I had to carve out some alone-time, it felt wonderful to be surrounded by such a great community.
The topic of true human connection has been on my mind a lot recently and so I feel that now is a great time for me to write about being part of a community, some of the reasons why it is so important, and how it can benefit you personally, as a musician and entrepreneur.
Why is it important to be part of a community?
We humans are social animals. Whatever you call it; community, tribe, church, gang, company, band; we all have the innate urge to belong to something bigger than ourselves.
Even if you’re an introvert and tend to keep to yourself, there is a part of you that needs this connection.
So here are 4 benefits of being part of a community
1. You learn to be vulnerable
I’m leading with this precisely because it sounds more like a con than a pro, but hear me out. In order to engage with people, to form real lasting connections you have to put yourself out there, put your emotions on the line.
Forming communities is a natural part of being human and has its roots in protection and survival. So it’s kind of perverse that in order to do that you have to make yourself vulnerable; open to attack, criticism, being disliked. But here’s why I consider it to be a benefit; being brave and putting yourself out there helps you to grow as an individual, find out more about who you truly are, who you really want to connect with and helps you learn to deal with the difficult feelings of failure and rejection.
2. It’s a great way to practice gratitude
There’s an old phrase that says that “it’s better to give than to receive”, this is true in many ways and especially when it comes to community. You have the opportunity to help others, to contribute to making other people’s lives better, easier, more fun, interesting, entertaining, and anything else in between.
The truly great thing about giving in a community is that there is a natural connection and flow between giving and receiving. When all members of the community have a ‘give’ mindset, other members automatically receive in abundance. As you think about this and focus on being grateful for others’ contributions; their support, knowledge, advice, you will want to give even more.
3. You learn from each other’s experiences
It’s important to reflect and learn from your own decisions and mistakes, but as you share your own successes and failures, the lessons you learn with the community, other people will benefit. In the same way, you can benefit from others. Again, this is the nature of giving and receiving.
The other side of this is that when you are facing a challenge or decision, when you’re faced with something you don’t understand, you can reach out to the community. The chances are that somebody has faced the same or similar situation and can offer help and advice.
As you learn from others’ successes, mistakes and failures, it’s a great opportunity to discover your own behaviour patterns. How do you react in similar situations? What thoughts run through your mind?
4. You can get encouragement, inspiration and motivation
What makes a community strong is having a common goal. Whenever you set yourself goals in life, whether that is in your business or personal life, there is usually a point (or multiple points) when you feel overwhelmed, unsure and start to doubt yourself. It’s these points where many people give up. As a member of a community where people are supporting one another, you feel encouraged to commit to your goals, as you have people to hold you accountable.
In this same way, seeing evidence of other people reaching goals that you have set for yourself can give you the encouragement you need to keep trying.
When you are surrounded by people aiming towards the same things, sharing ideas and visions, it can inspire you to expand your own goals and motivate you to overcome your doubts and fears.
Some final notes on choosing the right community for you
Finding the right community for your particular needs is important, if you are reading this then you are a musician and or are interested in starting your own business online. As an artist and entrepreneur, being part of a community is vital to your growth and success.
That’s why it’s equally vital that you find the right community for you, where you can communicate with like-minded people with similar goals, ambitions and interests.
Luckily building communities is more popular than ever, whether it’s a Facebook group, entrepreneurial network or local organisation.
