The Importance of Community

Humans are social beings; we need to belong and to connect with others. If we don’t have a community or group to connect to, we risk feeling disconnected and that can lead to loneliness, anxiety, depression, sleep disorders and even physical health problems such as heart disease.
The COVID-19 pandemic has given many of us a taste of what it is like without a community and without those all-important connections. Communities come in several forms; there is our family community of close and extended relatives, our friends and close colleagues, our neighbourhood and our wider community of town and locality. Community can also comprise of interest groups; those people who come together to share the same interest or common goal.

The benefits of community are many and include:
1. Support and Safety - indeed, one of the main reasons behind the importance of community is that it can help fight feelings of hopelessness and give us the certainty that we are safe when surrounded by our community. Furthermore, the benefits go both ways, since supporting others also gives us a boost.
2. Connection and Belonging - togetherness is so central to our experience as humans; that feeling we are part of something bigger can help give meaning to our lives. Finding others with the same values, interests, and world views makes us realise that we’re not alone and makes us feel valued. Indeed, belonging highlights why community is necessary: being accepted into a group gives us a stronger sense of self and can help us cope with negative experiences and feelings.
3. Influence - sometimes we need an extra push to stop us from falling into unhealthy habits or thoughts. Experiencing the positive influence of like-minded people is another reason behind the importance of community. Studies confirm that our overall health is partly determined by our ability to look after ourselves, but sometimes we simply don’t feel capable of it. Communities can influence us and motivate us to invest in our well-being and to bring positive changes to our lives.
4. Sharing - sharing activities, ideas and feelings reinforces not only our sense of self, but also adds worth and value to the community. Indeed, the more the merrier applies in this case! That’s not to mention the huge beneficial effect sharing can have on mental health: higher engagement, positive emotions, and empowerment are only some of the benefits. Sharing is caring.
5. Learning - communities are usually built around common interests, but that doesn’t mean they’re homogeneous. We can still find people within them who have different views, experiences, or beliefs, and learning from them can help us reach insights that we may not have reached on our own.
6. Acceptance - developing community bonds with others who have different views may be challenging, but it’s also an opportunity to practise acceptance. I had a personal breakthrough when I read this article and understood that acceptance doesn’t necessarily imply agreement.
7. More connections, more chances of success - the importance of community goes beyond the personal sphere and extends to professional development. Since the pandemic begun, we’ve seen a stronger focus on supporting local businesses, so this is a good place to start networking and building strong relationships. You never know where that could take your business idea or professional life.

Connecting with others helps us to feel a sense of belonging and can pave the way to new opportunities and friendships. We have communities within schools and for many parents, lifelong friendships have been formed with other parents at their children’s schools. Children too find themselves part of the school community and make connections that can last for years.

Workplaces and career networks are communities many of us belong to. We can progress our careers, make strong connections with others, develop knowledge and interests, and find enjoyment in an environment that can sometimes be a struggle.

Learning communities such as the University of the Third Age (U3A) bring people together under a common goal of sharing interests and knowledge and create a shared learning environment. As U3A says on their website, ‘It’s never too late to make new friends! U3A connects you with likeminded retirees in your local area.’

Men’s Sheds is an organisation that provides a community for men to come together to share projects and to have others to connect with and talk to. The Men’s Shed website explains that ‘Men’s Shed is any community-based, non-profit, non-commercial organization that is accessible to all men and whose primary activity is the provision of a safe and friendly environment where men are able to work on meaningful projects at their own pace in their own time in the company of other men. A major objective is to advance the well-being and health of their male members.’

The Country Women’s Association (CWA) is ‘an organisation of women supporting women, children and families right across Victoria. It’s a vibrant, volunteer philanthropic organisation with a focus on friendship, personal development and advocacy.’

Sports clubs, dance and music schools, rural groups, bookclubs, walking and hiking groups, chess clubs, bridge clubs, social groups - these are all examples of common interest communities that can help us to feel connected with others and a sense of belonging. Online groups with shared interests have become more prevalent since COVID-19 and are also an important way for many to connect with others.

Connecting with others and being part of a community is important for good mental health and wellbeing and our physical health. Is there a community group you belong to? If so, let us know through the online contact form https://www.connect-well.com.au/contact or by emailing connect@connect-well.com.au

Sources:
https://www.happiness.com/magazine/relationships/the-importance-of-community/
https://u3avictoria.org.au/
https://mensshed.org/
https://cwaofvic.org.au/