The Power of Belonging: Building Community in Divided & Uncertain Times

In times when it feels like everything is designed to keep us divided, how do we create meaningful connections? Where do we find our people? And most importantly, how do we build communities where everyone can show up authentically?

My latest post, "The Revolution of Belonging: Building Community in Divided Times" tackles these questions head-on.

PATREON BONUS CONTENT

Chapters

• 0:00 Building Meaningful Community Through Shared Values
• 10:08 Creating Strong Communities Through Authentic Connections

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

In times like these, where it feels like the world is designed to keep us divided and social media algorithms feed us opposing viewpoints and national and global events can make everything feel uncertain, can help us to feel a bit safer, more grounded and possibly even bring a little bit of fun, happiness and progression into our lives, and that thing is community. My name is Crystal McLean. This is Creative Self-Care and together we're exploring new ways towards wellness so we can effectively care for the mind, body and the mother, love and soul and live healthy, empowered lives individually and collectively. If you appreciate what I'm doing here at CMC, want to support my work and gain a more personal experience, consider joining my friends at Patreon To learn more about how we're making a positive impact. You can visit krystalmcclaincreativecom. All right, let's get to it.

Speaker 1: 1:10

So there's actually some science behind why community makes us feel better. When we're a part of a supportive group, our bodies are going to produce less cortisol, which is our stress hormone, and it's going to produce more oxytocin, which plays a key role in forming social bonds and fostering trust between individuals. Oxytocin promotes social connection, which can lead to improved cognitive function, reduced stress levels levels, elevated mood, stronger resilience and even lower your risk of chronic diseases because it enhances immune function. But beyond these benefits, something even more magical happens. When we're around like-minded people who are into the same things we are, we start to feel safe enough to show up as our full, authentic selves. We dare to take up space unapologetically, we freely use our voice, share our ideas and express our truth, because when we are surrounded by the right community, when we are surrounded by the right community, we're reminded that our perspectives matter, our presence has value and our voice deserves to be heard. So here's what I really want to share with you today Creative ways for you to find or build your community, because I know it can feel overwhelming, especially these days when so many of us are feeling isolated or trapped in our stress cycles. It's hard to get out of your head and your house when you're feeling these sorts of ways. So let's break it down into two manageable steps.

Speaker 1: 3:02

Step number one identify your values and your interests. Finding meaningful community starts with knowing what your values and your interests are. Values are the deep beliefs and principles that guide your life choices Things like environmental sustainability, social justice, environmental sustainability, social justice, education, access or community care. These core values often lead to the most profound connections because they represent what people stand for and what they're willing to fight for. Then we have our interests, which are the activities, topics and pursuits that bring us joy and pleasure into our lives. These might be creative endeavors, outdoor adventures, intellectual pursuits or cultural explorations. When you lead your life from a place that honors your values and your interests, you're going to make your soul gremlin happy, and when you align your values and interests with those of others, that's where genuine community starts to form.

Speaker 1: 4:09

But I know it can feel harder to make connections, especially as we get older. I am a middle-aged woman who lives in a rural area and works from home, so I totally get it. I've actually been feeling this way myself for a while. But the reason it feels harder is because we get settled into our routines and our established friend groups. We're also choosier about who we invest our time with, so it feels like there aren't as many options. And it feels harder because we're fucking tired and have so many other obligations that already feel like a lot. That said, having community is really important these days and it's going to actually energize you. So that means we need to just get a little more creative and a little more intentional about how we build it.

Speaker 1: 5:01

And step number two find your people. Instead of reinventing the wheel, look for groups that already exist around your interests and values. Think about the things that matter to you and where you might find those people. If you're a reader, independent bookstores often have amazing reading groups and sometimes writing workshops. If you love to get your hands dirty, community gardens are full of people who want to grow both plants and relationships. If you're into the mindful, spiritual stuff, there are communities and classes that are literally designed for people who are seeking deeper meaning and connection through things like yoga, meditation and Tai Chi. If there's a cause you care about, activist and volunteer groups often become like family, because you're all working towards something bigger than yourselves. Community art centers often bring people together from all walks of life, and you don't actually need to be an artist to find connection there. Sometimes the best communities form around simply appreciating creativity together. And if you simply love learning, there are skill sharing workshops out there. Whether you you simply love learning, there are skill sharing workshops out there. Whether you're teaching or learning, there's something about expanding knowledge with others that creates really special bonds.

Speaker 1: 6:22

Now you might be wondering how to actually find these spaces. Here are some ways you can discover community activities. First, you could try some digital platforms. You could try local event websites like Meetup or Evenbright, or the Nextdoor app is for hyper-local community events. You could check out your town or city's official website event calendar. If you're using meta, facebook has events and groups, and you could also use Instagram location tags and local hashtags. Traditional sources you could check out are community bulletin boards at places like libraries and coffee shops. You could check out local newspapers and community newsletters and community newsletters. You could check out parks and recreation department programs and community education catalogs and public library calendars. And the third way is just through word of mouth Ask local businesses related to your interests, check in with spiritual or cultural centers, visit neighborhood community centers, talk to people at farmers markets and co-ops and talk to your chamber of commerce. A lot of these spaces also have email newsletters so you can sign up for those and stay informed about upcoming events and opportunities. All right, so now you have lots of options, which can also feel overwhelming. Sorry about that, which can also feel overwhelming. Sorry about that.

Speaker 1: 7:57

My first piece of advice is to keep it simple and start with just one or maybe two sources that feel most comfortable for you to be a part of and align with your values and interests, and then you can gradually expand from there. My second piece of advice is to show up consistently. It might feel awkward at first, but that's normal. New things feel awkward, so try not to be discouraged by that. It will get easier. If you listen to your gut. You'll know the difference between a place not being right for you and an experience just being new and weird. My third piece of advice is to stay open to the possibilities and believe that there is a place where you're going to feel safe and like you belong.

Speaker 1: 8:48

If you want a little help keeping all of this organized, I've created a download to help you dig deeper into why community is important right now, to help you define the different types of communities you're looking for, to keep track of organizations you're interested in and to keep in touch with the incredible people you're going to meet along the way. You can download this over at Patreon and you don't have to be a paying member to access it, but you do have to be a member, all right. If life has taught me anything, it's that you never know who you're going to meet or what kind of opportunities will unfold for you. But it's only going to happen if you show up. And when you do and you find your community, you become a part of something bigger than yourself. Your presence matters, your voice matters, your energy and wisdom contributes to creating the kind of world we want to live in, one where people feel seen, heard and valued. And if this message is resonating with you and you want to dig deeper into building meaningful community, I invite you to join our own growing family over at Patreon.

Speaker 1: 10:08

Remember, in a world that often feels like it's designed to keep us divided, finding your community is more than just making connections. It's about creating spaces where we can thrive. When we surround ourselves with people who share our values and interests, something powerful happens Our voices grow stronger, our ideas find fertile ground, our presence becomes a gift rather than something we feel like we need to apologize for. And the really beautiful part when we feel safe enough to fully be ourselves, we create that same safety for others. Each authentic connection becomes a small act of resistance against the isolation and division of our times. Each shared moment of genuine expression builds a more connected, more accepting world. This is how we create change not by trying to fix everything at once, but by building communities where people can show up, speak their truth and belong completely, where every voice matters, every perspective adds value and every authentic expression brings freedom. I fucking love you and I appreciate you and I am so glad that you're here. I hope to see you soon.