Why I'm prioritising community in 2020
If you’ve been reading this blog (or listening to my podcast) for any length of time, you’ll now that I’m a big fan of the reflection period that comes at the end of every year. I find it so useful to pause and process everything that’s happened within the last 12 months, and I always come away from my reflection process with some valuable nuggets of information that help me to set better intentions for the new year ahead.
I find that every year, there are some key themes that show up for me that are relevant to all areas of my life - last year, for example, I was craving a sense of calm and ease, both in my work and my personal life. And this year, as I worked my way through journal prompts and thought about what I wanted 2020 to hold, community was the theme that kept cropping up.
I was surprised at first - I have a very close knit support network in my real life, and I cherish the community that I’ve built here online. But there was something tugging at me, telling me that I needed to give community a bigger focus in the year ahead.
I think there are a few reasons for this. Firstly, I’ve spent the majority of the last two years travelling regularly for work, something that has made me feel quite unsettled and disconnected from the city I call home. Of course, I’ve also undergone a big transition in my career, and I’m conscious that if I don’t prioritise community, it would be all too easy for me to become insular and consumed by my work.
But I think there’s something bigger at play, too. Ever since the recent election, I’ve had this craving to connect more, to be part of something bigger than myself and the work that I’m doing. Intuitively, it feels like so many of our problems (both big and small) could be solved or lessened by communicating better, listening more, and putting community at the heart of our actions, instead of personal interest.
So that’s the approach I’m adopting this year - prioritising community, and using that spirit of connection to guide my decision making. There are changes I’m making in my personal life to accommodate that, from making more time for loved ones, to volunteering at our local foodbank one morning a week.
And I’m keen to bring the same approach to my business - instead of simply churning out content or focusing on how I want to grow my offerings, I’ve been thinking a lot more about how I can bring a spirit of community and connection to the work I do. There are a number of ways that I’m planning to do that in 2020, but as a first small step, I’ve started a Facebook group called The Joyful Everyday.
It will be a place for us all to get to know each other a little better, a place to find positivity on a grey day, and ultimately, a place to celebrate all of the magic and joy in the everyday. There are so many of us that share the same ethos and approach to life, and I really hope that this group will provide a safe space for us all to connect and share our thoughts and wisdom, as well as being able to seek support when we need it. Plus, I’ll be sharing some bonus content and goodies in there, too!
And so, if being part of a positive and like-minded community sounds like something you could benefit from, we’d love to have you over in The Joyful Everyday group. Let’s make this the year that we listen, support each other, and find joy, together.
