As humanity marches forward in terms of technological developments and organization, a key aspect of the human experience is being left behind. As a species, we thrive on meaningful, positive social interactions. Unfortunately, these interactions are becoming scarcer every day as more occur virtually and impersonally.
Big companies that dominate our economies are pushing for increased efficiency, often at the cost of consumer experience and well being. Although there is undeniable convenience that comes with a company such as Amazon delivering groceries to your doorstep, it should not be the primary way that people get what they need. These interactions prevent the possibility of human connection and so humanity continues its march towards isolation, wealth disparity and, ultimately an unfulfilling state of being.
Not only is this progression detrimental for people's mental health and well-being but it is also practically problematic when humanity faces challenges that require unity and cooperation. At the time of writing this blog post, Hurricane Helen has caused a lot of destruction in the gulf coast of the United States. These types of emergencies and natural disasters require large scale acts of compassion and cooperation that is made more difficult when there is a lack of community in an area. In the face of these tragedies, the need for compassionate communities becomes clear. We need communities to survive and thrive in our world, we always have.
Building and participating in meaningful, sustainable communities is the obvious solution to the depressing trend in our society today. Communities can be based around anything and simply involve interacting with other people so that everyone gets what they need. Not only do they counteract negative trends in our society, but they also offer fun and uplifting ways to improve your life. Here are seven secrets for starting and maintaining a sustainable community today…
Your purpose is your secret weapon
When working toward any goal, having a clear purpose in mind is crucial for ultimate success and fulfillment. Whether you are starting a community from scratch or joining a pre-existing one, it is a good idea to be sure that there is purpose and meaning at the core of the group. Although communities are overwhelmingly positive aspects of human social interactions, they can be difficult. Without a clear purpose at the center of the community, it is much more difficult to navigate difficult spaces. What is your ultimate purpose and how is it reflected through the community?
You only need 3
When starting a community, there is no shame in starting small. The efficiency of a community is not determined by the number of people involved but rather by the specific people who are involved and the ways in which they relate to each other. You only need three people to start a community, so don’t wait to get started. Furthermore, large communities can be hard to manage so starting small and growing at a manageable rate can make the process easier. Alset is an app that hosts a large community of forward thinking people. Consider starting your community within a pre-existing system, like Alset, and exploring the app to find new people to connect with. What type of people will serve your community’s purpose?
Who do you know?
One of the positive aspects of the digital age in which we exist is that we are connected to so many people and we can get in contact with people in an instant. A lot of times, people overlook the people that they are already connected with when starting a community. Talk to people you know about your community and ask for their opinions. You might be surprised to find that most people you encounter would love to have more community and meaningful interactions in their lives. Who are the people you already know who can help you develop the community?
Barter
Once you have at least three members of your community (although you can start with just two as well!) you will want to find the best ways to interact with each other. Regardless of the purpose or core values of your community, you will want to make sure that community members are getting what they need efficiently. Bartering is the best way to achieve this in our modern monetary system today. By exchanging goods, services, information and anything else with the people around you, you can keep value circulating within your community and out of the hands of big corporations. Talk to your community members and people around you about bartering. Again, you might be surprised to discover how excited people are about the idea of exchanging with their neighbors! Alset is a platform that encourages users to barter with their neighbors and is an easy way to start right now. How can you interact efficiently with others that benefits the community in the long run?
Use the right tools
In today’s world, there are so many online resources that it can be hard to know where to turn and who to trust. Luckily there are people that care about the community who have created spaces for you to connect with others. Facebook used to be a place where people could create communities and connect with others. Although they still offer this function, Facebook is a for-profit company that harvests and sells users’ attention to turn a profit. There are many companies that are doing this and so it is important that you use the tools that align with your goals and well-being. Alset is a platform that is very different from big tech companies. Alset is not about profits but is about people and driving meaningful interactions. Alset never sells your data to big companies and is completely free to use. It is the perfect way to get away from the greedy tech companies while utilizing the internet and powers of online tools. Which tools can you use that will improve the community that also align with your purpose and goals?
Get offline
Although the internet is a powerful way to connect with people, don’t overlook the fact that there are human beings behind the computer screens. There is no harm in connecting with people and even interacting virtually, but there are immense benefits of interacting with people in person. It builds a sense of community that extends beyond the screen of a computer and leads to more genuine interactions. Never overlook the power of the internet but also you should never underestimate the power of face to face interactions. How can you encourage people to connect in person?
Consistent compassion
Perhaps the biggest secret to the success of anything is to maintain consistent compassion around the goal. When building a community, it’s first important that you are approaching the task with positive intentions. When you have clarified this within yourself, the next most important aspect is to remain consistent. The world challenges all goals, some more than others, and it is up to the individual to determine how they will react to those challenges. When you are facing challenges with your community experience, remind yourself of what your goals are and how they can be achieved. Are you coming from a place of consistent compassion?
Building community is crucial for the well-being of humanity. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to develop positive communities in the context of our world today. That said, if you keep a clear, realistic focus on your goals and use the right tools, like Alset, you can create and engage in communities that persist against greed and isolation. Don’t wait to start engaging with people in meaningful ways. Perhaps the biggest and best kept secret of building communities is that you can start right now!
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This post was written by Rc Diedrich. You can contact him at rcdiedrich@gmail.com.
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