A supportive community can change your life! A few months ago, my friend Barbara and I joined a yoga group. We wanted to get in better shape and thought we could encourage each other to continue. We have become regulars in this group, learning yoga and getting in shape together 3 times a week.
Barbara and I were talking about the group yesterday. She pointed out that the greatest benefit that we had received from the yoga group wasn’t yoga. It was a supportive community. All members of the yoga group are focused on building a fantastic life. Further, they are sharing their successes and encouraging each other.
Barbara pointed out that she builds momentum from the interactions of her community. She shares the energy of her successes and receives back the energy of the successes of other group members. When she encounters roadblocks to her self-improvement projects, her community helps her focus on solutions.
Barbara’s comments reminded me of a video I had seen recently about energy. Angel V. Shannon discussed the importance of community in maintaining momentum. Take a look at that video:
“When you make commitments and declarations, set yourself up for success by surrounding yourself with people who also have declarations they are pursuing. They have a winning mindset.”
We all find ourselves in unsupportive communities at times. The people around you seem to have a negative response to all your goals. They take the energy out of your commitment to change, dismissing all your attempts at a better life. Those energy vampires suck the life out of your momentum, leaving you stuck and tired.
A supportive community will leave you feeling energized. How can you find a supportive community that you connect with well? A community that will help build momentum. Here are some tips:
- Start your search for a community by looking at your goals. Your goals offer opportunities to connect with others who have set similar goals. If your goal is weight-loss, for example, connect with weight-loss groups.
- Your supportive community may include a professional. A personal trainer, yoga instructor, nutritional consultant, or counselor may be able to suggest supportive groups or communities.
- Attend groups, classes, or events with a community you are interested in. You will find that you connect more readily with some groups than others. Try several groups as each will have different benefits for you.