You live an impoverished life apart from a village. Life on your own is empty.
The richest possible life turns toward community.
You need a community to flourish.
Life is better when you build relationships where you contribute to others and others contribute to you.
Everything that enriches life begins with community.
7 ways village builders win:
- Contentment – you’re ok with who you are in a village.
- Shared activities – doing things with others is more satisfying than doing them alone.
- Stability – life with others might be messy, but it’s more stable than life alone.
- Centeredness – a village is a beacon calling you to clarity.
- Permission granted – you are not a bother to anyone in your village. (The fear of bothering someone is one reason villages don’t exist.)
- Inclusion – you don’t feel left out.
- Being seen – people see you and you see them.
Community – 3 ways to build your village.
#1. Sit on the porch.
Be available. You show up before you connect.
#2. Choose your village people.
Look for people of influence, authority, and experience. Who best contributes?
Invite someone who shares similar interests.
Reach out to people on the fringe. Converted fringe-dwellers provide unexpected value.
Be easily impressed to overcome reluctance.
#3. Practice noticing:
Listen for values.
Observe repeated topics of conversation.
Discover action steps by noticing what matters to people in your village.
Why you struggle to build a village:
Communities of trust and care are rare. You’re blazing your own trail.
You struggle because village building requires a transformation of priorities.
Relationships are risky. It’s human nature to play it safe, turn away, and not bother people.
3 quick tips:
- Tighten your belt and take a risk.
- Reach out to a new person this week.
- Make a list of three people who contribute to you. Give them a thank you call.
Start building today. Write intriguing and life-giving stories. 100% of the time good effort delivers good results.
You cannot fulfill your purpose in isolation.
What’s preventing you from building your village?
How can you build a village that attracts ‘your’ people?
Still curious:
3 Ways to Lean on People Without Being Needy
No One of Us Is as Smart as All of Us—Treat People as Partners
This post is a collaboration between Dan Rockwell and Stan Endicott.
I relax my 300 word limit on weekend posts.