They say, “it takes a village to raise a child” and I’ve always loved that expression. I love it not just as a parent, but as a person that wants to be part of a village. Many of us long for the acceptance and support that comes from being a member of a broader community. Having a sense of community is also known to fuel service. Yet this sense of community has become harder to have in our modern lives. There are many reasons for that, but we can easily change some of those reasons if we want to.
Below you’ll find a few personal questions. There are no “right” or “wrong” answers – only “your” answers. They will highlight the value you place on building community in your life when faced with the tradeoffs. Your value for community may be higher than you expect. That should inspire you to make space in your life for “community” to form. Alternatively, your value may be lower than you expect. That should give you peace to live without worrying that you’re missing out on something you really want.
Privacy vs. Community
Definitions:
Privacy: The state or condition of being free from being observed or disturbed by other people.
Community: A feeling of connection and fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.
Considerations:
Building the relationships that lead to community will require sharing personal information, authentic thoughts and genuine feelings. Choosing community will reduce your privacy.
Questions:
What’s more important privacy or community? How much privacy (if any) would you be willing to give up to build a sense of community?
Self-sufficiency vs. Community
Definitions:
Self-sufficiency: The state of not requiring any aid, support, or interaction for survival.
Community: A feeling of connection and fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.
Considerations:
Building the relationships that lead to community will require dependency on others for emotional support, but also for help with tangible tasks. Choosing community will reduce your self-sufficiency.
Questions:
What’s more important self- sufficiency or community? How much self-sufficiency (if any) would you be willing to give up to build a sense of community?
Efficiency vs. Community
Definitions:
Efficiency: The ability to accomplish a task or job with a minimum expenditure of time and effort.
Community: A feeling of connection and fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.
Considerations:
Building a community requires effort and time investment that is often otherwise spent completing more tangible professional or personal tasks. Choosing community may reduce your efficiency.
Questions:
What’s more important efficiency or community? How much efficiency (if any) would you be willing to give up to build a sense of community?
Is community worth it for you?