Meaning of Authentic Community

Think of people in 3 rings. In the middle is you, your partner, parents, siblings, & people you talk to daily. The outside is our social media network and anyone you’ve ever known. The middle ring (yellow in diagram below) is where we struggle. Its people you might see once/week. The people you build authentic connections with. Who are those people for you? Can you name a handful?

Who do you surround yourself with? The 5 people you talk to the most? Name the 5 people you spend the most time with.  It might be coworkers, family, friends etc. Name them, right now. Got it, ok now look at that list and picture those people 50 years from now. That is you.

When it comes to relationships we are greatly influenced, whether we like it or not, by those closest to us. We pick up  on their habits and behaviors (it’s a fact of science). It will affect the way we think, our self-esteem and our decisions.  

You are the result of the 5 closest people you hang out with. Take a look at those 5 people and you will see what your life will be like in the future. If you do not like what you see, you should change who you surround yourself with.

Ask yourself:

Are these people positive and uplifting?

Do they value the same things in life that you do?

Are they goal-oriented and living life with purpose?

Are these people supportive and loving of you?

Are they people you can depend on?

Are they people who will be honest with you, even about the hard stuff?

Are they people that challenge you and make you better?

What does Community mean to you? It’s a group of people you choose. People you have things in common with. Possibly linked by social ties and in close geographical location or settings. Community is where you develop relationships. People in your community become that inner circle of people. You choose these people. Like a lot of things in life it doesn’t just happen. If you don’t have a supportive community go create one. No excuses. A positive peer set will make you feel more confident.

Now that you’ve determined what Community means to you, stay tuned for the next blog on How To Build these Authentic Relationships.

AUTHOR:

Amanda Fontaine is considered the Chief FUN Officer of Personal Training and Health/Fitness. She's a Personal Trainer at Empower and Founder of Thrive Alive. She specializes in creating FUN, creative yet challenging workouts for her clients and promoting a lifestyle of play for adults.