"The need for connection and community is primal, as fundamental as the need for air, water, and food." ― Dean Ornish
Introduction | Traditional Purpose | Contemporary Meaning | Health Impact | Social Isolation| Own Community | Final Thoughts | Takeaway Points | References | Disclaimer
Introduction
Humans naturally look for closeness and connection with other people. Creating social relationships and being a part of a community satisfy our innate need for belonging. When we fit in, we flourish. A supportive community improves our lives and is good for our health. The exact opposite is true for loneliness and social isolation. Building a local or online community with our time and effort can be a transformative experience.
The traditional purpose of community
Communities and relationships between people have developed since the beginning of time in order to help people survive. People gathered and coexisted because, when they worked together as a group, they were better able to overcome difficulties and obstacles and develop a more effective way of life. Being a part of a community also develops each individual's dependence on others. People assisted one another while sharing various tasks and jobs, such as farming, hunting, construction, etc. The community protected human existence in that way. In 1964, an English poet, John Donne, wrote a poem titled "No Man is an Island"[1], which quoted:
"No man is an island,
Entire of itself;
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main."
In this piece, the author acknowledges the inherent need for belonging in humans. To survive and prosper, we need the people around us. We have never been able to function well when we are completely cut off from our friends and family. Isolation does not promote personal or career success or good health.
The contemporary meaning of community
Communities originally formed out of a need for shared resources and protection, but these motivations have given way over time to more abstract ones rooted in shared ideals, religion, political belief, behavioral commonalities, and shared pursuits. The collective "state of mind" of a community began to have a greater impact on its members' way of life than did the need to adapt to a harsh environment. Additionally, since the advent of the internet and the digital age, which made it easier for people to connect, proximity has become less of a barrier when trying to find a group of like-minded individuals. It has made it so much easier to bond with people who live far away in different cities, countries, and time zones. Both offline and online communities enhance our existence. Whichever one we choose, having a close-knit group of friends with whom we have forged a deep and meaningful connection is essential for our success in the world.
The impact of community on health
The health advantages of belonging to a community are numerous, and some of them are social, some are psychological, and some are physical. Strong social relationships, such as those between family members, friends, and neighbors, as well as support from religious and other organizations, have been linked with improved health outcomes among populations. Strong social ties have been found to:
Social Health
Mental Health
Physical Health
motivate mobility among the elderly[5]
help initiate and maintain physical activity[12]
benefit overall health[13]
decrease mortality[14]
improve immune function[15]
reduce the risk of cardiovascular responses to stress[17] [11]
reduce the susceptibility to upper respiratory viruses[18]
benefit proper child development, including the immune, metabolic, and autonomic nervous systems[11]
Social isolation and loneliness
In 2018, the Kaiser Family Foundation and The Economist conducted a loneliness survey of high-income countries.
"It found that 9% of adults in Japan, 22% in America, and 23% in Britain always or often felt lonely, lacked companionship, or felt left out or isolated. People crave a sense of belonging. And yet we focus on how to look better, exercise efficiently, and work effectively, often neglecting to take the necessary steps to build and sustain social ties."[19]
People frequently experience loneliness and isolation, especially when residing in a large city. It seems counterintuitive because how can a person feel lonely in a crowded urban area? The speed of city life and the expectations we have of it play a significant role in this issue. The pace of life in the city is typically brisk. People frequently concentrate almost robotically on completing daily chores, checking items off to-do lists, and pursuing their professional, academic, and personal goals. They are unable to balance work and life. It is common to forget about and push the development of purposeful, meaningful connections with other people to the back of one's mind. Because they don't reach out and take the time to get to know the people around them, cities are full of people who don't know their own neighbors and never belong to any community.
How to build your own community
Finding a community of like-minded individuals can improve not only your quality of life but also your health. Building genuine connections with people who share our interests and values gives us a sense of belonging, enriches our lives, and provides us with a support system.
Building an offline local community
If you are looking to establish connections with people in your neighborhood, there are a couple of ideas and steps that you can take.
Take the time to get to know your neighbors. Learn about their interests and try to find commonalities. Be open-minded, interested, and respectful.
Based on your interests as well as those of those around you, you can encourage a collective activity, such as dog walks, a play group for your kids, a book club, movie nights, etc.
Be helpful if one of your neighbors needs assistance. Lending a helping hand goes a long way and builds trust and appreciation.
If there is a church, community center, charitable organization, or any other place where people gather regularly in your neighborhood, volunteering is a good option to meet new people from your community.
If you are a parent, you can try getting involved in your child's kindergarten or school.
If you have skills that you could teach others, such as gardening, painting, sports, etc., offer to share them with people around you.
You can also connect with people by joining existing groups of people who share the same interests, political views, and ideologies. Find out if such gatherings, meetings, or clubs take place in your neighborhood.
Building an online community
The internet has made it possible for people to communicate with one another despite physical distances of thousands of miles. Social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube have evolved into hubs where people can not only share their thoughts and opinions with one another but also meet new people, discuss current events, and even have heated debates. The Internet has many forums and discussion boards where people with similar interests can talk to one another. That makes finding people who share your passions a lot less difficult.
Search any of the platforms and find existing groups that fit your interests.
Establish your own online group if those existing ones do not meet your needs, and share it with your friends, acquaintances, and co-workers to attract people who might be interested.
Promote your community, both online and offline.
Since all we need to create an online community is an internet-connected device and some time, it seems easier and more appealing. Additionally, it offers significantly more exposure and enables potentially quicker results. Online relationships do have a few drawbacks, though. They have a very limited capacity for non-verbal communication. Humans learn about people, places, events, etc. through their five senses, which internet-based interactions do not provide. Even though having an online community may enrich our lives, it cannot replace face-to-face interaction. Therefore, it ought to be an addition to relationships with people that we can actually meet in person on a more regular basis.
Final Thoughts
We greatly benefit from having a close-knit group of friends in our lives. When we are around people who value, cherish, comprehend, and support us, we feel as though we have found our place in the world. If this connection is properly nurtured and developed, it affects our social, mental, and physical health and contributes to our overall wellbeing. Not only does it strengthen our social connections, but it also lengthens our lives, boosts motivation and perseverance, and increases our sense of personal control. It also helps to improve our immune system and increases our resistance to disease and stress.
Takeaway Points
Having a community fulfills the human need for belonging.
Early communities were formed to facilitate survival in a demanding environment.
Today's communities are more frequently created based on common interests, views, pursuits, and ideologies.
Belonging to a community has an impact on an individual's social, mental, and physical health.
People living in big cities tend to experience social isolation and loneliness.
Building your own community requires engagement.
You can find like-minded individuals both in your neighborhood and on the internet.
References
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Disclaimer
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