The dual nature of storytelling, consisting of vulnerability and listening, form two crucial characteristics of community building. When we hear stories of others, we practice the art of deep listening. Through the act of storytelling, we practice being vulnerable as we share our own stories. Learn more about the science of how our brains react to storytelling. This process of sharing stories strengthens our ability to consider different perspectives and builds our empathy towards others. By reflecting and understanding our own lives and those of others, we connect our shared experiences and learn from our differences. When community building, the power to share our own stories and hear the stories of others is foundational and uplifts us all. Storytelling is an essential way to portray the complexity of the human experience. While informative, if we use only those methods of understanding our world, we can miss the nuances and subtle differences in what it means to be human. In a data-driven world, we can very often find our world reduced to numbers, statistics, and soundbites. Community is a gateway to better understand our own lives and the lives of others and creates an essential foundation for people working toward common goals. When we intentionally create a community for the purpose of a shared goal, it can deepen relationships, create feelings of belonging, and provide support for the health and wellbeing of all members. We also deliberately seek out and create community based on proximity (neighborhood or workplace), shared values and beliefs (religion, activism or politics), and individual interests (book clubs, sports or hobbies). We are born into families, and into the groups that our families choose to be a part of. Humans have survived by living in communities since the beginning of time. Learn about the science of human belonging starting in infancy. This basic need for community is vital through a person’s life. Starting from birth, humans need nurturing relationships. If a person is not around people that care about them or for whom they have social connections, it can result in social isolation and emotional harm. Community is essential to the health of human beings.
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