Connection

Community is built like a house, but instead of bricks stacked upon one another, it is individual connections that bond together. Greater than the sum of its parts, a thriving community is built through authentic connections between individuals.
Creating safe space is the foundation for these bonds to form; inviting us to bring our whole selves to an interaction with others. By opening a space for us to share vulnerably, we bring intimacy to our words. This opens the possibility for a conversation to transform us in unexpected ways. Authentic connection is the activating ingredient for magic to unfold.
While this may sound woo-woo, however science and countless TED Talks put proof into the pudding. While we might not be ready to admit it publically, we all crave connection. It’s build into our DNA. Baby that are deprived of connection unanimously develop significant psychological disorders as they mature. If we look honestly at our daily behaviors, to a large extent they are provoked by a desire to be seen, heard and appreciated by others. We are clearly hardwired for connection.
Yet in our technology-rich lives, we are rapidly forgetting our natural ability to connect with other humans in physical space in an authentic manner. Research shows that our interaction with devices is directly proportional to anxiety and loneliness.
The mass appeal of co-living speaks to this phenomenon. It also points to the huge opportunity (and challenge) for this modern adaptation of communal living to foster a fertile environment for authentic human connection to emerge.
At The Collective, we are students learning to become practitioners; inviting hypersensitive, emotionally intelligent social alchemists to join us on this journey. If this sounds like you (or someone you know), please send a note to fix@thecollective.co.uk.
See you soon at The Collective!
