Julika Van Stackelberg (Community Mindset)
Resilience teacher Julika explores regenerative wellbeing and the transformative power of a community mindset. Drawing on Coretta Scott King’s wisdom, Yuli shows how true strength ...
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How can we embody a community mindset through compassion?
Coretta Scott King once said, the power of a community is the most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members. This quote gets right to the heart of what makes community possible, and that is every single member of it. Taking compassionate action is easy when things go smoothly, and if we're looking at the world around us, we can find a lot of things that are not going smoothly in people's personal lives, politically, economically, and in the environment. So to build strong communities, we need to develop the kind of mindset that has the capacity to be compassionate. Building and maintaining such a community doesn't happen by accident. It requires deliberate efforts, awareness, mindfulness, kindness, and a willingness to show up for each other. It's a mindset.
How can you adopt a compassionate community mindset?
To develop such a mindset means that you start with yourself first. I work with a lot of amazing and really community-minded people who are ready to do something. When I tell them that their work starts with themselves, they're often slightly surprised and at a loss for where to begin. Here are some practical steps that can help you grow that internal muscle. So be kind to yourself. Most often we're our own worst critic, which can trigger us to be critical of others too. Start by being kind to yourself and by acknowledging who you are and who you are aspiring to be. Secondly, cultivate compassion for others. Be present, listen without judgement , and recognise others as experts in their own matters. Developing a community mindset means we realise that our wellbeing is tied to the wellbeing of those around us. This also includes the trees, animals, and all living things. When plants are able to do what they do best, which is to photosynthesize, they can fulfil their purpose of cleaning the air. When children are able to learn about the world and the world in it that they have, they're also able to grow and flourish. So what this also means is that the focus of our actions is not necessarily growth and profit, but rather wellbeing. When we place wellbeing as a criterion for our decisions and actions, we create connections that allow all of us to be well, so all of us can be. Well. Living with a community mindset has the power to transform our experiences in life and in this world. I invite you to write down two aspects of yourself where you haven't been as kind to yourself. Think about ways that you can show yourself self-compassion, and practise those thoughts towards yourself, your compassionate actions towards yourself and those around you. You have the power to heal and regenerate wellbeing.