Creating Your Own Community

As a new professional in higher education there are so many different “communities” to be a part of. One for student affairs, one for career development, woman, Latinx, and more outside of higher education as well that include family and friends.  These communities are where I have met some of the most amazing and inspirational people in my life. Having community is such an important part of our personal and professional growth, and I will be forever grateful for these people and look forward to growing with them.

 All this being true, I cannot help to feel that there is something missing. There is a missing part of my communities that leave me feeling uneasy at times. I have come to discover that the missing community is me, my own personal doubts. It is me not feeling confident always in who I am and the community I bring to myself. I read a book recently called “Playing Big: Find Your Voice, Your Mission, Your Message” by Tara Mohr.  In one of her chapters she talks about having an “inner mentor”. Having mentors in your life is important, similar to the impact of having  community, but a lot of that doesn’t matter if you can’t be happy with yourself and create an inner dialogue or “inner mentor” to tell you how great you are! I naturally made the connection that I need to create my “inner community,” what brings me joy, comfort and support (popularly referred to as self-care). One way I do this in my life is allowing room each week to treat myself. I treat myself with something as small as grabbing coffee at Starbucks, getting my nails done, taking a walk across campus or walking through target. In this busy life we lead, it easy to get caught up in communities and rely on having other people make that definition for us, but I am taking a call to action to allow space for a new community in my life, my “inner community” just for me! It is not always easy, some weeks are harder than other. This will also look different for everyone but I pose to you all reading this today, take some time for yourself today and add a new community to your life, just for you!