According to the Scientific American article, Loneliness Is Harmful to Our Nation’s Health, “a staggering 47 percent of Americans often feel alone, left out and lacking meaningful connection with others. This is true for all ages, from teenagers to older adults.”
As a Big Visionary, it can be easy to feel isolated. With such a long to-do list to work through, your focus is probably about getting things done (which these days often happens behind a screen) rather than making connections with other people. But whether you are an entrepreneur, writer, artist, or healer, making time to connect with others can help you realize your Big Vision as well as improve your overall well-being.
Benefits of Connection for Big Visionaries
- Knowledge sharing – Why start from scratch when you can learn from others and help them as well?
- Resource sharing – Whether it’s lending a piece of equipment, or recommending an accountant, sharing resources can make everyone’s life easier.
- Networking – As the saying goes, “It’s not what you know, but who you know.” Real connections can help your Big Vision grow.
- Collaboration – Everything you’re trying to achieve with your Big Vision doesn’t need to be done alone. It’s possible that finding a collaborator will help you have a greater impact.
- Accountability – Do you find yourself setting goals and not completing them? Having other people to celebrate successes and brainstorm challenges with can help you stay on track.
- Getting a reality check – When you spend too much time alone in your Big Vision bubble, it’s possible to lose touch with the people you want to reach and what’s going on in your field.
- Increased self-compassion – As we chatted about a couple weeks ago, it’s normal to struggle with things like self-doubt and fear while pursuing your Big Vision. When you share stories with other Big Visionaries, you’ll quickly realize that you’re not the only one facing challenges and will hopefully be less hard on yourself for having them.
Coworking with Kierra Jenaé Johnson at Sphere in Oakland
Connection Ideas
- Join a coworking space – Try Googling “coworking” and the name of the biggest town near you. I don’t know how up to date it is, but you can also check out the Coworking Space Directory.
- Organize friends and colleagues to meet in a centrally located home, or cafe with wifi.
- Organize friends and colleagues to meet on Zoom. My friend Tara Mohr (author of Playing Big) has been hosting virtual coworking gatherings for the last month, or so. Join her mailing list to receive the dates, times, and Zoom link for upcoming gatherings.
- Go to local events and gatherings of people doing similar work. Search Eventbrite and Meetup for ideas.
- And if you’re feeling really ambitious, create your own coworking space.
Even if you’re an introvert, it’s possible to find ways to “be alone together.” Reach out. Find your people. I bet they’ve been waiting for you.
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Photo by Vivaan Trivedii on Unsplash