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“No man is an island, entire of itself”- John Donne

Being brave might be a private thing but brave people don’t isolate and do life alone. Bravery is built by leaning on one another and building strong communities for the times at hand. The community you need during one difficult time may be different than the one you need during another. Finding the right community for the right season is important.

Community starts at home and branches outward. Our families are a source of support and encouragement because they know us best and have a natural investment in our lives. Other sources of support could be:

• Friendships
• Colleagues
• Support group

Friends are in it to win in – Our friends often times feel like family and when the going gets tough they might be some of the biggest cheerleaders around. Like family, they know you very well and unlike family they chose to be in relationship with you regardless of DNA.

Friends are a wonderful community that brave people confide in and lean on when they are facing difficult times. In the same way, they support and encourage their friends when they are facing difficulties too. Friendship is reciprocal and beneficial to everyone involved.

Colleagues are a special type of support – Colleagues are generally professional communities that are bound together by a common goal, interest, or skill set. Colleagues may be friends as well, but they include a level of expertise or interest that is unique. Fraternities, service organizations, civic groups, and professional associations gather for a united cause or focus and build a brotherhood or sisterhood. These communities can be supportive when you are facing a difficult time. Leaning on colleagues can help with wise counsel or a neutral vantage point that your family and friends might be too close to offer.

Support groups are targeted communities – Support groups are formed for very specific purposes. The people in the group are looking to support and be supported by people who are going through the very same issues. This concentrated focus can help hone in on what the members need to get through a difficult time. There is great benefit to a support group when times are difficult, and you need laser-focused information and help. 

Being brave won’t happen on your own. You may have to walk the lonely road, but you can do it leaning on someone else. Be sure to create and engage a supportive community when you are facing difficult times.