Why Community Matters - and a Lovely Award I Wasn’t Expecting
This week I had a rather lovely surprise. I received an award!
The Wimborne Wellness Networking Group celebrated its first birthday this week, and as part of the celebrations, awards were given out, voted for by the wonderful women who make up the group.
I was genuinely surprised (and very touched) to receive the Community Cheerleader Award.
I was actually a little late to the party with Wimborne Wellness. Not literally (I’m nearly always on time!) but the group was started a year ago by the lovely Michelle Reade, and I didn't join until January this year. Since then, it very quickly became one of the dates in my diary that I really look forward to each month.
More than just business networking
What I love about this group is that it doesn't really feel like traditional networking.
It's a community of local women working across health, wellness and wellbeing who genuinely support one another. It doesn't matter whether someone is right at the beginning of their business journey or has been established for years. People share ideas, make introductions, celebrate each other's successes and encourage each other through the inevitable challenges too.
There is a real sense of cheering each other on.
Which is precisely why receiving the Community Cheerleader Award meant so much to me.
The words that came with it were:
“Thank you for always cheering others on, celebrating their wins, making connections and helping so many people believe in themselves. Thank you for being the person who makes people and community feel good.”
Knowing that other people feel supported and encouraged by me is heartwarming, particularly because that's exactly how this group makes me feel too.
Friendship, laughter and the occasional push outside my comfort zone
Over the past few months I've made some wonderful friends, had some great laughs and shared some tears as people have navigated the things that life and business sometimes throw at us.
I've also been pushed outside my comfort zone (firmly into the growth zone) on more than one occasion. Michelle is particularly good at encouraging those all-important next steps in business - usually the ones we know we probably ought to take but might otherwise put off for another month! Through this group, I've been part of a very fun podcast launch, exhibited at The Connection event in Bournemouth and built confidence in public speaking.
I've learned an enormous amount too. My knowledge has expanded into areas I never expected – from Akashic Records to the importance of Omega balance, how a divorce coach can help (don't worry, not my own!), and why sometimes the smartest thing you can do in business is recognise when it's time to bring in someone else's expertise.
Every month I come away having learned something new. And, more importantly, I come away feeling great.
The wellbeing effect of positive connection
There's actually a lovely link here with the work I do at Dorset Hypnotherapy Practice.
Anyone who has worked with me will probably have heard me talk about the importance of the 3 Ps (positive interaction, positive activity and positive thinking).
The things we do, the people we spend time with and where we choose to focus our attention can all influence how we feel. Positive social connection and enjoyable experiences are associated with brain and body chemistry involving neurotransmitters and hormones such as serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin.
And Wimborne Wellness provides positive interaction, activity and thinking in abundance.
It is a good reminder that wellbeing isn't only about what we do when we're struggling. It's also about deliberately creating more of the things that help us thrive: connection, friendship, laughter, purpose, learning, encouragement and belonging.
Find your people
Running a small business can sometimes be surprisingly lonely. You can spend a lot of time working in your business, making decisions by yourself and wondering whether you're doing the right thing.
Finding people who understand that world - and who genuinely want to see you succeed - makes a huge difference. For me, Wimborne Wellness has become one of those places. In fact, I would have to be out of the country to miss a meeting now!
So if you're a wellness business owner in or around Wimborne and Dorset, I'd highly recommend discovering the group for yourself. (We're not all based in Wimborne, we just gather there!).
And if you're looking for local wellbeing support, there is an incredible range of knowledge, experience and expertise amongst the women I've met there. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend any one of them.
As for the lovely Community Cheerleader Award, the card is taking pride of place in my therapy room, because it's a great reminder of those 3Ps.
Feeling very thankful, very lucky - and particularly uplifted this week.
Helen Helping you create calm, confidence and lasting change.
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