C is for Community - finding your voice, belonging & "all the right notes but not necessarily in the right order"

Sing from the Heart

Sing from the Heart

Community - finding each other and finding ourselves. Finding a voice and a space to belong - what is community to you?   

Community is held in our minds and hearts as much as it is created by the physical proximity of others.  How do we create a space that creates a sense of community both in ourselves and others?  

These are some of the questions that we are mindful of at De Tout Coeur.  'Do what we love, with love' and explore and experience this with others whether its singing, cycling, Reiki, cooking... It's a group effort, and put simply you get back what you put in.  

It's also about allowing our vulnerability to show, and being authentic and real with each other.  A clear example of this is in learning to sing.  A terrifying prospect for a lot of us, mixed up with childhood fears and thoughts that we 'aren't good enough' or are tone deaf.  

I'm not talking about hitting all the right notes in the right order or being technically perfect but singing with and from the heart.  

It's about " ..playing all the right notes—but not necessarily in the right order" as the great Eric Morecambe said.  It's about making mistakes, having a go, but doing it with your heart and soul.  It's there that the beauty and the connection with others lies.  

Eric Morecambe

"One of the marvellous things about community is that it enables us to welcome and help people in a way we couldn't as individuals. When we pool our strength and share the work and responsibility, we can welcome many people, even those in deep distress, and perhaps help them find self-confidence and inner healing.” 

― Jean Vanier, Community And Growth

Find your voice and you will find and contribute to your community.  They were there all along but we are often too scared to let others know the hidden part of ourselves that wants to join in and belong.  We all want to overcome the conflict of belonging to a group. Paraphrasing the group therapist Wilfred Bion; we are group animals at war with our groupishness. 

  

Sometimes we have to be the ones to break the ice and sometimes we need to let others help us.  Communities are only built through communication and expression of what is 'real' in us.  They are about connecting and healing with others.  Finding a voice and allowing our 'self' to be seen and heard.  Let people in and you will find we all mutually benefit.  So go on; find your true voice, sing from your heart, connect with others and help build, belong and heal with your community.  

We look forward to welcoming soon you whether in person at De Tout Coeur or via the blogosphere.  Do please let us know your stories and experiences of community.

De Tout Coeur

De Tout Coeur