The Importance of Building a Tribe in the Midst of Crisis

At Intentional Excellence we believe very strongly in the importance of having a tribe! Not the exclusive type that focuses on our differences, but the type of tribe that thrives on inclusion and diversity of thoughts and ideas. We are living in uncertain and unpredictable times, and my experience has been that surrounding yourself with supportive and genuine allies is the best way to get through most of the challenges that life throws your way.

Whether you’re experiencing a health, financial, or a life crisis, two of the most difficult things to do during hard times are to walk through it and see beyond it. This is where your tribe comes in!

Take a look at some of the benefits that I’ve experienced from having a strong support system during difficult times, and let me know your thoughts:

Accountability

Even under normal circumstances, it can be difficult to stay focused on accomplishing personal and professional goals when other aspects of life are happening all around you. Loved ones need tending to and supporting, remote work expectations need to be met, partners need to feel connected, and somewhere, in the midst of all of that, you can’t forget to prioritize self-care.

Accountability partners are there to keep you on track and to remind you that you’re doing something really hard that takes a lot of courage and stamina. Most importantly, they remind you to celebrate ALL of the wins and to keep pushing yourself, even when it’s really hard.

Normalcy

During difficult times, you need folks who will help you maintain the rituals that you practiced before the crisis because they also give you something to look forward to once things settle down. For some, that might be having a zoom lunch with your favorite office buddy if you’re now working remotely, or still making the time to connect about updates on your guilty-pleasure TV shows. (Am I the only one who is still obsessed with Love is Blind??) For others, it might be pairing up to walk the dogs a few times a week (while maintaining appropriate social distancing practices, of course!).

Unity

It’s my belief that as inhabitants of this world, we are much more alike than we are different, but unfortunately, it sometimes takes moments of crisis for us to remember that. When going through a difficult time, there’s nothing like connecting with others who understand AND empathize with you. This type of unity transcends all categorizing criteria and allows us to just see each other as human beings. How beautiful is that?

Levity

Laughter is food for the soul, and in times of crisis, we crave that type of nourishment more than air. During a crisis, staying informed can make some people feel safer and in control, but for others, it actually has the opposite effect and can create tremendous fear and anxiety. For that reason, it’s important to have people in your life that will help you keep things in perspective, and bring a smile to your face.

This is something that my brother and I do almost too well!! Regardless of how serious a situation is, he and I can always find a way to get a belly laugh out of each other. We don’t do this to make light of tragedies or unfortunate situations, but we do it to remind ourselves that there’s still joy out there, and it helps.

So, who’s part of your tribe? For some, it may be family members or close friends. For others, a pet, a Coach, a therapist, or a colleague. These days we need all of the support and love we can get. If you just so happen to be looking for a(nother) tribe to learn, grow, and celebrate with, connect to our IE family through LinkedIn, & Facebook, or send me a direct message at . We ooze Accountability, Normalcy, Unity, and Levity, and would love to have you!

Wishing all of you good health, immeasurable happiness, and limitless love!