The Impact of Isolation
When I first started The Hivery (and even still, five years later), there is a common response when I ask someone why they came to a tour of The Hivery. I’ll ask them, “What brought you to The Hivery today?” and invariably, they’ll respond, “I needed to get away from the distractions of my home office...I needed to get away from the laundry.”…After years of meeting with entrepreneurs, seekers, creatives, consultants, and people across all industries, I can’t tell you how many bring up the LAUNDRY as a reason to join a co-working space or community.
I’ve learned that it’s not about the laundry, AT ALL. It’s about the lonely.
When we are undertaking a next chapter or radical transformation, we can not do it alone. Isolation is the antithesis of creativity and can quickly become a breeding ground for self-doubt, overwhelm, and lack of action. And, even though we are “connected” every waking moment by the endless stream of social media, email, and the frenzy of life, the single greatest and most common challenge that I hear through my work at The Hivery, is the challenge of isolation. We need each other. We yearn for community. We crave being accepted for who we truly are. We have an instinctual response to help each other. We don’t want to grow, transform, or create alone.
The impact of isolation is very real. One in four Americans report that they have ZERO friends they can completely confide in. Another study showed that having weak social ties is as harmful to our health as smoking, and that the feeling of isolation sets off a cellular reaction that can increase inflammation in our body. In other words, the feeling of isolation, could be harmful to our health.
I’ve mentioned this before… Fear loves loneliness. Fear loves isolation. But fear can’t stand people banding together to support each other’s work. Alone in our thoughts, we can talk ourselves out of the very essence of who we are and what we are here to do.
“Belonging is at the foundation of our human needs.”
Belonging, on the other hand, is a state of being accepted for who you are and being part of something. Being part of something reveals shared values, hope, belief systems, rituals, and a collective spirit that we can continue to grow and improve, not just as individuals, but as part of humanity. It matters. Belonging is at the foundation of our human needs.
Here at The Hivery, it’s our goal to offer members the kind of connection that fosters well-being in every sense of the word—socially, emotionally, and physically. The Hivery is a place where you can feel true belonging, and...yes, there IS that added side benefit...you’ll also get a stunning workspace far, far away from the laundry.