Are you exhausted from trying to fit in with a group who don't share your values and beliefs?
Do you stay committed to groups you don't align with for fear of being an outcast if you were to speak your mind?
Truth be told, conformity to a tribe can be a suffocating feeling and complete rejection can paralyse even the strong-willed.
But what If I told you that focusing on building your own tribe is the best way to find acceptance?
The idea of building a tribe around your values may seem daunting because it should be.
The reality is that there is no such thing as a perfect tribe and even one you build with the best intentions won't be a fit for everyone.
So, the best thing you can do is surround yourself with a community of like-minded individuals who appreciate and accept you.
In theory that sounds simple enough, but finding people who vibe with your tribe mentality can be challenging.
The term 'tribe' doesn't have to be thought of in the primal, animalistic sense of the word where organised meet-ups take place.
A more simple way to describe it is nonconformity to the status quo of a/the group.
Galileo was ridiculed and persecuted by the Catholic Church for his scientific beliefs about the solar system.
Steve Jobs constantly challenged the status quo, disrupting industries and revolutionising how technology is used by the entire world.
Muhammad Ali proudly shared his beliefs outside of the ring, from the Vietnam War to civil rights and religion, despite how unpopular they were at the time.
The moral here is to not be afraid to be true to yourself and speak your mind.
Here are a few reasons why building your tribe is so important:
Accountability
Your tribe will hold you responsible for your actions and decisions, helping you stick to your guns and values.
Encouragement
Your tribe will contain a group of individuals that support and encourage you through your successes and failures.
Fulfilment
Your tribe can provide a sense of fulfilment, allowing you to contribute to a community and something bigger than yourself.
Support
Your tribe can provide a safe space where you can communicate without fear of judgement or rejection.
Confidence
Being surrounded by like-minded individuals who support and encourage you can help you feel confident in your decisions and abilities.
Learning
If built right, your tribe will include a diverse range of individuals with different perspectives and insights, from which you can learn and grow.
Recognising when a tribe doesn't suit your needs is the easy part of this entire equation.
The hard part is choosing to step outside of that circle to create one that more closely fits your values.
The fear of being an outcast should not limit your experience as a human, so if you feel boxed in and misaligned with your current tribe I implore you to start following your intuition and build the tribe you've always dreamed of.
If you want to be part of my growing tribe, I would love to hear from you via email or any of the social media apps.
