Wellbeing itself needs to be a community effort. Not something that remains in individualism, but one that considers the self in relation to the community context.
For too long as of late, there has been a particular ‘health bro’ emphasis (that many a ‘sis’ has fallen into as well) on optimising the individual self – not a problem in itself, except for it forgetting to consider the systemic and legislative impacts on community that are getting left behind.
In short, when an individual thrives but leaves community benefit behind, it creates a disconnect that makes individual health standards lower; thus defeating the purpose.
On the other hand, we often see people neglecting their own needs for fear of burdening those around them – burning themselves out for the sake of avoiding the discomfort of these things. This martyr complex that attempts to cater to the needs of others while sacrificing the needs of the self is actually unhelpful for the community as a whole.
Different to those whose ‘needs’ involve actively taking away from the civil rights of others, the needs of self are those that allow you to show up more for your community; whether that is your direct family, or one you create around you.
Breastfeeding mothers cannot feed their child if they are not feeding themselves.
Plane passengers cannot help the person next to them fit their oxygen mask, if they themselves have passed out because they neglected their own.
And yet, we have somehow normalised a culture of believing our needs for our own wellbeing are an inconvenience.
When we combine individual wellbeing support with the values of collective community contribution, we get to start to remember: When we are more supported, we have more means to support others.
If we hyper focus on individual wellbeing and stop there – we lose, and community loses.
If we swing too far on the pendulum and neglect our needs for the perceived sake of community – community loses, and we lose.
The people who are most hateful [often those who have the most power over others] are possibly just projecting their own real hatred toward something in themselves.
When we start to consider the whole impact of what’s possible for community when our needs are taken care of, we have more opportunity to thrive.
[That’s all to say – yes, tax the billionaires.]
This article was originally posted over on my Substack.
