Guidance from the I Ching: #13 - Community
There is strength in numbers
September 7, 2020
“Community in the open brings progress. It is advantageous to experience the collective flow. There is further advantage in correct persistence. An enlightened person, therefore, recognizes their fellow person’s place in the outside world.”
I consult the I Ching (Book Of Changes) for inspiration at the start of every week. This week’s message is all about working together.
This week’s hexagram is near and dear to my heart. For a little over a year, I have been working out of a co-working facility in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, called The Candy Factory. Before joining The Candy Factory, I always thought that co-working facilities were simply shared office space. Thankfully, I was wrong. Co-working is about building Community and collaboration. This concept has always been a driving force behind my work, and when it is the time of Community, the collective power is amplified.
According to the I Ching, society functions optimally when each member finds their own place within the social structure. A sense of Community is achieved when all members have the opportunity to contribute to the achievement of societal goals. In a Community, everyone has a role to fill based on their unique skills and abilities. Community encourages the initiative and success of the individual to further the goals of the group. When individuals have a vested interest in a Community’s success, amazing things can be accomplished because “the many work for the one.”
For a Community to grow in the right direction, it needs organization and proper leadership. A Community requires order and a system. Without structure, little can be accomplished. Community leaders need to have tremendous strength of character and should be devoid of self-serving motives. The I Ching warns that Community benefits can be lost because of selfish interests and separatist endeavors.
For a Community to prosper, everyone must be in the best position for success. Leaders will need to make a careful analysis of the various talents of others. Once this is done, a Community leader will make sure that each person is in a position where they will be the most effective and, at the same time, find satisfaction in their work. A Community depends on the balance of performance and satisfaction. Everyone in a Community has a job to do – a gift to share. Some roles may be more “high profile” than others, but no part is unimportant.
“When individuals have a vested interest in a Community’s success, amazing things can be accomplished because “the many work for the one.” “
According to the I Ching, now is the time for the unified attainment of ambitious deeds, particularly deeds that serve humanity’s needs. But to do so, there is a need for clear systems and healthy disciplines. Regardless of whether it is a nation, a company, or a family, building Community takes work. Do not assume that Community will just happen. It must start with a vision and a shared commitment by all parties involved. A Community is not always easy to establish, but there is little that it can not accomplish once done. What are you doing to strengthen your Communities?
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