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Invest
In Yourself — Join A Group
By Mike
King
I chuckle
to myself as I write this article about the benefits of joining a group
since it hasn’t been that many years since I wasn’t a fan
of groups. I used to think that people who joined groups were needy
or didn’t have the will power to get things done on their own.
I thought joining a group would be a waste of time. How wrong I was
and how grateful I am that I have a different perspective on group activity.
The potential benefits for anyone joining a group are huge:
Motivation:
It’s simply easier to keep at something if you do it with other
people. The group I belong to trains for marathons and if we didn’t
have others to train with it would be sooooo much harder to keep our
motivation. We feed off each other. If I’m having a bad day someone
else is having a good day, and visa versa.
Responsibility
and Accountability: People are waiting for you and there is a natural
responsibility that is inherent in being a part of something. Being
accountable and responsible can keep you in the game and keep you on
track to your goals.
Increasing
Your Learning Curve:
Groups impart information and there are a lot of varied individual experiences
in a group to learn from. Often, what works for one person doesn’t
work for another. If you have varied information your chances of finding
what works for you increases dramatically. Potentially, you could spend
a week reading a book at home or 20 minutes asking the right questions
at group!
Challenging
Perspective:
When we remain in our circle of friends and family our perspective about
our life isn’t challenged nearly as much as it is when we are with
people with different experience and backgrounds. It isn’t something
we need to pay much attention to because what we see and admire in others
filters into our being. Eventually, if we choose, we may decide we want
to make some changes*. Imagine, just because I’m spending time
with people I admire I get more information about myself. Just hanging
out might enrich my life. Wow!
Trust
and Cohesiveness: In a good group our trust grows (take note those
of you who have fears about joining in). Our trust of others grows and
we learn to trust ourselves more. As trust grows catharsis takes place
and we all become more open and honest about whom we really are and
the group becomes cohesive. It evolves. This is an inspiring thing to
be a part of, so healthy for us, and so hard to find. I’ve seen
first-year walkers and runners, starting the season with little confidence
in themselves grow to trust in themselves and the group and return in
subsequent years to be great teachers and inspiration to subsequent
members. This is awe inspiring to watch and be a part of!
Altruism:
Give and Take: Most people only consider what they take from the group,
but an important concept too is that every member of the group gives
to the group as well. The simple act of kindness that you show by simply
participating in a group is powerful. I have heard and seen many times
one member thank another for the kind word or silent affirmation that
they have received — sometimes years after the event took place.
You should never underestimate the positive impact you may have on another
by just participating.
Hope:
Hope is so important. Many people begin with a wish that they will one
day complete a marathon but there comes a time when the wish turns to
hope. This hope is beyond a wish, it is a belief they can complete the
quest. Hope is an essential part of life and any good group will have
it. Being a part of that hope is fun.
To have
fun, to make good friends, to experience thoughts and ideas different
from my own, to get to hang with people I admire, and to be with people
I normally wouldn’t get to interact with are terrific benefits.
I love my group and hope you find one to love as well.
A few
local groups to join:
www.portlandfit.com
www.teamintraining.org,
www.strokeassociation.org
www.womenwalkthemarathon.com
www.ava.org
*See “Stages
of Change,” April 2004 issue, Walk About.
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