If you’ve ever felt like community just isn’t for you… this episode might just change everything.

Episode Highlights:

• Carrie’s journey with social anxiety and building inclusive, "quiet" communities
• Belonging without active participation—research and real-life insights
• Using bodily awareness and boundaries to stay grounded as a community creator
• Self-leadership and support systems to prevent burnout in community work
• Practical tips for both hosts and participants to feel more confident and aligned

Key Concepts Explored:

• Self-Regulation in Online Spaces: How digital communities offer spaces for thoughtful connection for introverts and neurodivergent people.
• Quiet Communities: Community spaces that don't demand constant engagement and allow people to participate on their own terms.
• Meaningful Engagement vs. Engagement for Engagement's Sake: The importance of connecting community activities to purpose and growth rather than arbitrary metrics.
• Body Awareness as Community Evaluation: Using physical reactions and feelings as guidance for whether a community is a good fit.
• Belonging Without Participation: Research findings on how affiliation alone can create a sense of belonging without requiring active involvement.
• Self-Leadership in Community Building: Managing internal dialogues and anxieties that arise when creating and managing communities.
• Community as Healing Practice: How creating spaces for others can help heal our own relationship to connection.
• Distributed Leadership: Inviting others' contributions rather than trying to do everything yourself.
• Community Building as a Long Game: The importance of patience and persistence in both building and participating in communities.

Notable Quotes:

"If there's a place that you wish existed... why not be the person that starts that?"

— Carrie Melissa Jones [00:13:00]

"You cannot do it alone. It's not a solo activity. To really create a community, you've got to see, recognize, and invite in the gifts of others and others' contributions."

— Carrie Melissa Jones[00:42:32] - [00:42:54]

I start everything I do scared and then once you get rolling it gets fun. Nothing starts fun. Everything starts with anxiety.

— Sara Lobkovich [00:46:45]

Chapters:

[00:00:00] Introduction and Meet Carrie Melissa Jones

[00:05:51] Social Anxiety and Career: Turning Challenges into Expertise

[00:11:22] Redefining Community: "Quiet Communities" and Meaningful Engagement

[00:15:38] Challenging the "Not a Joiner" Identity and Finding Your Fit

[00:19:53] Body Awareness: Using Physical Responses as Your Community Guide

[00:25:32] Advice for Shy Community Creators: Boundaries and Sustainability

[00:29:42] Research Insights: Belonging Without Active Participation

[00:39:03] Self-Leadership and Distributed Responsibility in Community Building

[00:44:30] Practical Pre-Launch Strategies and "Doing It Scared"

[00:48:10] The Long Game: Advice for Participants, Hosts, and Closing Thoughts

Upcoming Events:

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