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The Big Idea
“Gatherings aren’t just events, they are moments that remind us of who we are, who we have been, and who we might become.” Priya Parker
It’s true that almost anything we might want to engage, learn or act upon is accessible to us if we know how to search. We can:
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give to relief organizations,
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get inspired about new technology, or
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take a class in calculus.
But given all of this, we still go out of our way, or even pay serious dollars, to gather with others to do these things.
Why?
There is something truthful and magical that happens in rooms full of people sharing an experience. There is human connection, sure. Yet, I think it’s something more.
We want to be part of something bigger than ourselves.
In fact, research has found that our need for connection may be as fundamental as our need for food and water. In his book, Social3 (highly recommended!), scientist Matthew Lieberman highlights that many languages use the same words for social pain as for physical hurt.4
Lieberman says what this means is significant:5
“The things that cause us to feel pain are things that are evolutionarily recognized as threats to our survival and the existence of social pain is a sign that evolution has treated social connection like a necessity, not a luxury.”
Humans thrive when they are together for a purpose, a shared experience. Gathering in community really matters.
Making Big Ideas Usable
When we come together, what are the essentials we need to honor and recognize? Your feedback surveys won’t tell you. They’re usually unspoken fundamentals, but they need to be revealed.
I love gathering and facilitating, even in its unpredictability. I’ve been collecting unspokens that to me, make gathering meaningful. I share them here. I would love to hear yours.