I have benefited enormously from groups and group activities, especially in growth-oriented learning situations. I have often loved doing events, classes, programs, and workshops catering to activities and topics I am interested in. At one point I have been in groups on teaching music, being a successful music artist, learning music (high school and college), running a business, marathon training, investing, and improv comedy.
I owe a lot to group activities! Especially considering that I
- met my wife while in a workshop
- decided to propose to my wife while at an unrelated weeklong event
- got clarity that I wanted to try teaching piano while in a workshop
- got the idea of starting my teaching studio while in another group program
- got the inspiration that got me on TV while in a different program
- learned ways to sell my music from yet another program
- got clarity to become the runner/athlete I am in a workshop
- learned investing principles in a weekend event
- got ongoing investor education in yet another group
- learned ways of communicating that helped me as a performer and teacher while in another workshop
On top of that, I run my own group events in my piano studio. In fact, I definitely think of my studio as a community (or group) of piano learners 🙂 My work has been (and will continue being) a beautiful and fulfilling experience helping others grow.
The thing about groups has been knowing when to step away in order to get back to myself, to re-find my “happy.” Many times, including some of the situations that gave me the above results, I got caught up in the group’s direction or agenda, or followed the advice of well-meaning people in these communities instead of my own guidance.
Whoops.
Group experiences have been an excellent teacher. They have taught me the importance of fully honoring myself, and putting nothing ahead of that. It took a lot of trial and error to learn this. This has made group experiences feel… complicated…. yet I also appreciate the clarity of getting to this side of that.
And after many years of contemplation, I appreciate being able to see the wonderful things that have come to me from being open to group learning experiences.
And as long as I can keep practicing what I know now–being authentically true to myself–I look forward to many more of them.