The flourishing community

~ A Community that Flourishes~

Collective action & self-realisation

The community is the first form of collective action and coexistence. It is the basic formation from which the first villages and then the cities originated. Toennies in his classic sociology work “Community and Society” (1887) has a very interesting definition of community: “
as the expression of the desire of every human being to function universally in a space that offers possibilities for self-realization
“.

Within the community, affectionate relationships are created, as in a family, but also relationships necessary for normal socialisation, such as those of the neighbourhood. We have of course & communities with the specific purpose of cultivating a way of life with respect and balance with nature, such as eco-communities.

Today the concept of community is in crisis. The isolation that comes from the modern way of life has led to the deterioration of the concept & existence of the neighbourhood or other collective formations.

At the same time, however, there is a clear tendency in Greece and in the world in general for communitarianism. The challenge for the creation & smooth functioning of communities is intense as attitudes of selfishness and narcissism are promoted.

Community flourishing

Community flourishing is about supporting people who make efforts for community, whether it is a collective activity, such as a group promoting urban farming, or an effort for collective living at the eco-community level.

Work with oneself is considered necessary in terms of self-awareness and behaviour change. The aim is to move from attitudes that create tensions and strong reactions to attitudes of respect and care. The needs, principles, motivations and expectations of each person involved are studied in order to match those of the group and interpersonal relationships.

A community flourishes when the individuals involved flourish. Together they create the atmosphere, as in a garden full of flowers and fruit trees that all together participate in the blossoming of the garden as a Whole.