Tag Archives: building community

The Cheerleader- Encouragement in Action

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Ever since I was a little girl, I was reminded of who I am by a special person in my life—my mother. I knew if no one else believed in me, my mom, Vivian, did. In fact, my mom has been such a cheerleader for me that I often joked that if I told my mom I was going to the moon, she would say that I could and buy me items for outer space. My mother has always been my biggest cheerleader.

Now I have to ask you a question: Who is the cheerleader in your life? If you are searching your mind to identify who that person is, let me help you by giving you some qualities to look for. Here are 3 qualities The Cheerleader should have:

They affirm you

Your cheerleader is a living affirmation. They offer you praise without hesitation, complimenting you on the progress you are making. They boost your confidence when you dare to doubt your ability to shine. They stand by you as you step outside your comfort zone, experiencing a life that is thriving. The cheerleader in your life rubber-stamps and validates your strengths without shame, telling you, “You’ve got this!!”

They celebrate you

Your cheerleader not only roots for you but will be the loudest one proclaiming that you won. This form of recognition is encouragement in action. The action may look like taking you out to eat, throwing you a party, or giving you a call, commemorating and rejoicing in your accomplishments, big and small. I have a peer from a coaching group named Alicia who not only celebrates my accomplishments but called me excited when I shared that my son graduated from grad school. That blew my mind—that a person not only rejoiced at my successes but also at the successes of someone I cherish and love.

They remind you of who you are

Your cheerleader reminds you of who you are. Sometimes this world serves you blows that make it hard to see how far you have come. This person honors and helps you recall your résumé. They won’t let you forget that triumph you had when you were the underdog or when others doubted your success. They remind you of what you are called to do and your purpose on this planet. Your cheerleader awakens memories to help you recall your accolades.

As I have said while introducing the concept of a Life Board™, your next breakthrough isn’t a better mindset but better people. We all need community to be our best selves. I hope this article helps you realize that you have to be intentional about designing a team that helps propel you to a flourishing life.

If you need help with designing your Life Board™, don’t hesitate to reach out to Nekeshia c/o Meraki Counseling at 832-779-3039 or merakicounseling@outlook.com. The Life Board™: A Guided Journal to Reflect on the People Who Anchor, Affirm, and Align You is also available to help you identify the people needed for success in life.

The Peer – Growing Together

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I mentioned in the last post that the focus is shifting from building confidence to building community. The first area of focus is on peer connections.

I want to clarify what a peer is first. If you are like me, I thought a peer was synonymous with a friend, but boy, was I wrong. A peer is someone who is your equal in age, rank, or status (such as a classmate or coworker), while a friend is someone you know, like, and trust through a personal bond. While a friend can be a peer, many peers are strangers or colleagues rather than friends. I think it is important to clarify the distinction to avoid heartache and unrealistic expectations.

Now, let’s talk about why a peer/friend is important when building your community with intention. More importantly, I want to coach you on what qualities to look for when deciphering who is a peer/friend worth building a connection with:

Honesty: They speak truthfully and openly, even when the truth is hard to hear.

Loyalty: They stay committed and dependable, standing by you through good times and hard times.

Trustworthiness: They protect your confidence and act with your best interests at heart.

Dependability: They are reliable and consistent, showing up when they say they will.

Supportiveness: They encourage, assist, and comfort you through both successes and challenges.

No matter what you choose to call that person, the bottom line is being strategic about filling this role. I want to leave you with a quote that my mentor and coach says very often:

“You don’t go as far as your dream. You go as far as your team.” — Dr. Dharius Daniels

If you need help deciphering who is on your Life Board, don’t hesitate to reach out to Nekeshia c/o Meraki Counseling at 832-779-3039 or merakicounseling@outlook.com.

Also, if your desire is to design your Life Board but you wish to explore this topic more independently, check out my guided journal, Life Board: A Guided Journal to Reflect on the People Who Anchor, Affirm, and Align You.