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If you've been following along, you know I’ve been talking about letting go of old religious labels and expanding my view of God. This week, I'll share about something that goes hand-in-hand with this transformative journey: changing community.

Religious communities, with all their traditions and shared beliefs, are designed at their core to make one involved with it feel like they belong -- And for a long time, mine did.

It was a beautiful thing. It was a place where people knew me, where I had a role, and where I felt like I was part of some bigger purpose

But I’ve also learned in the last couple of years that the very traditions that make one feel included can also make you feel utterly excluded. This became especially clear to me when my life stopped fitting neatly into the expectations of the community.

My curiosity, difficult questions about faith, and sharing what I was discovering outside the "allowed boxes" were often met with silence, or worse, with suspicion. It was as if by asking questions, I was signaling that I no longer belonged. I wasn't fit to lead anymore, and this seemed to make me where I wasn't a friend anymore; I was a project to be fixed or a heretic to be feared.

This feeling of being on the outside was made even more painful when my health began to decline and I burned out completely -- emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually.

For years, I showed up for others. I was the one bringing meals, sending texts, and offering support to people who were missing from events, sick, or struggling. It was routinely mentioned how I was a strong, capable woman who was always there for others. I believed that by serving in this way, I was not only helping others, following the heart-calling to love, encourage, and "pastor" others, but also solidifying my place in the community.

But when I was at my most vulnerable -- sick and struggling in the year leading up to my separation and divorce -- I found myself completely alone. The phone didn't ring. There were no "checking on you" text messages. The very people and community I had poured myself into were silent.

I realized that my perceived strength had worked against me. People saw me as a pillar, a woman who "had it all together," and I didn't need support. In reality, I was crumbling inside, and the community I had given so much to was nowhere to be found.

Even after I began to recover from the burnout and reached out a few times, there was no response. I ended up officially stepping down and out of any leadership role or title that may have still been attached to me after 12 months of silence. I felt I no longer belonged as part of the community.

And then I separated from my husband -- at which, even when many of those same community members saw me in public, I was ignored as if I didn't exist at grocery stores, events in town, and was/am completely ignored online, when I previously had robust amounts of interactions. After the separation turned into a divorce, the reaction was a deafening silence that hurt me immensely.

This experience taught me that my sense of belonging and my worth couldn't be dependent even slightly on a group of people who believed the same things I did, or on my ability to be "strong" for everyone else. It reminded me that my relationship with the Divine needs to be strong enough to stand on its own, outside of any earthly community.

I have no ill will towards my prior community. I have come to understand that their silence is likely a reflection of their own fears and discomfort with my life no longer fitting their mold. However, it has taught me a profound and painful lesson about the distinction between genuine unity and uniformity.

I'm still a huge believer in community, but I now know that true belonging comes from being accepted for who you actually are, with all your questions and imperfections, not for how well you fit a specific mold. It's about finding a place where you really can be supported when you are messy, vulnerable, and in the midst of a real-life crisis without fear of criticism -- or worse, silent judgment.

Next week, I'm going to dive into the idea of worthiness and how this journey has helped me embody the knowing that my value is not something I have to earn.

Ready to Forge Your Own Path?

If you yearn to make choices that truly align with your deepest values (or maybe you are looking for how to identify your true values), I invite you to schedule a free clarity call with me. We can explore how embracing your own boldness can empower you to live more authentically and transform your relationship with others, God, and yourself.

​Book a Complimentary Clarity Call​

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Bold Challenge Questions

Where in your life have you been a "strong one" for others, only to find yourself alone when you needed support? What did that experience teach you about the difference between being helpful and being truly seen?

Have you ever felt that your questions or curiosity were a threat to your belonging in a community? How did that experience impact your willingness to be vulnerable and authentic?

What is the difference, for you, between unity and uniformity?

What would it feel like to be part of a community that embraces your questions, rather than trying to fit you into a specific mold?

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Craving More Challenge?

Subscribe to my YouTube channel and dare to watch the last three seasons of "Boldly Driven Conversations with Bri" episode(s). Season 4 begins THIS WEEK! Enjoy the trailer below. Until then, make sure to go back and watch all the episodes you've missed!

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Helpful Resources for your Personal Growth Journey!

​Emotional Health Digital Products found on my website​

​Emotional Healing journals on Amazon​

Your favorite, most radiant self is waiting for you to discover just how amazing you are!

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Brianna L. George

Boldly live out loud as your authentic self.💋

​BriannaLGeorge.com​

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Clarksville, TN 37040