The Power of True Community: Reflections from My TEDx Experience

When I was invited to give a TEDx talk earlier this year, the overarching theme was community. We were each encouraged to weave that thread into our message, looking at what community means from different angles, exploring what happens when people come together with shared purpose and mutual respect.

What I didn’t expect was how much I would be impacted, not just by giving the talk, but by the community that formed among the speakers themselves.

In a world that often feels polarised, where competition can overshadow connection, especially in online spaces, it’s easy to fall into a scarcity mindset. Social media can make us feel like we’re all just trying to be seen, shouting into a crowded void. And while there’s room for everyone, it can often feel like we’re all competing for limited attention.

But this experience reminded me of something very different.

Before we met in person, the TEDx speakers connected through a WhatsApp group. There was warmth and curiosity from the start. But something shifted dramatically when we finally gathered in real life. The energy was palpable, open-hearted, encouraging, deeply supportive. We weren’t just individuals delivering talks. We became a team, rooting for one another, cheering each other on behind the scenes and from the audience.

It was such a powerful reminder that when we allow ourselves to be open, when we drop the armor just enough to let people in (while still honouring our boundaries and protecting our energy), real connection happens. Something magical begins to unfold.

We came from different backgrounds and brought wildly different messages to that red circle on stage, but we shared a common intention: to speak from the heart and offer something meaningful. And because we were held in such a nurturing environment, we were able to show up fully. I believe it elevated all of our talks. You could feel it in the room. A collective exhale. A sense of trust. A deep presence.

A huge part of that was thanks to the organisers, Chris and Angela, who created such a strong, intentional container. When something is built with integrity and care, people feel it. And it allows them to thrive.

This experience reminded me how vital it is to be planted in the right spaces, not necessarily the biggest or loudest, but the ones that support your nervous system, encourage your growth, and feel energetically clean. Spaces where you’re not hustling to keep up or competing to be seen, but rather rooted in trust, mutual elevation, and joy.

Because here’s the truth: whether your work reaches one person or one million, the right people will find it. The impact doesn’t lie in the numbers, it lies in the connection, the resonance, the ripple. And when we nurture ourselves and our work from a place of true community, we create something that lasts.

It can be hard to lean in and trust. It can feel vulnerable. But when we do, we remember what’s really important: support, love, and the ability to live a life filled with meaning, joy, and fun.

I’ll never forget this TEDx experience. It anchored something deep in me—a belief in building from the ground up with strong foundations, good energy, and a spirit of collaboration over competition.

I’d love to hear from you, have you ever been part of a community that changed you or lifted you in an unexpected way? What did that feel like? Let’s celebrate the power of people coming together.

All my love

Hannah X