What if community is the cure?
The world is fractured, but there’s one thing that can heal it
Open any news site today and you can’t help but feel the weight of a world that seems to be fracturing. Headlines shout about political upheaval, climate crisis, and technological disruption. Social media feeds overflow with outrage. And increasingly, it feels impossible for people to even engage in civil conversation about the challenges we face.
It's easy to feel powerless. To wonder if finding common ground is even possible anymore.
But last month, one of our nation’s top medical leaders offered a different perspective—and a prescription we desperately need.
In his final message as U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy didn’t prescribe a policy or a program. Instead, he named what’s actually missing in our society: genuine community.
“The fracturing of community in America is driving a deeper spiritual crisis that threatens our fundamental well-being. It is fueling not only illness and despair on an individual level, but also pessimism and distrust across society.”
Yet within this diagnosis lies hope. Because while we can’t single-handedly solve every global crisis, we can choose to come together. We can build spaces where real connection happens.
The Medicine We Need
Dr. Murthy shares a story about his father growing up in India, where families looked out for each other without hesitation. If you walked by someone’s house, they invited you in to share whatever food they had. When neighbors struggled, the community stepped in to help.
Despite growing up without running water or electricity, his father never felt that gnawing sense of emptiness—until he left his village.
Because what they lacked in wealth, they made up for in community.
This isn’t just feel-good nostalgia. Dr. Murthy’s research confirms what we intuitively know: community is a powerful source of life satisfaction—and even life expectancy.
“Without community, it is hard to feel whole.”
The Illusion of Connection
Today, we’re caught in what Dr. Murthy calls the “modern triad of success”—wealth, fame, and power. We chase these things believing they’ll bring fulfillment, but they rarely do. Trying to fill an internal void with likes and followers, he says, is
“like drinking seawater when you’re thirsty—you’re only left more parched.”
It’s tempting to turn to social media for connection. And yes, it serves a purpose—helping us discover new ideas, stay in touch with far-flung friends, and share our work with the world.
But these platforms aren’t designed for genuine connection. They’re designed for engagement. And in the attention economy, what drives engagement? Extreme views, outrage, and division.
The algorithm doesn’t care about your well-being. It cares about keeping you scrolling, clicking, reacting.
A Different Kind of Fulfillment
Dr. Murthy offers another way forward, what he calls the “triad of fulfillment”:
Relationships—genuine connections where we feel seen
Service—contributing meaningfully to others’ lives
Purpose—having a clear why that guides our actions
But here’s my favorite part: he doesn’t shy away from the word love. He puts it right at the center of his prescription for America.
Not as a feel-good platitude. But as “a commanding force with the power to build, strengthen, and heal.”
Love as generosity. Love as showing up. Love as the opposite of transactional relationships—the kind that reduce connection to a cost-benefit equation.
This is why some communities feel vibrant and life-giving while others feel hollow. The best communities aren’t necessarily the flashiest. Excellence isn’t defined by having the biggest audience, the most high-profile members, or the most features packed into the platform.
What makes a community vibrant and keeps people coming back is something much simpler—a culture of care.
A space where people put effort into relationships. Where small acts of kindness open the door to friendships. Where vulnerability and transparency are the norm.
I see this every day in The Hive. Just last week, during a self-compassion workshop members paired up in breakout rooms to take turns sharing what they appreciated about themselves.
In those few minutes of genuine presence and attention, people experienced what Dr. Murthy describes as:
“the power of being around people who allow you to be unabashedly yourself.”
Don’t you love that? This sense of being known and accepted is entirely possible when we create intentional online spaces. Not the shallow connections of social media, but real community where:
People form true friendships
Conversations go deeper
Different perspectives lead to healthy dialogue
Vulnerability is welcomed
Small acts of service happen naturally
Your Work Is the Cure
Dr. Murthy is calling for “a new generation of community builders.” People who are committed to creating connection and belonging in a world that desperately needs it.
And if you're reading this, I have a feeling that’s you.
Whether you're preparing a new space for belonging, deepening an existing community, or just figuring out where to start, know this: Your work matters.
If you’re looking for guidance, I’d love to help. Here’s where you can explore ways to work together:
➡️ Explore ways to build community together →
Because the world doesn’t just need more communities. It needs more people willing to lead them with love.
As Dr. Murthy reminds us:
“Good people with hearts full of love can change the world.”
We don’t have to accept a future of division and distrust. We can choose community. We can create spaces where people feel whole. Where connection trumps conflict. Where love—real, practical, courageous love—shows us a better way forward.
Your work of bringing people together is precisely the medicine Dr. Murthy prescribes for our fractured world.
Keep building. Keep connecting. Keep showing up.
With hope and gratitude,
How are you seeing the impact of community in your work? I’d love to know what resonates with you.
Everybody should read this!
In so many ways, we all know it is true, but we haven't verbalized it as clearly as Laura has.
Love this… and felt every single word!