If there's a word that sums up our hopes and dreams for 2020, it's community.
Shine was born out of community. When our co-founders Marah Lidey and Naomi Hirabayashi met in 2011, they were struggling with their own anxiety, stress, and even depression—and they found community within each other.
And now that we're a 4 million-strong community, it’s time to take things to the next level—and you agree.
“When we surveyed our community to learn what they wanted to see from the future of Shine, they told us they wanted to give back to the community just as much, if not more, than what they get from it,” Kara Cronin, Shine’s community lead, explains.
If self-care is about prioritizing, understanding, and loving yourself, community care connects us to others doing the same—pushing us all forward in the process.
That’s why we created our newest feature, the Daily Discussion. It's a safe space in the Shine app for you to come as you are, give and get support, and further engage with the Daily Shine.
Here's how you can join the Daily Discussion and practice daily self-care with the global Shine community. 💪
How do you join the Shine community's Daily Discussion?
Chances are if you’re reading this, you’re already part of the Shine Community! Head to the Shine app and join the Daily Discussion by tapping the button in your Today Tab.
In the Daily Discussion, you can reflect on the day’s question and see how others reflect on it, too. It’s a safe space to get support from others, and give advice on everything from how to achieve goals to how to build a self-care practice.
Pro tip: Join the discussion after reading or listening to the Daily Shine, your morning podcast-meets-meditation. The weekday questions will connect with the Daily Shine theme!
You can leave a comment and sift through hundreds of people’s thoughts and show them love by reacting to posts with emojis (more on that later).
Not seeing anything of the sort when you open your app? It may be time for you to update. Click here to make sure you have the latest version of Shine so you can start 2020 strong.
What do I get out of the Shine Community?
The best part about the Daily Discussion: It gives you a chance to reflect every day and get a constant reminder that you aren’t alone in your self-care journey.
“One of our community members said it best in a post to the Daily Discussion: ‘Simply being here reminds me that we aren’t as different as we thought we were—that’s empowering.’ I think the Daily Discussion will help people realize that each day,” Kara says.
Leave your thoughts, ask questions, and offer support to others right in the Shine app.
Wait, so what do those emojis under each comment mean?
When we picked the reaction emojis, we focused on the motivations of our members: what they want to get out of the community when they come to post and what they want to give to others when they’re reading posts.
Kara explained that in brainstorms, three main questions kept coming up:
How can we make sure members feel seen?
How can we make sure members feel supported?
How can we make sure members feel celebrated?
After iterations of emojis and feedback from premium Shine members, the three that felt right were:
✨ to relay a “you got this” sentiment
❤️ to send love
🎉 to congratulate someone
How does my question get featured in the Daily Discussion?
If you've poked around the Daily Discussion already, you may have noticed that many of the questions are directly from the Shine community. "We're creating this content in partnership with our community members, which makes every day's topic even more timely and relevant," Kara explains.
If you've got a question, you can submit it using this form here and you might see it in the app soon!
Ready to self-care, together?
Now that you have these tools at your disposal, you’re ready to start bringing community care into your self-care practice.
“The vulnerability and kindness of our community members wows me every day,” Kara says. “They connect over their deepest struggles and are unafraid to share because they know they’ll be met with support and relief that they’re not alone in what they’re going through.”
Start by tuning into the Daily Shine every weekday this month, where we’ll be focusing on self-acceptance as your secret power for 2020. Then, reflect on what you’ve learned in the Daily Discussion.
We’re stronger when we take care of ourselves together—and now, the Shine app lets you do just that. See you in the Daily Discussion!
P.S. Have feedback about the Daily Discussion? Let us know here!
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