Gemma Cartwright

Community Over Membership

Everyone wants to feel like they belong. It is one of the deepest human needs. You can have all the money in the world, all the freedom, all the supplements and planners and checklists, but if you are waking up alone in your mission or your day feels like it is missing a beat, it is usually because you are not surrounded by the right people.

I have learned over years of coaching women around the world online and in person that it is not enough to buy a membership or swipe your card for another app. You need a community that knows your name, notices when you do not show up, and celebrates when you hit your goals. A real community is what changes you.

This is why when you build your life or rebuild your habits or try to heal your health or chase your freedom you must choose your environment first. You must actively place yourself in the rooms that match your future not your past. You must stand alongside people who are doing it too because there will be days when your discipline will wobble. It is your community that will hold you up.

Why community matters more than a membership

Memberships are everywhere now. You can sign up for anything on your phone. Training plans, mindset sessions, yoga classes, language apps, business growth, fasting protocols. All of it.

Most people sign up and vanish. It becomes a line on their credit card statement they forget to cancel.

A community is different.

A community calls you in. A community holds space for you to grow. A community makes you feel seen. You learn faster inside a community because you see others ahead of you who are proof it is possible. You get the energy transference from those who are consistent. You feel connected which is the most powerful motivation there is.

When you are trying to change your health it is easy to get in your head. You think you are the only one craving the biscuits at 9pm. You think you are the only one who wants to quit on a cold morning. But when you have a community you realise we are all the same. You see others doing it anyway. It makes you move.

The power of surrounding yourself with the right people

I always say your environment is stronger than your willpower. If you are surrounded by people who moan about Mondays and hate their bodies and talk themselves out of everything it will rub off on you no matter how motivated you are.

When you surround yourself with people who have energy who are working on themselves who talk about their goals who clap for your wins you rise without realising it.

This is why people come to Lanzarote for retreats. They want to feel that immersion. They want to feel that energy. They want to leave their normal environment for a while to reset and be around others on the same journey. That is the power of getting in the room. But the real magic is when you take that energy back home and you stay connected to the community that continues to hold you accountable.

This is why in our online community we do not just tick boxes. We are not here for numbers. We are here to see each other win. We are here to move together, fast, and fiercely.

Online community vs in person community

Both are powerful. Both matter. I have women who only train with me online. They join live from their kitchens and garages and living rooms around the world. They might be in Sweden, Ireland, the UK, Germany, Lanzarote. We see each other every morning, and they feel part of something bigger than their own four walls.

I have women who only come to in-person sessions here in Lanzarote. They need the energy of the room, the music, the sweat, the high fives, the beach after. They thrive on being seen in person and they build friendships here.

Some women come on retreats for full immersion. They unplug from their day-to-day and come to Lanzarote to reset. They leave with new friendships, deep realisations, and fresh clarity about what matters in their life.

It is all community. Different entry points, same glue. You get to choose your frequency and the level you want to show up. But it is not about a membership box. It is about community. That is what keeps you consistent and inspired.

What people are searching for when they look for community

You might think people are searching for workouts or mindset tips or nutrition help. But behind all of that they are searching for connection. They are searching for a safe place to be seen as they are while they work on who they want to become. They are searching for realness. For accountability. For laughter. For somewhere to feel alive.

If you are building a community yourself or you want to strengthen the community you are in these are the things that matter

• Consistency showing up regularly even if you do not feel like it
• Visibility letting yourself be seen and sharing your wins and struggles
• Support giving and receiving encouragement
• Energy staying connected to the vibe of people who lift you
• Fun enjoying the process not just ticking boxes

This is what keeps people coming back. This is what keeps you growing.

The difference between a lonely journey and a shared one

I know what it is like to feel alone on your journey. To wake up with your goals in your head but no one to talk about them with. To feel like the odd one out because you want more for yourself. It can feel heavy. It can feel like no one gets it.

When you are in a community that shares your vision you feel lighter. You feel normal for wanting big things. You feel supported when you stumble. You feel celebrated when you win. You do not need to explain why you care about your health or your mindset or your energy because everyone there gets it.

Real stories from the community

There are women in our community who have transformed everything in their life because they stopped trying to do it alone.

There is the woman who stopped drinking and found she had so much more energy and clarity. The community supported her through the cravings and the social pressures and now she feels free.

There is the woman who started training every morning from her living room while her kids were getting ready for school. She thought she was too busy to train but the community showed her how to find the time and now she is the strongest she has ever been.

There is the woman who came to Lanzarote for a retreat and realised she had been playing small in her business and her life. She went home and made big moves because she felt clear and strong and supported.

This is what happens when you are part of a community. Your life expands.

How to find the right community for you

You need to find a community that aligns with your values. A community that lives in integrity. A community that feels real to you. You will know when you find it because you will feel that spark. You will feel that pull to show up. You will feel energised by it not drained.

Ask yourself

• Do these people live in alignment with what I want for my life
• Do I feel seen and encouraged here
• Do I feel challenged to grow here
• Do I feel inspired to show up consistently

If the answer is yes you are in the right place.

What we stand for in our community

In our Lioness community we stand for showing up even when it is hard. We stand for courage over comfort. We stand for honesty. We stand for high standards. We stand for celebration. We stand for radical self responsibility. We stand for fun. We stand for freedom.

It is not about perfection. It is about progress. It is about real connection while you chase your goals. It is about becoming the woman you want to be while enjoying your life now not later.

A final reminder

If you are looking for a sign to get in the room with people who will help you grow this is it. Do not wait until you feel ready. Do not wait until you have it all together. Community will help you get it together.

You deserve to feel connected while you build your strongest healthiest happiest life. You deserve to have people in your corner. You deserve to have a place where you belong.

Memberships are good but community changes everything. Choose community.

Action steps for you today

• Write down what you want for your life and health in the next six months
• Write down who you are currently spending your time with and if they match that vision
• Seek out or recommit to a community that aligns with your goals
• Show up consistently and let yourself be seen
• Celebrate others and yourself inside that space

If you want to join us online we go live every morning and move together. If you want to join us in Lanzarote we host retreats and in person sessions. If you want to plug into a real community that will challenge you and celebrate you while you grow you are welcome here.

Because community is everything.

Big love

Gemma C xxx