By Fiona
In this deeply honest reflection, Hermanas ambassador Fiona explores the invisible barriers that hold many of us back from fully embracing community—and how we can move beyond them.
What does community mean to you?
What are you actually doing to nurture one?
Community requires you to show up.
I hear it all the time—women craving community, longing for a space to belong, to connect, to be seen.
But let me ask you: What are you actually doing to nurture one?
Community doesn’t just magically appear. It takes effort. It takes vulnerability. It takes a willingness to show up—not just for others, but for yourself.
What holds you back?
I created FemTRIBE (my women in business community) because I, too, felt that longing. I wanted to be surrounded by other women navigating the same journey—building businesses, chasing dreams, figuring it all out as we go.
I knew I wasn’t alone in that feeling. So I built a space where we could gather, share tools, exchange advice, feel supported as we grow together.
But over the years, I’ve noticed something...
A pattern. A block that holds so many women back from fully stepping into community.
Shame
Shame in sharing what they do because they’re not “there” yet—wherever there is.
Money shame—the belief that if they aren’t making enough, they’re not “real” entrepreneurs.
Feeling like they don’t quite fit in, because of their impossible standards of what success is.
Comparison
The quiet undercurrent of competition that whispers;
"She’s further ahead than me” or
“Why am I struggling when she’s thriving?”
Instead of seeing other women’s success as proof of what’s possible, comparison turns it into evidence of our own inadequacy.
It creates distance, even when we crave connection.
Fear
Fear of showing up. Of meeting new women.
“What if I put myself out there, and no one cares?”
Fear of taking time away from the business, believing that if you pause—even for connection—you might fall behind.
But connection is what fuels our growth!
Resistance
The resistance of asking for help and receiving support. Because somewhere along the way, we were taught that needing support is weakness and a sign of failure.
Maybe you recognise yourself in one of these?
Maybe you’ve felt the pull of community but also the hesitation to fully step in?
This includes me...
This isn’t to call you out or create more shame. This is a reflection—a truth I’ve witnessed in my years of holding space for women.
And I’m not exempt from it either. I’ve wrestled with my own shadows of comparison, of feeling not enough, of wishing for help yet not asking for it.
The sisterhood wound
The sisterhood wound—the fear of judgment, the competition, the self-doubt—it runs deep.
Many of us have experienced exclusion, gossip, or toxic competition in the past. This creates hesitation and distrust—even if you crave connection, you fear being hurt again, and I get it!
If we don’t look at this, name it, and heal it, we unintentionally keep ourselves stuck in the very thing we say we want to move away from.
So, I ask you again—What does community mean to you?
And more importantly, how are you choosing to show up for it?
Let’s talk. Let’s unpack it.
Let’s build something real—together.
Meet Fiona
Passionate about guiding others to shed limiting beliefs, reconnect with their true essence, and step into a life of self-worth and authenticity. Her journey with endometriosis led her to the healing power of ceremonial cacao, sparking a deeper exploration into menstrual cycle wisdom, nervous system regulation, reiki, and somatic therapy. Through her workshops and events, Fiona creates spaces for women to soften into their bodies, release emotional barriers, and cultivate deep self-trust and compassion.
Fiona is an Hermanas ambassador in Barcelona and is co-hosting an event on the 15th of March. See more & Join.
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