Jordan Peterson Live on Tour: The Hidden Key to a Fulfilling Life
Support Is More Than a Service — It’s a Network of Real People
Good support isn’t simply about ticking boxes or having a list of services attached to your plan. It’s about the people around you. Real, caring individuals who contribute in different ways, coming together to help you live your best life.
This network might include:
Family — They often know your history, your likes and dislikes, and can sometimes anticipate your needs without words. Even if physical distance or circumstances like lockdowns keep you apart, family can be a source of grounding and comfort. And yes, families can argue — but in healthy families, those arguments are part of a larger pattern of communication and repair. Families can help teach and model communication. That’s powerful.
Friends — These are your chosen family. They support you emotionally, listen when you need to talk, celebrate your wins, and stand by you during setbacks. Good friends accept you as you are, without judgment or unrealistic expectations.
Colleagues and Understanding Bosses — Workplaces aren’t just about jobs; they’re communities. Having colleagues who get your needs and bosses who support flexibility or accommodations can be the difference between feeling valued and isolated. Even when some universities or professionals argue that not everyone needs to go to college, a strong work ethic and real-world trade skills are still vital and deeply respected. My own trade is crying out for people who are ready to take on responsibility, show up, and commit.
Partners — Whether romantic, platonic, or life partners, these are the people who walk alongside you, sharing your goals and helping carry the load when life gets tough.
Support Staff — The people who provide direct assistance with daily living. When they approach their work with respect, kindness, and genuine care, they become more than helpers — they become trusted allies in your journey.
Support Coordinators — Behind the scenes, support coordinators help you navigate complicated systems, organise services, and advocate for what you need. Their work is essential in bridging gaps and reducing stress.
Medical Professionals — Doctors, nurses, therapists, and pharmacists are also crucial members of your ark. Beyond medical treatment, having health professionals who listen carefully, respect your autonomy, and involve you in decisions can be empowering.
Familiar Strangers — These are the people you might not see every day but who provide small moments of connection and practical help, like the pharmacist who understands your medication routine, the bus driver who recognises your face, or the local shop owner who greets you by name.
Together, these people create a safety net. And when it works, it works beautifully.
Real Support Happens in the Small Moments
Support is often thought of as big, scheduled interventions — appointments, therapies, or structured care. But more often than not, the small moments are where good support shines:
The patience shown when plans change or things don’t go smoothly.
Kindness is when a simple task becomes overwhelming.
The "we’ll figure this out together" attitude when you’re struggling.
It might look like a support worker noticing you’re having a tough day and asking if you’d like to talk. Or it could be someone remembering how you take your tea, or helping you write an email you’re too anxious to send.
These moments build trust and create a foundation of safety and dignity. When someone treats you this way, you feel seen and valued, not just like a checklist on a form.
The Role of Systems: Centrelink, the NDIS, and Social Support
In Australia, we’re lucky to have some strong social supports, but they’re not always easy to access or understand.
Systems like Centrelink and the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) can play a huge role in supporting people with disability, chronic illnesses, mental health needs, and people navigating long-term unemployment. When they work well, these systems can reduce stress, increase independence, and unlock opportunities.
But these systems alone aren’t enough. They rely on human beings to make them work. Having a great support coordinator, a helpful Centrelink case worker, or a provider that listens to your needs can make all the difference.
It’s also important to remember that JobSeeker is designed to be short-term. Saving and planning ahead matter, even when it feels out of reach. A former Prime Minister once said, “The best form of welfare is a job.” That was at a time when jobs were plentiful and employers trained people on the job. Today, it’s harder to access the Disability Support Pension (DSP) — by design. This isn’t a criticism of those who need DSP (because many genuinely do), but a call for more employers to work with people with disabilities, to support meaningful, sustainable employment.
When you're planning your future, understanding how these systems operate — and who can help you navigate them — is a key part of building your ark.
Why Responsibility and Belief Matter — Especially for Higher-Functioning Clients
For people who are labelled as "higher functioning," there’s often an assumption that they don’t need as much support. But needing support isn’t a sign of weakness — it’s a part of being human.
One of the most powerful things good support can offer is belief. Believing in someone’s potential. Trusting their voice. Supporting their goals, even if they’re different from what’s expected.
Being given responsibility — whether it’s managing your own appointments, co-designing your plan, or being trusted to problem-solve — can be incredibly empowering. For some people, it might be the first time in their lives that someone has genuinely believed in them.
Support that includes belief changes everything. It stops being about “care” and starts being about partnership.
That said, in the disability community — and in life more broadly — it’s important to learn how to tell the difference between a disability-related barrier and an excuse. Support helps with the former. But growing as a person means learning to own the latter, too.
🧩 Why Family and Friends’ Opinions Really Matter
When you're planning your next steps — especially in areas like supported living, work, or education — the input of trusted family and friends matters.
Why? Because they know the version of you outside the system.
They’ve seen what makes you thrive. They’ve watched you hit roadblocks. They bring personal context that professionals might miss.
And more importantly, they offer emotional grounding when decision-making gets hard.
That doesn’t mean their opinion overrides yours. But when trusted people speak from experience and care, they can help you:
Check if something feels right — or if it’s just a box-ticking exercise.
Challenge you gently when needed.
Remind you of your worth when systems make you feel small
Your ark isn’t just made of staff and services. It’s made of people who know you. And their views matter more than a brochure or a sales pitch.
Planning Your Future Starts With People — For Everyone
This idea of the ark doesn’t just apply to people with disabilities. It’s a powerful question for everyone: Who is in your ark?
We all rely on others, and we all benefit from having strong networks of trust and support. Whether you live with disability, care for someone, or are simply trying to live a good and connected life, the village matters.
But here’s the thing: a village comes with accountability.
You can’t ask for connection and support without also being willing to show up for others, to be real, to communicate honestly, and sometimes, to grow.
We live in a time when technology connects us more than ever, yet loneliness and disconnection are at an all-time high. We need to teach people how to have conversations again. How to resolve conflict. How to be present — not just on their phone.
And yes, I get the irony of saying that in a blog post. I’m building this platform into a business, so I’m online a lot. But even I know: sometimes, you’ve got to put the phone down. Be in the moment. Talk to the people around you. As the young ones say: touch grass.
If this all sounds old-fashioned — well, it kind of is.
Communities used to revolve around places like churches, schools, corner stores, and town halls. Support networks were built slowly, through shared spaces and shared lives. Going to college or starting a job was like going on a grand adventure — not just for career, but for connection.
Some (not all) mental illness today is linked to the deep isolation people feel, even when surrounded by digital connections. And that has to change.
The internet is a tool. It’s neither good nor bad — but how you use it matters. Build a village, not just a feed.
It’s Okay to Start Small — And Build Slowly
If you're reading this and thinking, “I don’t have those people yet,” that’s okay. Not everyone starts with a strong ark. But you can build one.
You might start with:
One support worker you trust
A pharmacist who knows your name
A community group you feel safe
A friend who always checks in
Every ark is different. It’s not about quantity — it’s about trust, safety, and consistency.
Final Thought
You don’t have to do it all alone. With the right support network — your ark — you can face life’s floods with confidence, knowing you have people who truly care, listen, and show up.
Support is about real people and real relationships. It’s not perfect, but it can be powerful. And when it works, it can change everything.
So ask yourself: Who’s in my ark? And who do I want to invite in next?
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