You can't fake community, you can't force it, either.
Treat praise like criticism: refuse to accept either.
Email is a system that delivers other people's priorities to your attention. It's up to you to decide when that priority should be managed into your world. It's not the other way around.
My bank does not accept likes.
Surrounded yourself with brilliant people. You can't HELP but grow when that happens.
Don't settle. Don't finish crappy books. If you don't like the menu, leave the restaurant. If you're not on the right path, get off it.