GlenM
12
53,891
L
Specialist 6
5 star rating
Rating
Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase - MLK
Number of ratings30
Number of reviews13
Listens toTeens & Over 18
LanguagesEnglish
Listener sinceJul 10, 2013
Last activein last week
GenderMale
PathStep 328
People helped73
Chats480
Group support chats120
Listener group chats145
Forum posts4,432
Forum upvotes24,021
Bio
Welcome to 7 Cups! I'm the chief cook and bottle washer here. I love 7 cups and the community we have built. Really proud of all that we've accomplished and excited to see how we continue to evolve. I unfortunately do not have much time for listening, but please drop me a note if you have thoughts or feeback. Glad you are here!
Recent forum posts
December 2024 Community Update!
Site Updates /
by GlenM
Last post
December 10th
December 10th
...See more
Dear Community
I enjoyed celebrating Cupsgiving with all of you! A big thank you to all the people that cooked the meals, shared the pies/cookies, and took part in all of the programming. It was great to read the forum posts highlighting the impact of gratitude and generosity!
The big news in our world is that we released our local support systems. This is version 1 of us working to bridge online care with offline care. Many people come to 7 Cups looking for help on the ground - they might need access to a food pantry, a shelter, a therapist, a treatment center, or a faith organization. We often make referrals to these places, but we can now do it in a more deliberate manner.
Also, you’ll notice if you click here: 7cups.com/local [http://7cups.com/local], you’ll see that we have the beginnings of a parallel mental health system for each country (and many states in the US). We are highlighting the number of people we’ve helped, the number of listeners, and the top 50 mental health issues for each state or country. We hope that these pages become hubs for local support resources so that people can get better help. Feedback and ideas on how we could make this better are very welcome!
Last, we are also working on a simple but powerful intervention we are calling the transformation wheel. I’ve asked the team and ambassadors to help me strengthen it before I share it more broadly. Look for more on this in the next week or two.
With gratitude,
GlenM
H
Happy Cupsgiving! I hope you’ve been enjoying all the gratitude events our wonderful community has put on. There’s plenty more to look forward to with Cupsmas so keep your eyes out for announcements, and I am excited to be out there celebrating with you!
Speaking of gratitude, our caring community is at work each day supporting and uplifting each other through various acts of compassion. Listeners, leaders, and members alike - it could be anyone making a difference through little acts of kindness. I rolled out a recognition activity to catch these moments and tag them! This is community-wide and runs through the end of the year so bookmark/subscribe to this post (Caught You Kind) [https://www.7cups.com/forum/projectsandevents/CommunityActivitiesEvents_1908/JoinOurCaughtYouKindRecognitionCampaign_340430/] and let someone know you see them!
The Welcome Committee has been a smashing success! Since its launch in July, our team has welcomed over 19,000+ new members! That's a staggering number, representing 19,000+ unique personal messages. But more importantly, these outreaches have created a vital bridge between newcomers and the 7 Cups community. By reaching out personally, Welcome Committee members are helping our new members feel seen, supported, and equipped to navigate the platform. This warm welcome makes acclimating to 7 Cups a smoother experience, encouraging them to participate and benefit from all the amazing resources and connections available.
We need more folks to ramp up our efforts and cover more ground. If you're a Verified Listener, please consider joining us: apply here! [https://www.7cups.com/forum/welcome/TheWelcomeCommitteeTeam_2670/CallingAllVerifiedListenersHelpWantedonthe7CupsWelcomeCommittee_332406/]
Are you a new member who has been greeted by the WC? Drop a reply after reading this post to let me know!
And do check out our top greeters of the month here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/welcome/TheWelcomeCommitteeTeam_2670/CongratulationstoourNovemberWelcomeCommitteeTeamMemberMilestones_340504/]!
Hope
One of the most exciting news from November is the launch of the 7 Cups scholarship! The 7 Cups Scholarship reflects our commitment to empowering future mental health leaders by supporting students and future students in pursuing a mental health-related program. Open to both people in and outside the USA. Join us in shaping a brighter future for mental health care! More info can be found here [https://www.7cups.com/academy/] (info comes right after university logos listed on the page)
It has been an eventful month on the teen side! Quests of Kindness continued with Weeks 2, 3, and 4 going live. Week 2 focused on kindness towards others, Week 3 on cultivating optimism, and Week 4 on building resilience. Teens and adult-teen listeners can still participate and catch up on tasks, the deadline to complete the challenge is December 15, 2024. We also launched Mission Revive TL, aimed at making the teen listener room a more engaging and supportive space. Interested in contributing? You can join the efforts here. [https://www.7cups.com/forum/teens/TeenZoneCommunityTeam_590/MissionRevivingTLisBackbutonlyforalimitedTime_340860]
Additionally, The Leadership Development Program (LDP) has adjusted its entry requirements, members can now join after just two weeks on 7 Cups (previously one month)
The workshop series is getting quite some interest from our community users. In light of the efforts of participants and received interest, the deadline to complete all participation is extended from November 30, 2024, to December 8, 2024. You can check out all the workshops being offered here. [https://www.7cups.com/forum/community/General_2530/Allforumworkshopseriesnowavailableforalimitedtime_338545/?p=2]
One of the most exciting happenings of November has been the updated 7 Cups Academy page! Check it out here [https://www.7cups.com/academy/]
Obs
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I am grateful for everyone and their compassionate presence and empowering efforts in the group support chat. You make a huge difference in someone’s day to make it comforting and caring. Let’s continue to spread positivity and compassion everywhere.
This month we celebrated Cupsgiving and were thankful to all who participated in the group discussions [https://www.7cups.com/forum/groupmod/General_2446/JoinusfortheCupsgivingCelebrationintheGroupSupportChats_339964/], fun activities [https://www.7cups.com/forum/groupmod/GroupSupportCommunityEvents_2295/WouldyouratherpollThanksgivingedition_340956/], and gratitude shares [https://www.7cups.com/forum/groupmod/GroupSupportCommunityEvents_2295/Cupsgiving2024Thankyouforsharing_341128/]. This time of the year is magical as everyone comes together to reflect and share what they are grateful for. If you haven’t shared yours yet, please share here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/groupmod/GroupSupportCommunityEvents_2295/Cupsgiving2024Thankyouforsharing_341128/]!
Also, 100+ members took the Compassion quiz and earned the shiny badge, “Compassion Hero”. This quiz is a good way to evaluate how compassionate you are. Everyone who has taken the quiz so far loved it and as per their feedback and suggestions, we will be releasing the second compassion quiz by the end of December 2024. We are close to 300 compassionate heroes so far, We are looking forward to getting 500+ compassionate heroes by the end of the year. If you are a member and you haven’t attempted the quiz yet, give it a try here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScMEXP6lopKu4ZJAtmctmwk0vq9Fp7T892gWJteqmQoIJa_Dg/viewform]!
And, we are working on reviving the Birthday Team to celebrate the birthday of the members and listeners with the community. If anyone is interested in joining the team, please feel free to send me a message at 7cups.com/@ASilentObserver [http://7cups.com/@ASilentObserver] We will be sharing more info and updates soon with you.
SoulfullyAButterfly
This month, we have published a press release [https://www.prunderground.com/7-cups-wraps-up-month-long-thanksgiving-celebration-cupsgiving-highlighting-gratitude-and-mental-health-support/00345523/] marking the annual Cupsgiving events to share the spirit of community and support during Thanksgiving and beyond.
Another update is that we have changed our Youtube handle to @7CupsCommunity to represent our community and continue to spread word about it.
As the end of the year approaches, we have some exciting updates and events being planned - from the online therapy community celebrating 25 Days of Gratitude, Self-Care and Personal Growth [https://www.7cups.com/forum/therapy/General_2432/Day125DaysofGratitudeSelfCareandPersonalGrowthfor2024_341520/] as well as some closed group huddles - stay tuned for great content and ways to end the year on an insightful note.
Evelyne
Care Team: We are still working on onboarding a few new applicants. We are also onboarding sleepysalem as a Project Agent! We are going to send out the long refresher very shortly for everyone to complete. We hit a new high of requests taken in 3 months!
Safety Team: We added Kieran as a PA and he has already been making excellent progress as a leader! He's hosted a discussion (that was very well received) and has made a forum post promoting the team 🌟
AE: This month we've welcomed three new team members to AE. We're happy to have @DragonspanAnge, @EventHorizon, and @AGentleGlow on the team and we're very excited to watch them grow and evolve throughout their time here.
CheeryMango
Upcoming Events:
*
Cupsmas: December 1st-25th
Community Launch: In the coming weeks, we will be launching the Men's Issues community. This initiative aims to create a supportive space for discussing topics relevant to men’s experiences and challenges. We encourage everyone to participate and share their insights.
A friendly reminder for all forum supporters, community mentors and community mentor leaders are asked to fill out the Subcommunity Leadership Check-In Form [https://docs.google.com/forms/u/2/d/1IiVSq3OubFdfQ1nkI8ZHCy_QXABHXyyz55JKRRAEu50/viewform?usp=mail_response_notification&edit_requested=true] for the month of November so we can keep updated on what’s going on in your team and roles and see how we can offer our assistance.
Lastly, if you notice or experience any difficulties while using the forums, please help us to track and report any bugs in this thread. A gentle reminder when reporting bugs or issues, please give as much detail like time and location as to where it was experienced and include screenshots or any error codes so we can properly investigate it. Thank you for your continued support and here’s to what the new month brings.
November 2024 Community Update!
Site Updates /
by GlenM
Last post
November 15th
November 15th
...See more
Dear Community,
November is here already! The fall flies by for me. My big kids (now in college as sophomores) are coming home for Thanksgiving. I can’t wait to see them and hang out. I’m also looking forward to Cupsgiving with all of you! @ASilentObserver has been sharing a little bit of the plans here and there with us.
I have one update that I haven’t shared much about yet. It has been on my to do list for weeks and I need to write an article, but here is a brief summary: Noni is now performing at a fair level on the Session Rating Scale [https://greenspacehealth.com/en-us/session-rating-scale-srs/#:~:text=Each%20line%20indicates%20a%20scale,SRS%20cut-off%20is%2036.]. This is actually a remarkable accomplishment.
And, here is the bigger and better insight, which most all of you predicted. Even though we now have a bot that is doing great, people still VASTLY prefer talking with a human. And it isn’t even close. The idea of mattering to another person is likely a hugely therapeutic ingredient. We’ve known this, but this spells it out even more. @healingtalk shared the insight that AI is like decaf and a human is like caffeinated coffee. I thought that was a good way of capturing it.
I still believe that AI is important and plays a role both in Noni form and also in Just-In-Time-Training, but as we’ve said many times. Listeners - human to human connection - is primary.
Last, a big thanks to all of you for celebrating with us! If you haven’t seen it yet, check out our award video here [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgL5UERnQ4U&ab_channel=7Cups] and as my kids would say “smash that like button!”
With gratitude,
Glen
H
World Mental Health Awareness Month may be over, but self-care is forever. After reading this update, head on over to this post to pass the checkpoint [https://www.7cups.com/forum/gratitude/General_2448/WorldMentalHealthDaySelfcarecheckpoint_338244/]. If you can make it a daily habit, let me know and I will shout out to you!
The Member Welcome Committee continues to scale efforts to connect with newcomers around the clock. In our 4 months of activity, we’ve PMed over 15000 newbies! We need more help in different timezones so if you’re a Verified Listener who wants to make a big impact in our community, I would love to have you on our team. Find out how to apply (here) [https://www.7cups.com/forum/welcome/TheWelcomeCommitteeTeam_2670/CallingAllVerifiedListenersHelpWantedonthe7CupsWelcomeCommittee_332406/] and drop me a PM if you have questions!
And lastly, if you’re someone who struggles with comparing themselves to others, I’ve written a post just for you: Breaking the Comparison Cycle. [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/HsHangout_1970/BreakingtheComparisonCycle_339089/]
Hope
We opened all 4 of our forum workshop series. You can now participate in all posts of a workshop series and become eligible for a certificate. The series cover the topics of Anxiety, Cognitive distortions, building self esteem and setting and achieving the right goals. View more information here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/community/General_2530/Allforumworkshopseriesnowavailableforalimitedtime_338545]. The deadline for earning the certificate(s) is November 30, 2024. However you will likely need to start much in advance to finish on time.
October was full of progress in Academy. We reviewed applications and streamlined the process by removing some questions, making it easier than ever to join. More info on the programs offered can be found here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/academy/ResourceCenter_2269/AcademyProgramscoursesandtrainingsAmasterpost_335067/]. Moreover, the much awaited Academy Summit and Ripple effect badges became available and were assigned to all who completed academy programs and courses. You can view more information here. [https://www.7cups.com/forum/academy/AlumniClub_2312/AcademySummitandRippleEffectBadgeAwardees_338138/?post=3678997] Also, 7 Cups Academy participated in World Mental Health day events with a series of themed polls. You can view them here. [https://www.7cups.com/forum/academy/FunCorner_2196/AcademyPollsRound7Masterpost_338063] Lastly, we rolled out Monthly Review Highlights and Certificate for academy mentors where each month all positive reviews will be showcased and mentors will be awarded a certificate for reaching 10. You can view the very first post here. [https://www.7cups.com/forum/academy/AcademyTeam_2313/MonthlyAcademyMentorReviewsOctober2024_339460/]
Last but not least! We rolled out a fresh new challenged for our teens and adult-teen listeners. 4 weeks of side quests aimed to help us all be kind to ourselves and others. Join it here. [https://www.7cups.com/forum/teens/EventsForTeens_1546/QuestsofKindnessWeek1Kindnesstoyourself_339378/]
Obs
October was World Mental Health Awareness Month and Group Support hosted several sessions. Heather & I were reflecting the other day on how group support organized events every month this year and after a long time, we are close to organizing events throughout the year. It is a nice small progress and win for Group Support and the credits for making it possible go to every person who participated and empowered each other in the group support. I look forward to having more awesome events in the upcoming months and years in collaboration with the community. T h a n k Y o u!!
In the other news, we relaunched the Project Group Support Buddy [https://www.7cups.com/forum/groupmod/GroupSupportTeam_2152/RelaunchProjectGroupSupportBuddy30_339047/]. It is the third version of the program and so far the simplified version. Thank you to all leaders and buddies for coming together to make this version possible. The goal of the project is to help all group support leaders feel more closely connected to the group support team and equipped in their roles to support the community and each other.
SoulfullyAButterfly
This month, we launched our closed group based Wellness Accountability Huddle. This 5 week group opportunity helped us build closer connections and users have been supporting one another in their wellness goals pursuits. We plan to extend the Huddle beyond the planned 5 weeks and will soon announce ways to join in the supportive environment achieved.
We also launched a call for testers [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/SoulfullyAButterflysContentGarden_2136/CallforTestersAIBotsReviewforMentalHealthSupport_338925/] for AI bots, namely Noni and an external app called Wysa. This test will be launched soon in the coming weeks and we will share results with the community.
Lastly, our World Mental Health Day contributions involved our ambassadors and admins sharing tips on how to prioritize workplace wellbeing - in case you missed it, you can read these great actionable insights here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/career/General_2503/WorldMentalHealthDayPrioritizingWorkplaceWellbeing_338251/].
Evelyne
A lot of progress for each team!
AL: We’ve addedd a new co-ambassador to the AL grading team. Please welcome @positivepumpkin22! She has been an integral part of the team as a ML, so this is a well deserved promotion.
AE: This month we are welcoming two people to the team: @Winfleur and @HopieRemi. “@Lou73 is now a PA! We have completed over 100 evaluations this month and are looking into options for consistent fails.
CT: The Care Team is doing great and continuing to support our fellow Listeners! We are always looking to add more members to our team, so if you are looking for a new role in the community and you love supporting your fellow Listeners, don’t hesitate to apply! You can reach out to @LittleBirdie30 or @SnowTabby with any questions!
On LCT, @Hopieremi has joined as the newest PA and had a great AMA. They also have a new teen coach!
ST: 4 new SP members and counting! We've been focusing a lot on team outreach and recruiting. This month so far we've completed 22 profile violation outreaches and 3 discussions.
CheeryMango
As we enter into the holiday season, we’re excited to announce our annual events, Cupsgiving and Cupsmas! These gatherings are a wonderful opportunity for us to celebrate together, share our gratitude, and spread some holiday cheer.
Upcoming Events:
*
Cupsgiving: November 15th-30th
*
Cupsmas: December 1st-25th
Community Launch: In the coming weeks, we will be launching the Men's Issues community. This initiative aims to create a supportive space for discussing topics relevant to men’s experiences and challenges. We encourage everyone to participate and share their insights.
A friendly reminder for all forum supporters, community mentors and community mentor leaders are asked to fill out the Subcommunity Leadership Check-In Form [https://docs.google.com/forms/u/2/d/1IiVSq3OubFdfQ1nkI8ZHCy_QXABHXyyz55JKRRAEu50/viewform?usp=mail_response_notification&edit_requested=true] for the month of October so we can keep updated on what’s going on in your team and roles and see how we can offer our assistance.
Lastly, if you notice or experience any difficulties while using the forums, please help us to track and report any bugs in this thread. A gentle reminder when reporting bugs or issues, please give as much detail like time and location as to where it was experienced and include screenshots or any error codes so we can properly investigate it. Thank you for your continued support and here’s to what the new month brings.
October 2024 Community Update!
Site Updates /
by GlenM
Last post
October 14th
October 14th
...See more
Dear Community,
How is it that October is already here?! The fall always seems to fly by for me.
I have been thinking about our community a lot. It was spurred by our response to winning the leadership excellence award [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/GlensNookCommunity_547/LeadershipAwardforExcellenceinMentalHealth_337317/]. I could feel our collective pride in winning it. Like, hey we are working hard and doing a good job here and some experts noticed!
We’ve been quietly at work in our corner of the Internet. Laying down one brick after another. Leaning in when someone is struggling. Lifting them up and in turn being lifted up when we are struggling. Brick by brick we are building a safe haven. The old saying ‘Actions speak louder than words’ keeps cropping up in my thinking. We are not big talkers, we are big doers. We show up, roll up our sleeves, and get to work.
And I think that is what people feel / sense about us when they join our community. It is our collective essence or the animating spirit that drives us forward. You can see it in our values, you can see it in the thousands of people listened to each day, or a forum post, but underlying all of these expressions is a strong community filled with compassion. The behaviors are an expression of that heart.
I’m still working on finding the right words to point to what I’m trying to articulate here. It is a bit slippery. I hope you get the sense of where I’m pointing to or what I’m trying to highlight.
More clearly, I’m incredibly proud of all of you and the work we’ve done. We have collectively built a great culture that brings healing and growth to millions. How beautiful! And shout out to @evelynerose for 11 years of dedicated service to our community!
H
Happy October (my favorite month)! I hope yours will bring you all the goodness and triumphs you’re anticipating!
We're actively looking for Verified Listeners to help support our brand-new members 1:1 with personalized greetings. Think of it like a 24/7 virtual concierge service providing coverage to ensure every newbie is seen and guided into our community. If this sounds interesting please consider joining our Welcome Committee and making a real impact (all the info here). [https://www.7cups.com/forum/welcome/TheWelcomeCommitteeTeam_2670/CallingAllVerifiedListenersHelpWantedonthe7CupsWelcomeCommittee_332406/]
If you’re a member looking for a new listener or a listener looking for new members to support, I’d like to direct you to our Listener Classifieds post [https://www.7cups.com/forum/generalsupport/General_2440/ListenerClassifiedsOctober2024MembersCheckOutOurListenersAcceptingNewChats_337284/]! Listeners, please leave your information in the thread for members to find you. I will be making a fresh new post each month to stay current on support availability.
And lastly, for the teen side, the Kahoots Team is looking for dedicated individuals to ensure Hosts follow all team protocols and guidelines during sessions. The Kahoot Sessions Team Supervisor plays a key role in ensuring everything runs smoothly! Find the details here. [https://www.7cups.com/forum/teens/General_2465/IntroducingtheKahootSessionsTeamSupervisorRole_336658/]
Laiba
In academy news, we introduced a new elective and honors option across all academy programs. The purpose of doing so is to create more external content that can educate people outside 7 Cups about the opportunities available at 7 Cups Academy. Now all academy trainees/interns can choose to write about their program if interested. You can read more here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/academy/AnnouncementsandUpdates_2197/NewElectiveandHonorsOptionAddedtoAll7CupsAcademyPrograms_337018]
On the forum workshop series front, our Conquering Your Goals series has come to a wrap! You have until October 6 to complete participation. You can learn more here. [https://www.7cups.com/forum/motivation/GoalsandAccomplishments_653/ConqueringyourGoalsSeriesItisawrap_337259/]After fulfilling all requirements, all those who submit the form on or before Oct 6 will receive a certificate for the series.
Our academy polls continue in academy sub-coms. You can join the tag list [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSegAjS2hOHVN6XpplmuMvU9pmhXAw2KzFqRc1SWFNveM1yekA/viewform] to be tagged in the master post!
Lastly we updated our academy notion pages for Internship, LDP and QLP. You can find them here. [https://www.notion.so/7cups/7-Cups-Academy-Master-Post-26acdb3cec3b4f8aacb8752fdb940bb9]
Obs
In September, Group support organized Gratitude Week [https://www.7cups.com/forum/groupmod/GroupSupportCommunityEvents_2295/2024GratitudeWeekw7Cups_336990/] and I am thankful to the community for practicing gratitude. It is an essential aspect of our well-being. Join the “ThankYouChain” [https://www.7cups.com/forum/gratitude/General_2448/Iamthankfulfor_337355/] and take a moment to be grateful for all we have. Also, we made a few changes to the Exploration Garden [https://www.7cups.com/forum/groupmod/ExplorationGardenEG_2671/ExplorationGardenNewRulestoFosteraMoreFocusedExplorationEnvironment_336989/] sessions to promote a more focused exploration environment.
We also released the Teen Transition FAQs [https://www.7cups.com/forum/agingup/AgingUpSupport_1766/TeenTransitionFAQs_337189/] that cover the most common questions and their responses. If you know someone about to transition or transition as an adult, this resource will be helpful for them.
And, lastly, I appreciate all the participants for their support and empowerment in the Loneliness Guided Discussions. Loneliness Support Chat is open for support every Monday and Tuesday.
SoulfullyAButterfly
September involved great content for self-care awareness month. Our “Be Well Bingo [https://www.7cups.com/forum/community/BeWellBingo_2674/IntroducingBeWellBingoCommunitySelfCare_336352/]” game is a great way to challenge yourself to explore daily ways to practice self-care. We also published an expert article featuring a guide on self-care [https://www.7cups.com/experts/article/self-care-the-essential-guide-to-nurturing-your-well-being-and-embracing-a-fulfilling-life].
I am also thrilled to announce our biweekly newsletter called Empathy Express - you can sign up here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/SoulfullyAButterflysContentGarden_2136/IntroducingOurBiweeklyNewsletterEmpathyExpress_337588/]. This newsletter will include content by the community, for the community.
Lastly, our Wellness Accountability Huddles have gotten great interest and will be launched during the first week of October. Closed groups and connections hold good experiences and wellbeing progress and we hope to announce them for several other topics.
Evelyne
We have been doing exciting things on the quality front.
Safety Team: Hosted 3 discussions, 7 new SP team members, 1 new SO team member, and 59 safety outreaches were conducted. They announced a new discussions schedule, so quite a busy and eventful month!
Listener Coaching Team has been doing great this month. We exceeded our monthly goal, a Trainee graduated, a new Teen Trainee just started their training month.
Anna has been working on the QM team. We've onboarded 6 new QMs, she’s got a new PA (@Fueschin) and focused on check-ins with our QM's.
The Care Team has been continuously growing! We have welcomed back @ChillingRain and welcomed our newest teen member, @izzyy528 to the team! The team has continued to stay ✨refreshed✨ by completing a refresher quiz and we are planning on hosting a meeting and some fun activities soon! We are also working on setting up a monthly meeting for Care Team to increase communication and team building! Please reach out to @Snowtabby or @LittleBirdie30 if you have any questions or if you're interested in joining the team!
Interested in getting involved? Contact @annasilverberg for QM information.
CheeryMango
We are currently looking for new additions to join our Communities Leadership Team [https://www.7cups.com/forum/7cupsleadership/LeadershipResources_2404/MeetTheCommunitiesLeadershipTeam_276125/] as Project Agents. There are currently four focuses available for you to choose from: Events, Engagement, Community Building and Leadership. The application form and full details of what we are looking for can be found here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/7cupsleadership/CommunitiesHelpWanted_2306/JointheCommunitiesLeadershipTeam_315413/].
A friendly reminder for all forum supporters, community mentors and community mentor leaders are asked to fill out the Subcommunity Leadership Check-In Form [https://docs.google.com/forms/u/2/d/1IiVSq3OubFdfQ1nkI8ZHCy_QXABHXyyz55JKRRAEu50/viewform?usp=mail_response_notification&edit_requested=true] for the month of September so we can keep updated on what’s going on in your team and roles and see how we can offer our assistance.
Lastly, if you notice or experience any difficulties while using the forums, please help us to track and report any bugs in this thread. A gentle reminder when reporting bugs or issues, please give as much detail like time and location as to where it was experienced and include screenshots or any error codes so we can properly investigate it. Thank you for your continued support and here’s to what the new month brings.
Leadership Award for Excellence in Mental Health
Site Updates /
by GlenM
Last post
November 1st
November 1st
...See more
Dear Community,
I am writing with some great news. We recently received the USA National Leadership Award for Leadership Excellence in Digital Mental Health Implementation. The award was presented by the eMental Health International Collaborative (eMHIC) at the 9th Digital Mental Health International Congress. eMHIC honors excellence in digital mental health. I flew up to Ottawa to receive it on our behalf. It is a high honor for our community!
Here is my acceptance speech. If I can find a video then I’ll share it soon. (Edit here is the video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgL5UERnQ4U&ab_channel=7Cups]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgL5UERnQ4U&ab_channel=7Cups)
- - - - - -
Thank you for this significant honor!
I was talking to a friend about the mental health field and how challenging it can be; like a big puzzle.
I have 4 kids. I’ve put together a lot of puzzles. My favorite ones are the 4 piece wooden puzzles with big pieces. My kids graduated to 20, 100, and 1000 piece puzzles.
The bigger the puzzle the bigger the box. How big would the box be that holds the mental health puzzle? Is the puzzle 10 billion pieces, 100 billion pieces? The box would likely be the size of this room or bigger.
Events like this remind us that we are not alone. We are friends all working together to solve this giant puzzle. Some of you have been working on the corners. Some have been working on the challenging middle sections.
Sometimes we get lucky and we accidentally solve a part of the puzzle without realizing it. That happened with us on internationalization. We were one of the first free mental health services. Millions of people have come to 7 Cups and we likely have thousands of volunteer listeners in your country. If you go to 7cups.com [http://7cups.com/] and scroll down to the number of people helped you can see how many people we’ve reached in your country.
We will happily connect users from 7 Cups to your services. We are on the cloud and you are on the ground. Just reach out and let me know.
This is a big puzzle we are solving. A special thank you to Anil for bringing us together and helping us realize that we are not alone and can lean on one another for help, especially when we can’t find that piece we are looking for. It is likely that someone in this room has seen it and can point us in the right direction.
Thank you again!
- - - - - -
I wanted to take a minute and unpack what this means for all of us. We have been working on our part, the 7 Cups part, of the mental health puzzle together for 11 years now. Every single one of us has found pieces and slid them into place. Many of you have put giant sections together. I have spent months hunting for pieces only to find out that a few of you put together a 10,000 piece section in a small corner of the site. This has happened countless times. We are all excellent puzzle masters!
I could not be more proud of us (sorry for another metaphor); We built a shining city on the Internet (likely the toughest place to build a city as all the bad guys are just one click away). In the beginning, it was incredibly challenging but with time, we have gained more and more mastery. Now our gardens predictably yield fruit and vegetables and the trains run on time!
And we have made a lot of mistakes. We learn through failure. Innovation is another way of saying ‘I don’t know how to do it’ or ‘It hasn’t been done before’. Through following the problem is the path approach, solving one challenge after another, the path has revealed itself to us. We went from never being able to find enough listeners in the summer of 2013 to now being recognized as leaders in mental health implementation. We won this! Our community! What a great story!
On 7 Cups, we do an amazing job of collaborating and not competing. We know that when one person is lifted up, we are all lifted up. This is the essence of community. When a person succeeds, we all succeed. I would love for the broader mental health field to have this same approach. The pain and suffering is too much for people to be taking potshots at one another. We have timely and important work to do and we are all needed to help build the puzzle.
I’m imagining we are in a tavern in a Tolkien story. There is song and dancing. Lift up your mug with whatever you’ve got in it and share a toast in the comments below.
My toast to all of you:
Thank you for your trust, your love, your patience, and your dedication. You have held out lanterns in the darkness. You have healed deep wounds. You have taught me about community. I humbly thank you for walking with me on this path. Cheers!
To help us celebrate, we ask you to share the word! Please share our press release link [https://www.prunderground.com/7-cups-wins-emhic-us-national-leadership-mental-health-award-for-revolutionizing-global-mental-health-support/00342105/]with family and friends via social media - this is a win for all of us!
September 2024 Community Update!
Site Updates /
by GlenM
Last post
September 6th
September 6th
...See more
Dear Community,
I hope you all are well!
We’ve been doing a fair amount of work to help share our story lately. I wanted to give a BIG thank you to all who participated in our Got Hope? campaign that focused on people telling their story and how 7 Cups helped them. These were incredibly powerful to me and brought tears to my eyes.
We have built a platform that is providing real help to people - light in what can feel like overwhelming darkness - and for that I am incredibly grateful to all of you and very proud of us! Each day, month, year, decade (!), we are all working together in better and better ways and becoming increasingly effective. What a gift!
If you haven’t seen them yet, please check out the videos here:
Long Version [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZysFQw0yqc&t=2s]
Short Version [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENEH65c_e6Y&t=1s]
Keep up the great work team!!!
Best,
Glen
H
Since our launch in mid-July, the Welcome Committee has been at the forefront of 7 Cups, warmly greeting new members and helping them get oriented to our community.
So far, we've welcomed over 7800+ new members! To recognize their selfless work, we've created milestone badges tied to these numbers [https://www.7cups.com/forum/welcome/TheWelcomeCommitteeTeam_2670/WelcomeCommitteeTeamBadgesAreHere_335069/]. Every month I will be shouting out to WC members who hit these milestones. For this first month, the Greeting Grasshopper badge for 100+ PMs goes out to:
@Jenna @heathermarie95 @kenzolena @KatePersephone @KindleMissie @comfortableNight4463 @halcyonCloud2036 @innateJoy9602 @SoulfulYash @fruityPond7887 @Kindwords2000
A few dedicated individuals have already reached 500+ members, earning the Greeting Guardian badge! @Jenna @heathermarie95 @comfortableNight4463
And some are crossing 1000+! Subscribe to Newbie Hub [https://www.7cups.com/forum/welcome/] to see who they are in the next post!
We hope to double and triple those numbers and turn that 7800+ into 15,000+ next month! Wouldn’t that be amazing?? If you are a listener interested in helping us expand our newbie support system, consider applying for the team!
We continue to strive to capture the essence of 7 Cups in ways that embody the magic of what we do. Everyone has a voice, and every one of you has a little bit of that magic in you, and we want to hear from you! We’re collecting slogans and mantras and we will be showcasing your words across our socials, and of course right here in our community. Check out the thread and vote for your faves! [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/General_2444/HelpUsCapturethe7CupsSpiritJointhe7CupsSloganChallenge_334584/] We’ll keep you posted!
Laiba
It has been an exciting month. 7 Cups Academy was featured in a press release for the first time! You can read more about it here [https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/738364815/7-cups-academy-surpasses-1-million-courses-completed-empowering-millions-with-mental-health-skills]. @SoulfullyAButterfly has worked really hard on it. This is a major milestone for our academy and I encourage you to share the article with your friends and family. Additionally, Academy graduates supported the academy awareness efforts and shared their experiences about academy programs online. I am very grateful for our enthusiastic alumni team and their readiness to support 7 Cups Academy.
Additionally, our Conquering Your Goals series started and so far we have covered 6 topics in August, you can check them out! Setting the right goals [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/HopesCorner_2162/ConqueringyourgoalsSettingtherightgoals_333816/], System Vs Goals [https://www.7cups.com/forum/motivation/GoalsandAccomplishments_653/ConqueringyourGoalsSeriesSystemvsGoals_334194/], Mastery and Pleasure in Goal Setting [https://www.7cups.com/forum/motivation/GoalsandAccomplishments_653/MasteryandPleasureinGoalSettingConqueringYourGoalsSeries_334752/], Goal Setting Techniques [https://www.7cups.com/forum/motivation/GoalsandAccomplishments_653/ConqueringyourGoalsGoalSettingTechniques_334996] and Dealing with Setbacks [https://www.7cups.com/forum/motivation/GoalsandAccomplishments_653/ConqueringyourGoalsDealingwithSetbacks_335572/]. The series ends in September! You still have time to catch up and participate.
Lastly, our teen-exclusive small-steps challenge came to an end. The teens collectively earned a total of 1489 stars. Congratulate them here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/teens/TeenZoneCommunityTeam_590/SmallStepsChallengeItisawrap_335640]
Obs
It was a progressive month for Group support as we organized 2 weeks Grief awareness event [https://www.7cups.com/forum/groupmod/GroupSupportCommunityEvents_2295/Joinusfor2WeeksofGriefAwarenessEvent_334437/]and it went well. Quick shout out to @jaeteuk, @mytwistedsoul @SummerKay2024 @communicativePond1728 @powerfulOak2587 @radiantDreamer, and all participants for joining us and exploring the grief topic and sharing your personal experiences and insights to support and empower each other.
In the Sharing Circle news, we released easy steps to join the Sharing Circle Team [https://www.7cups.com/forum/groupmod/CommunityManagersOffice_2008/ChangestoGroupChatStructuretoFosterCommunity_335497/] to lead Sharing Circle sessions and support and empower sharers. Also, a bunch of changes were made [https://www.7cups.com/forum/groupmod/CommunityManagersOffice_2008/ChangestoGroupChatStructuretoFosterCommunity_335497/] to group chats to foster an inclusive community. As well as Loneliness support chat was added as a rotational group chat to support everyone who experiencing loneliness.
On the leadership front, two mentor leaders were onboarded. Please congratulate them here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/7cupsleadership/CommunityInformation_742/WelcomingNewMentorLeaders_335499/]. Also, a big shout out to @Vivelespatates for driving the Community Calendar efforts to increase the visibility of the scheduled discussion. It brought some promising signs of progress though, we have a long way to go on this front. Learn more about it here! [https://www.7cups.com/forum/groupmod/GroupSupportInformationandUpdates_822/CommunityCalendarUpdates_333476/]
SoulfullyAButterfly
We released the “How Has 7 Cups Helped Us [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/General_2444/ThewaitisoverTheHow7CupsHelpedUsVideoCompilationisLive_334866/]” video and celebrated stories of hope and resilience - this video was part of the Got Hope campaign which was also highlighted as a press release. [https://www.prunderground.com/7-cups-ignites-hope-with-how-7-cups-helped-us-community-video/00340152/]
In addition, we launched the Q&A Lantern Project [https://www.7cups.com/forum/community/General_2530/IntroducingtheQALanternProject_335193/] to help add fresh answers to our Q&A section. Just as a lantern illuminates a path, our actions and words can help others navigate their own journeys and find their way forward. Join us on our weekly efforts to help support others looking for helpful resources!
We look forward to continuing to bring great content and events to the community.
CheeryMango
We welcomed several forum leaders to our communities in the month of August. Join us here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/7cupsleadership/WelcomingLeaders_2402/ForumLeaderAnnouncements_310826/?p=10] in congratulating them.
We are currently looking for new additions to join our Communities Leadership Team [https://www.7cups.com/forum/7cupsleadership/LeadershipResources_2404/MeetTheCommunitiesLeadershipTeam_276125/] as Project Agents. There are currently four focuses available for you to choose from: Events, Engagement, Community Building and Leadership. The application form and full details of what we are looking for can be found here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/7cupsleadership/CommunitiesHelpWanted_2306/JointheCommunitiesLeadershipTeam_315413/].
A friendly reminder for all forum supporters, community mentors and community mentor leaders are asked to fill out the Subcommunity Leadership Check-In Form [https://docs.google.com/forms/u/2/d/1IiVSq3OubFdfQ1nkI8ZHCy_QXABHXyyz55JKRRAEu50/viewform?usp=mail_response_notification&edit_requested=true] for the month of June so we can keep updated on what’s going on in your team and roles and see how we can offer our assistance.
Lastly, if you notice or experience any difficulties while using the forums, please help us to track and report any bugs in this thread. A gentle reminder when reporting bugs or issues, please give as much detail like time and location as to where it was experienced and include screenshots or any error codes so we can properly investigate it. Thank you for your continued support and here’s to what the new month brings.
Evelyne
We’ve had a lot of success this month.
On the Care Team front, the number of requests taken jumped up from 78 in July to 119 in August! We improved drastically with outreach. We reached out to 24 Listeners, with multiple applying and 2 that we actually onboarded. They completed 3 events to help increase awareness and reach more Listeners.
August 2024 Community Update!
Site Updates /
by GlenM
Last post
August 8th
August 8th
...See more
Dear Community,
The summer is winding down here. My youngest 2 daughters go back to school in less than 10 days and my twins are going back in 2 weeks. That went too fast!
Things are moving at a good pace here at 7 Cups as well. A big shout out to all of our leaders, across all roles and positions, for the continuous efforts and work to help us grow! You all represent the best of us. Thank you for modeling all the good characteristics that make 7 Cups the special place that it is. We are very thankful for you all and we appreciate your efforts!
There has been quite a bit happening behind the scenes. We have a big app update coming out. It won’t impact the look and feel of the app itself as it addresses items behind the scenes, but it should feel a bit zippy. The same has happened on the Web as well. We have more to do but a couple of weeks ago we were able to shave some time off. We’ll keep at it and get more time off soon. Also, a big thank you to all who commented and helped me better understand the challenges with Mr. 8 [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/General_2444/Mr8orLifeObstacleBetsLOB_333464/].
I wanted to also give a shout out to @heather225, @annasilverberg, @Jenna, @heathermarie95, @Arie3, @kenzolena, @KateDoskocilova, @Sealiously, @comfortableNight4463, @innateJoy9602, and @SoulfulYash for all the work on the new Welcome Committee. As we know, when joining a new community - or any new group - it is not uncommon to feel uncomfortable and a little socially anxious. Questions like: Will I fit in here? Are these people nice? are common. A warm friendly greeting, an invite to sit down for a cup of tea in the corner of the room and have a quick chat can make all the difference. And that is what I see happening with our welcoming committee. Big thank you to the folks below and to all future team members for looking out for our newbies!
Best,
GlenM
H
Hi, everyone! It’s been a busy but productive month!
In honor of 7 Cups turning 11 last 7th, I released a couple new recognition initiatives I hope you’ll participate in, if you haven’t already! They are the Member Appreciation Wall [https://www.7cups.com/forum/gratitude/General_2448/MemberAppreciationWall_332468/] and Listener Appreciation Wall [https://www.7cups.com/forum/gratitude/General_2448/ListenerAppreciationWall_332865/], and they dedicated spaces in which you can tag stand-up individuals who have made a difference in your life, inspire you, or simply deserve some love! Please take a moment to make someone’s day.
In community news, the latest installment of the Ambassador Update [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/MonthlyCommunityUpdates_2602/AmbassadorTeamUpdateJuly2024_333425/] is up for reading! Do swing by and give our hard-working Ambassadors a shoutout for all they do in our many domains to support you!
I continue to take signals from the community, and with your best interests in mind I’ve released official guidelines in regards to username confidentiality and tips for keeping your identity safe HERE. [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/IIInformationUpdatesStation_1371/ListenerandMemberUsernamesConfidentialityGuidelines_332948/]
Last but not least we are actively recruiting helping hands for our brand new revamped and relaunched Welcome Committee [https://www.7cups.com/forum/welcome/TheWelcomeCommitteeTeam_2670/AnnouncingtheNewandImproved7CupsWelcomeCommitteeHelpWanted_332406/] Glen mentioned!! Since its launch only a couple weeks ago, we have welcomed a whopping 2300+ members and we will be double, triple and quadrupling those numbers the bigger we grow! If you’re a Verified Listener, please consider applying to join this extremely important cause!
Laiba
In academy news, we have a new mentor leader joining our team. @Petitesouris has taken on the role of academy mentor leader focused on the general academy track. Additionally, we also have three project agents joining our team @Cubbytant @MellowMusic & @uniqueGrace8272. Moreover, academy sub-coms will now have one weekly poll going live on Mondays where everyone can select their preferred answer and I will reveal the most popular choice every Friday. This is a fun little way for everyone to come together and share their perspective. You can join one of the polls here. [https://www.7cups.com/forum/academy/FunCorner_2196/PresentingWeeklyPollsWeek1_333620/]
The Conquering Anxiety series wrapped up and the participants received their certificates. This means it's time for a new series to begin! Conquering your goals is our latest workshop series! You can expect new posts starting this week. More information can be found here. [/NewSeriesIsHereConqueringyourGoalsChooseSetandRealizeYourGoals_333457/]
Lastly, we have brought back the teen-exclusive small steps challenge! It is a challenge aimed at helping teens take small steps toward building better habits. All teens are welcome to join in here. [https://www.7cups.com/forum/teens/TeenZoneCommunityTeam_590/SmallStepsChallengeJuly19August262024DailyStepsThread_333648/]
Obs
In the Group Support news, this month we introduced - “The Playground”, a teen group chat [https://www.7cups.com/forum/groupmod/CommunityManagersOffice_2008/IntroductiontothePlaygroundGroupChat_333337/] dedicated to organize and participate in games and lighthearted activities. Also, on the Sharing Circle front, we released Transformative experience w/ Sharing Circle to share the participant’ experiences with the community. We posted first user experience here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/groupmod/SharingCircles_2066/TransformativeexperiencewSharingCircleJustmiles_333341/]! The goal is to share how community supporting and empowering each other through Sharing circle and other group chats.
Also, @vivelespatates joined us as Group Support Mentor [https://www.7cups.com/forum/groupmod/CommunityManagersOffice_2008/NewGroupSupportMentorvivelespatates_333458/] to support the efforts to strengthen and utilize Community Calendar effectively to share the schedule of group discussions and other important events & resources. Vive released the instructions on how to ultize the community calendar [https://www.7cups.com/forum/groupmod/GroupSupportInformationandUpdates_822/CommunityCalendarUpdates_333476/] to schedule the group discussions here.
Other than, @suryansh faciitated Group Support AMA [https://www.7cups.com/forum/groupmod/GroupSupportTeam_2152/JoinUsforGroupSupportAMASessions_333416/] to listen to the community. I appreciate all who participated in it and shared their valuable thoughts and insights with us.
SoulfullyAButterfly
This month we have continued to work on fresh answers for our Q&A section at 7 Cups. Additionally, we have updated our Learn lessons on the dashboard to include new lessons on stress management, anxiety, relationship tips, as well as skills and general well being focused content.
We are excited to continue to showcase useful mental health content to support our users and will also be releasing a newsletter soon!
Evelyne
We have received many positive comments from our teams about their wonderful leads. AE is working on doing AMAs. @AnnaSilverberg will be taking over handling QM applications, so any questions you can contact her. Hey Eve. LCT highlights include: 1. The coaches completed the refresher quiz and did great. 2. LCT had an icebreaker session (which Blue hosted). 3. LCT exceeded its monthly quota
Hi everyone! I hope you’re all well! The Care Team has been doing an excellent job with continuing to support our fellow Listeners and our community at large! We have just onboarded @ReganL as our newest Teen Project Agent and we are in the process of working on onboarding a new Adult Project Agent as well! Our Guides have just finished their biannual refreshers and we are always learning how to improve our team as well. We have events coming up, so please keep an eye out for that and reach out to @LittleBirdie30 or @SnowTabby if you have any questions! Take care!
CheeryMango
We welcomed 3 forum supporters and 1 community mentor to 4 of our communities in the month of June. Join us here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/7cupsleadership/WelcomingLeaders_2402/ForumLeaderAnnouncements_310826/?p=10] in congratulating them. For the month of August, we will be hosting the Life Challenges event [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/EventsDiscussions_2666/August2024getinvolvedwithourlifechallengesevent_333814/]. We will be hosting lots exciting icebreakers, events and discussions in both the forums and chatrooms to help explore this topic further.
We are currently looking for new additions to join our Communities Leadership Team [https://www.7cups.com/forum/7cupsleadership/LeadershipResources_2404/MeetTheCommunitiesLeadershipTeam_276125/] as Project Agents. There are currently four focuses available for you to choose from: Events, Engagement, Community Building and Leadership. The application form and full details of what we are looking for can be found here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/7cupsleadership/CommunitiesHelpWanted_2306/JointheCommunitiesLeadershipTeam_315413/].
A friendly reminder for all forum supporters, community mentors and community mentor leaders are asked to fill out the Subcommunity Leadership Check-In Form [https://docs.google.com/forms/u/2/d/1IiVSq3OubFdfQ1nkI8ZHCy_QXABHXyyz55JKRRAEu50/viewform?usp=mail_response_notification&edit_requested=true] for the month of July so we can keep updated on what’s going on in your team and roles and see how we can offer our assistance.
Lastly, if you notice or experience any difficulties while using the forums, please help us to track and report any bugs in this thread. A gentle reminder when reporting bugs or issues, please give as much detail like time and location as to where it was experienced and include screenshots or any error codes so we can properly investigate it. Thank you for your continued support and here’s to what the new month brings.
Mr. 8 or Life Obstacle Bets (LOB)
Site Updates /
by GlenM
Last post
July 31st
July 31st
...See more
Like many of you, I’ve had to overcome a lot of challenges in life. I used to get frustrated with unexpected problems. Normally, they crop up exactly when I don’t want them to. I have 7 challenges to solve and here comes Mr. 8 jumping the line and requiring that I deal with him now. I say to Mr. 8. “Please go back to your place in line and I’ll get to you next week.” He says, “Nope. I’m here now and I’m not going to let you focus on problems 1 and 2 until you solve me.”
As you all know, we believe the problem is the path [https://www.7cups.com/about/culture.php]. That it is good to have a plan, but ultimately life is too complicated so a better idea is to simply solve the next biggest problem in front of you. Then, as you solve the problem, the path before you unfolds.
That means that solving Mr. 8 is likely the best thing to do even if it feels like a detour from my original plan. Over the years, I’ve stubbornly kept focusing on problems 1 and 2 even when Mr. 8 was bugging me. I have a lot of personal data on this. It yields an okay outcome. I also have data on just listening and solving Mr. 8 that is jumping the line. That data yields a much better outcome.
Ultimately, for me, this comes down to trusting the process of life - the river [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/GlensNookCommunity_547/TheRiver_296728/] - rather than trusting myself or my own judgment. I can stubbornly hold to my own stance on things and try to force or control things OR I can trust that there is a reason for me to solve Mr. 8.
What this means for me is I have to have a belief that solving Mr. 8 is going to better help me and those I care for (my family, this community etc.). This is what I’ve come to:
Mr. 8 jumping the line has a personalized, tailored, custom lesson for me that I need to learn for optimal growth for myself and those I love. If I solve that problem (Mr. 8), then it’ll be better for me and those around me.
If I stick to my own perspective, and try to control things, then it’ll be less positive for me and those around me.
The concept of "the problem is the path" suggests embracing these challenges as part of the journey (adaptability).
I have come to think of Mr. 8 as a Life Obstacle Bet (LOB). I’m making the bet that solving Mr. 8 will yield better results than solving problems 1 and 2. If I am right, then fantastic. I better help others and myself. I also get to tell myself I’m making optimal progress. If I am wrong, then I’m not sure it matters all that much as I’m still solving a significant challenge that is calling me to focus on it.
The alternative belief is for me to be frustrated with the sometimes seemingly endless stream of Mr. 8 challenges that keep cutting the line. This results in me feeling irritated and frustrated. I feel like I’m not making the progress I want or need to make and I am in a constant place of playing catch up.
What is the Life Obstacle Bets (LOB) Approach?
The LOB approach reframes unexpected problems (Mr. 8) as opportunities for growth (reframing). You bet that solving Mr. 8 will yield better results than rigidly following the plan you originally had (prioritization and decision making). Even if solving Mr. 8 isn't the "optimal" solution, you're still addressing a significant issue (task management).
The LOB position invites the questions, “Hey, why not just believe that this frustrating problem is actually a disguised opportunity? What if this is a tailored challenge to help me and others grow?” If I am right, then life is easier, and I feel better about my progress. If I am wrong, then it doesn’t really matter in the long-run, and I still get to believe that I am taking the optimal path.
Benefits of the LOB Approach:
*
Reduces frustration from seemingly endless disruptions (improved decision making).
*
Encourages viewing challenges as disguised opportunities (positive reframing).
*
Fosters a sense of progress, even when tackling unexpected hurdles (improved task management).
In conclusion, the "Life Obstacle Bet" (LOB) tackles the frustration of unexpected challenges by reframing them as opportunities for growth. By prioritizing the most pressing issues (urgency and importance), and adapting your plan when necessary, the LOB approach fosters a sense of progress and reduces decision fatigue. This flexible and optimistic mindset allows you to effectively manage tasks, prioritize effectively, and ultimately achieve the best outcomes for yourself and those around you.
Discussion Questions:
*
Have you ever had a time when an unexpected problem turned out to be a positive experience? Remember, we can often only see this when we connect the dots looking backwards - like “oh that frustrating challenge was actually a key part of me now having this positive experience”. It only makes sense when we reflect. Similarly, when going through an unexpected frustrating time now, we can say “okay this will likely make more sense in the future just like those other times” now when I look back.
*
What's your biggest challenge with staying organized and managing your tasks?
*
How do you usually deal with feeling frustrated when things don't go according to plan?
July 2024 Community Update!
Site Updates /
by GlenM
Last post
July 28th
July 28th
...See more
Dear Community,
I hope you all are well!
Things are good here. I’ve been doing more traveling and presenting lately. There is increasing demand for people to know how AI can help with mental health. I point to our community as a shining example and a “treatment team” of volunteers, clinicians and Noni. I’m working on an article now that highlights how AI can be used to supplement, but not replace human efforts. I’ll share it soon for your feedback!
Another big update from us is that we have a new home page. I think the team did a great job on it. If you haven’t seen it yet, then open up 7cups.com in a new incognito tab or in a new browser where you are not logged in to check it out. This is our “front door” and it needed a new paint of coat bad. Let us know what you think below!
And a big THANK YOU to all who participated in the TaketoThrive Gratitude badge study. If you haven’t seen it yet, then check it out here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/General_2444/Take5toThriveandgettheGratitudebadge_331530/].
Heather
Thanks to everyone who showed up to celebrate Pride Month! It was a great success and I appreciate all the teamwork of those who made posts and set aside time to host sessions. Remember, Pride Month might be concluded but pride in oneself, inclusivity, and representation are a year-round mindset and way of life [https://www.7cups.com/forum/lgbtq/General_2455/PrideMonthOverbutneverover_331996/]!
This month in our Leadership Spotlight series, we highlighted one of our passionate Quality Mentors, the lovely @JustSophia. Swing by this post [https://www.7cups.com/forum/projectsandevents/LeadershipSpotlight_2282/LeadershipSpotlightJustSophia_331078/] after you're done here to learn about her and give her congrats.
We are still looking for folks who are willing to record a video or audio clip to contribute to our "How 7 Cups Helped Me" community video [https://www.7cups.com/forum/welcome/General_2418/How7CupsHelpedMeCommunityVideoOpportunity_330743/] as part of our birthday month celebrations. Not only do you get your story featured but there's also an exclusive badge tied to this initiative. We have even extended the deadline to ensure everyone who wants to participate can! Any questions about this campaign, lemme know!
And lastly, happy birthday 7 Cups! We hope to see you at our live event this Friday [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/General_2444/7Cups11thBirthdayJoinusforourannualchatroompartyJuly5th_331639/]. Send in some Paper Plate Awards nominations [https://www.7cups.com/forum/projectsandevents/CommunityActivitiesEvents_1908/7Cups11thBirthdayPaperPlateAwardsNominationsopen_331637/] and we’ll see you there!
Laiba
Our Conquering Anxiety series came to an end. In June we covered, Panic Attacks and How to Tackle Them, Learning from Others, and a series wrapped with a summary of all covered topics. Participants have until the end of the day, July 5 to complete the series. You can find all the posts here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/anxiety/Resources_412/NewSeriesishereConqueringAnxiety_327475/].
Additionally, our 4 week long streaks of service challenge (exclusive to teens and ATLs) came to an end. You can congratulate the users who completed the challenge here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/teens/TeenZoneCommunityTeam_590/StreaksofServiceItisawrap_331564/]. In Mindful Minutes, @Arie3 @Kenzolena, and @Darkerplaces all earned the Emotional Regulation Skills Certificate for participating in/hosting 10 Mindful Minutes sessions.
On the Academy front, we are focused on ensuring more of our users are aware of the opportunities available to them in the form of academy programs. We worked on recruiting more project agents focused on outreach and we have a few of them in trial currently. If you wish to become an academy project agent and get the word out about academy programs, do apply here. [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSccicXEd-2IOFfuqsw6VbnB7DqqwG5I33Q9X7P1SY8EJB2H1Q/viewform]
Obs
Thank you, everyone, for daily learning, supporting and growing together in the Group Support Chats. The other day, one of the members told me how they find Sharing Circle a great place to feel heard and they like how it is structured. Each group chat is unique in its purpose and how it connects participants from different geographical regions with a shared goal. And I appreciate how you all bring new insights, experiences, and learning to share. However, given that feedback, we started working on two ideas:
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Sharing Circle Experience Survey and inviting some of our valued members to share their experiences in Sharing Circle. We will be sharing their thoughts and tips with the community.
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Working on an effort with Lou73 to recognize and appreciate our Sharing Circle Hosts for their continued and constant efforts to support Sharing Circle every day, week, and month. The eventual goal would be to appreciate all hosts and discussion leaders in the group chats for their above & beyond efforts to facilitate therapeutic discussions and conversations.
On the Listener Quizzes front, 4800 listeners completed the quiz and it received 8.8/10 on likeness, informative & helpfulness. If you haven’t attempted them yet, give them a try here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/listenerjourney/General_2422/HaveyoutakentheListenerQuizzesyet_330809/]! We are also working on introducing Quiz-VIII on more chat scenarios and understanding the community.
On the Teen front, we will be opening “The Playground” group chat with the purpose of games and activities like alphabet games, word scrambles and trivia, mad-libs, and more to try on. A big shout out to @CommunityModIris for bringing the idea and working with me to make this happen.
Ayesha
This month the content focus remained on the Q&A section at 7 Cups, a space where you can find peer support for common questions as well as ask any of your own!
We have also updated our Learn lessons to include key skills for relationships, emotional wellbeing, communication, self-care and other DBT based skills. We look forward to users gaining skills and using these lessons in their daily lives
Evelyne
Care Team has been working hard on activities. Snow hosted 3 great events, including an Open Book Event, a Party, and a Trivia Night! Everyone has completed our semi-annual refresher and we are actively recruiting a few new Project Agents!
Listener Coaching Team has exceeded its monthly goal! Woo!
Anon Evaluations Team has accepted new leaders. @Daydreammemories is their new Mentor Leader and @ReganL is the new PA. Welcome! We look forward to seeing what they can do.
Mango
We welcomed 2 forum supporters and 1 community mentor to 3 of our communities in the month of June. Join us here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/7cupsleadership/WelcomingLeaders_2402/ForumLeaderAnnouncements_310826/?p=10] in congratulating them.
We are currently looking for new additions to join our Communities Leadership Team [https://www.7cups.com/forum/7cupsleadership/LeadershipResources_2404/MeetTheCommunitiesLeadershipTeam_276125/] as Project Agents. There are currently four focuses available for you to choose from: Events, Engagement, Community Building and Leadership. The application form and full details of what we are looking for can be found here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/7cupsleadership/CommunitiesHelpWanted_2306/JointheCommunitiesLeadershipTeam_315413/].
A friendly reminder for all forum supporters, community mentors and community mentor leaders are asked to fill out the Subcommunity Leadership Check-In Form [https://docs.google.com/forms/u/2/d/1IiVSq3OubFdfQ1nkI8ZHCy_QXABHXyyz55JKRRAEu50/viewform?usp=mail_response_notification&edit_requested=true] for the month of June so we can keep updated on what’s going on in your team and roles and see how we can offer our assistance.
Lastly, if you notice or experience any difficulties while using the forums, please help us to track and report any bugs in this thread. A gentle reminder when reporting bugs or issues, please give as much detail like time and location as to where it was experienced and include screenshots or any error codes so we can properly investigate it. Thank you for your continued support and here’s to what the new month brings.
Feedback & Reviews
Great listener, knows how to connect
Glen is thoughtful and humble despite being the founder of Cups. It is a pleasure to talk to Glen and he is a great example of compassionate leadership. Thank you, Glen!
Very down to earth and sweethearted.
Awesome listener, understood me and my issues, really listened and cared about me. Looking forward for more conversations with Glen.
Glen inspires me so much. He helps me to believes in my projects and my dreams, to keep doing in front of obstacles. He is a wonderful listener. I'm thankful for everything he does here on 7cups, but mainly in our chats, when I just need to vent or share about my life!
Good listener. Helps me better understand things.
great listener, empowering and encouraging, kind and supportive
Super fast reply - took my suggestion and is going to look into it! Really made me feel heard and listened to. Thankyou so Much! I was nervous about contacting but now super glad i did and know i was worrying for no reason and Glen is supper supportive and kind!
replies faster and caring.
He was very good and helped me with my problems;...
Great listener!
Glen is the man with the power of grayskull, lol but he is amazing at coming up with this site and is still amazing everyday :)
Glen is a true friend
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