Exploration Garden: New Rules to Foster a More Focused Exploration Environment
Hello everyone,
Exploration Garden (EG) group chat was introduced in July 2023 as an extended version of the Sharing Circle. Since then, EG has undergone multiple iterations and changes to improve it for everyone
This post will share the next changes and updates regarding the Exploration Garden group chat.
We want to emphasize the key distinction between the Sharing Circle and Exploration Garden:
Sharing Circle is a space to share with others primarily, here you can vent, get validation, and express your thoughts/feelings/experiences to share those with others. The exploration garden by contrast is not so much a place to share, but rather a place to gain assistance in exploring our thoughts/feelings/experiences, here we are trying to learn and explore, seeking new perspectives, new understandings, and deeper meanings.
Based on the feedback received from the community and observations of trends within the group chat, we are rolling out the following changes to promote and foster an exploration environment in the EG.
1. EG will only be open when a facilitator is present. Without facilitation, the sessions tend to get off track, and unable to keep up with the guidelines for running an effective exploration session. Here is the updated schedule of the Exploration Garden session:
- Host-L stands for assigned listener host
- Host-M stands for covered by community mod
- Red rows represent no coverage at the moment, so no session will take place during these hours until we onboard new hosts to lead those hours.
2. Releasing an exploration guide for participants to understand how effective exploration works, the DOs and DONTs, Tips to get the most out of the session, and how to offer support to the sharers. Click here to access a copy of the exploration guide.
3. If you want to join the Exploration Garden Hosting Team, you can now express your interest by filling out a short form here!
The new changes will be implemented w.e.f Sept 20, 2024.
If you have any questions, please feel free to share with us below in the thread or reach out to @Heather225 or me aka @ASilentObserver
@ASilentObserver
In the guide it says "Exploring without joining the queue to avoid time limits will not be allowed".
What does this mean?
@Gettingbettertoday
I believe it means if you're not in the queue to share/explore, you're not able to take a turn to avoid jumping ahead of others or sharing while someone else is currently sharing.
@ASilentObserver
Thanks, Obs. Things are nicer when structured and organized to help the purpose of something grow. I hope this new schedule brings the room back to its full potential and motivates us to bring on more hosts.
@Jenna
How does this create a new opportunity that wasn’t already there for new hosts?
it wasn’t a inhospitable environment so I’m wondering how?
Is it that the obligation is actually documented and clearly defined? Or that due to the such unexpected changes people may voluntarily become a host?
@LabeledBPD Great questions Labeled. Thank you for bringing them up.
- How does this create a new opportunity that wasn’t already there for new hosts?
There was an opportunity for everyone earlier too but we hoped as we tried to streamline it, it would make it clearer for all and you all could step up to organize structured and inclusive sessions for all.
- it wasn’t an inhospitable environment so I’m wondering how?
It wasn't. We never said that it was. But based on the feedback from you all, the request was to make it more structured so we can stay on track and everyone gets an equal opportunity to share and explore their thoughts. So it is an effort in that direction and we will continue to make further efforts to strengthen these sessions.
- Is it that the obligation is actually documented and clearly defined? Or that due to the such unexpected changes people may voluntarily become a host?
It is clearly defined and something you all can refer to at any point and share with anyone during the session to ensure we all follow the guidelines to participate in it. And it is something you all requested for.
I appreciate your support and help and I hope all can adapt and follow a structured environment for participation.
Thank you for the update. I understand the change but I feel sad about it.
@Fallonbird14
💜hearts fallon
Thanks. I finally had a place where I mattered is all but it's all good.
@Fallonbird14
I felt the same way... EG was home for me. I even painted it. It feels like a major loss
I know it is not gone completely and I try to go to other rooms, but I get ignored. If I'm lucky I will get a "hello" but then it's like what's the point of being here if all I do is watch others talk. Oh well, its all good.
@ASilentObserver
I've advocated for improvements for a long time as EG garden has seen (at points) a significant deterioration. Joy was mortar and bricks, that’s to much to sustain alone.
makes sense that as exploration is not venting and most likely not to be such a imminent requirement. Therefore time used wisely.
i really, really, really wish however prior notice was given. As cutting people off without notice hurts especially if you came to explore and find it’s gone. Let alone the lack of opportunity to say goodbye.
Us member interaction between members is valued between us. We don’t even get to say goodbye or prepare for the change.
Thanks silent
@LabeledBPD this!!! I have really enjoyed consistently being present at 10pm ET. I have connected with so many amazing people and followed their stories and to just have it cut off like this makes me feel really sad. I feel like I just lost my support group without any closure. 😥 I need to be able to share some days. Other days I can help host, but I don't know which days are which until I get there. I am just shattered right now.
@HealingGriz
i know right. Hope you wasn’t needing or trying to explore when this change was realised.
You build an understanding of people and become part of their journey, they become part of yours. A false sense of belonging and belief you’d have such a knowledgeable and supportive set of people who are there.
exploring is not always desired but supporting others who you have grown to know has/had so many benefits.
it’s difficult I know. You are not alone in feeling this way. I’m sorry.
@HealingGriz
Feeling the same way , griz. I just can't muster to find the words for it. It's a loss for us, especially given that the "schedule" above is not panning out. Miss you and everyone.
@HealingGriz I am sorry Griz :( I hear you are feeling sad. I get that this is an important group chat for you. Whenever you are available and like to take lead on hosting, maybe you can do onspot hosting and we can help you lead sessions but we would need to maintain the environment and its structure of these sessions. Feel free to message me in case you like to discuss more about onspot hosting.
@HealingGriz same I’m angry
@LabeledBPD
Thank you for putting so many of my thoughts into words.💜
@LabeledBPD I hear you Labeled. I can understand how frustrating it feels when changes happen. It is so natural to feel mixed emotions about it. I appreciate you for recognizing the efforts of everyone to maintain the environment of the session. But also, I get that you are a bit disappointed. I would definitely incorporate your feedback in future updates and try to ensure that we get an early heads-up before the changes get into effect.
@ASilentObserver
excited to see feedback implemented to continue making the eg a safe space for all!
thanks obs and H for constantly working to help make the space healthier for everyone!!!💗🌼
@innateJoy9602 thank you to you too Joy for all your thoughtful work and leadership there. much appreciated . it is our collective efforts to bring these changes with the hope to support our community better.
@innateJoy9602 Jim jam
So, I get why 7cups would want to make this change. EG definitely had a tendency to get off track with people socializing in between explorations. However, simply closing the room half the time (or in the case of good ol' Positivity Corner, all the time) doesn't solve the underlying problem, which is that we need a casual, positive chatroom available. Don't say Member Community Room, that is not the place we need. If it was, we'd be in there.
A lot of folks are feeling like their support group has been cut off, obliterated, without warning. I'm surprised that 7cups would make this mistake AGAIN, making a drastic change to chatrooms with almost no advance warning to the users, and leaving them in the dark after the fact. I had to ask a mod in Sharing Circle what happened, and some users are showing up in other rooms asking where EG went. Yes, you've made a forum post, but a lot of us don't touch the forums, I'm only touching it because said mod gave me the link, and as you can see, I have some thoughts. This kind of move has hurt people before, and it's hurting people again.
Bottom line, A: can we please get some more advance warning when changes like this are in the pipeline, preferably in the actual chatrooms they affect, and B: can we please get some kind of casual, positive support room in the lineup? It's sorely lacking.
Thanks for reading.
@StoicSteamStoker
💯.
Ironic to macerated as a mental health and wellbeing site.
Your actions are anything but 7cups!
you won’t ever make everyone happy but at the very least In decency and respect you let people know your actions if they may hurt people. Making a active effort to establish if your attempt to inform people has even reached at least one member
@StoicSteamStoker Thank you for sharing your thoughts Stoic. I admire and appreciate your support in the group chats. I understand how frustrating this is for you and many others. I hear your feedback and work on that to apply it in future updates. I will try my best to give an advanced heads-up whenever these changes are in process.
And a good point on how many of you did not look into forum posts, so a forum post isn't enough. We will try to share the updates in the group chat too so all can follow. Or at least roll out the forum post link, so you all can check
Also, you all can ask Community Mod on shift to open Positivity Corner when you all want it to be open. I would encourage all of us to come forward and help with overseeing a casual and positive support chat. Also I am open for further discussion on this front and feel free to send me a message and we can discuss together. <3
