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GlenM profile picture
February 2025 Community Update!
by GlenM
Last post
 6 hours ago
...See more Dear Community, I hope all is well! It has finally started to warm up here and I’m delighted. Things have been hopping over here. One recent focus has been on how we can do more to bridge online and offline care via 7cups.com/local [http://7cups.com/local]. It is still in process and will likely take a while to figure out, but look for more on this front in the future. We’ve also been working on a number of grant applications to provide additional support to folks around the world. Last, we did a big overhaul of 7cups.com/qa [http://7cups.com/qa]. Thank you all for asking and answering important questions! I’ll write more on this in an upcoming post, but I wanted to share an idea I’ve been meditating on. The brief version, beautiful things often take a long time to develop. We are collectively building something beautiful here. It has already been 11 years. I can tell you, what we are doing becomes more interesting, detailed, layered, textured and beautiful each and every year. More to come on this… I appreciate you all. Thank you for helping us build 7 Cups brick by brick. We are making good progress! H I’m sure most of you have heard about the Transformation Wheel initiative I’ve been asking folks to try out. I’d like to congratulate those who have completed testing! I have announced the first group here in this post. [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/General_2444/CongratulationstoourfirstgroupofTranformationWheelTesters_344645/] And since then, three more folks have finished and earned the exclusive Wellness Warrior badge: @Hi66666 @LovesSprintCars @daydreammemories  We have closed sign-ups for testers to take TTW to the broad community! The Transformation Wheel is as of this week a community challenge, with structured weekly steps and forum threads for buddying up and giving mutual support! Trying something new can be tough, especially when it involves self-work but we’ve got you every step of the way. Check out the official release post and sign up! [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/TherapeuticExperimentTheTransformationWheel_2681/TackleyourproblemsandwelcomepositivechangeJointheofficialTransformationWheelChallenge_345975/] 💪 The Welcome Committee is now an official project under the Community domain! This means the program is here to stay, listed as one of our Leadership Opportunities (listeners-only link) [https://www.7cups.com/listener/training/leadership/f1ad4aeec12647bf90bbd70d4f0f9813/]. Listeners are encouraged to apply and help us cover more timezones so we can make sure as many newbies get greeted as possible! We’re also actively looking to bring on Project Agents to build out our leadership and scale the Welcome Committee. If you’re a listener and you’re interested in supporting a team, see the details here in this post [https://www.7cups.com/forum/projectsandevents/HelpWantedHub_2099/ProjectAgentsNeededtoExpandtheMemberWelcomeCommittee_344771/]. Any questions at all please PM me!! Lastly, the first survey of the year is open for submissions. Follow the link here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/CommunitySurveys_2601/7CupsQuarterlyCommunitySurveyJanuary2025_345208/]! <3 Hope January has been a truly eventful month! In Academy sub-communities, we introduced Tiny Steps, a series of small, themed tasks designed to support personal growth through manageable actions. We’ve already completed two rounds. You can view all steps here. [https://www.7cups.com/forum/academy/FunCorner_2196/TinyStepsAllSteps_345621/] The Academy polls initiative also has a new lead, @Melss27, who has done a fantastic job maintaining and running the polls, with four rounds already posted, you can view the latest here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/academy/FunCorner_2196/AcademyPollsRound17ColorVibesWhatDoTheseColorsSaytoYou_345473/]. On the leadership front, @Quietlistener2023 has stepped into a new role as an Academy Mentor Leader in QLP. Join us in congratulating them  [https://www.7cups.com/forum/qlp/AnnouncementsandUpdates_2201/QuietListenernewAcademyMentorLeaderoftheQualityListeningProgram_345365] There’s a new workshop series in town! Conquering Worry is now live, and those who complete it will be eligible for a certificate. It is based on the book ‘How to Stop Worrying and Start Living’ by Dale Carnegie. So far, we have covered Carpe Diem (Seize the day), a practical approach to managing worry and Keeping busy. All of which can be found here. [https://www.7cups.com/forum/community/CommunitySpace_2590/MasterpostConqueringWorryOngoingSeriesCertificateAvailable_344231/]We also launched a teens-exclusive series! Building our virtual cafe, teens can join here!  [https://www.7cups.com/forum/teens/TeenZoneCommunityTeam_590/BuildingOurVirtualCafMasterPost_345485/] Last but not least, 7 Cups Academy turned 5! We marked this milestone with a reflection on our collective achievements and a special chatroom event. This is a significant moment for the Academy, and I’m deeply grateful for the passionate and dedicated admins, ambassadors, mentor leaders, mentors, trainees, and graduates who have all played a vital role in shaping our journey. You can still join the celebrations here.  [https://www.7cups.com/forum/academy/AcademyEvents_2338/7CupsAcademyTurns5_345507/] Obs 2025 is off to a fantastic start, and I am grateful for your quality and meaningful participation throughout January.  Your support is what makes this community so special. I am glad to share that our Reflection Week Event [https://www.7cups.com/forum/groupmod/GroupSupportCommunityEvents_2295/January2025JoinOurGroupSupportEventReflectionWeek_343820/] went well.  We received an average feedback rating of 9.14/10, which is truly wonderful.  Thank you to everyone who shared their reflections and offered encouragement. They were truly insightful sessions, and we are looking forward to having more high-quality events throughout 2025. I am also grateful for the collective effort that went into the second version of our Mission Listener Support Chat Revival [https://www.7cups.com/forum/listenerjourney/ListenerChatroomsInformation_2144/MissionRevivingListenerSupportRoomPartII_344176/].  Thanks to the support and hard work of our listeners and leaders, the LSR/TL chat has been relatively more active compared to previous months.  Kudos to everyone for their resilient and thoughtful presence – supporting, guiding, and encouraging each other is what makes this community so strong.  Also, we announced the improved version of the Member Compassion course [https://www.7cups.com/forum/welcome/General_2418/UpdatedVersionMemberCompassionCourse_345105/], based on your helpful feedback. The course has been very well received so far, with participants giving it an average feedback rating of 8.2/10. If you haven't had a chance to explore it yet, we encourage you to check out here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScMEXP6lopKu4ZJAtmctmwk0vq9Fp7T892gWJteqmQoIJa_Dg/viewform]. Thank you everyone for being such an integral part of our community. I am excited to see what we achieve together in February and beyond.  SoulfullyAButterfly January marks the annual community Word Cloud activity results. Our Word “Cups” feature word reflections from the community for both the year that has ended and the New Year. Our 2024 word is “Resilient” while “Healing” is the dominant one for 2025. You can check out the complete reflections and resulting word cups here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/SoulfullyAButterflysContentGarden_2136/2024and2025WordCloudActivityResults_345743/]. I look forward to hearing everyone's thoughts on the results! January also marked the Content Development and Marketing Program (CDM) Academy Program turning 4 years old!  We are excited to announce different initiatives to promote healing and community in the upcoming months.  Evelyne We have been increasing our leadership for our teams as our focus this month.  @annasilverberg is our new Ambassador for Listener Coaching Team! She has been working hard on her new role Please direct any questions or ideas for the team to her.  @positivepumpkin22 is our new Ambassador for Active Listening Test Grading Team. She has been an ML for a while on the team, but is stepping into a main lead role.  I look forward to seeing what they both come up with!  Lastly, Safety Team is looking for project agents, so please reach out to @Rebekah if you have any interest. tommy on behalf of CheeryMango It has been a hectic start to the year for us, we’ve thoroughly enjoyed introducing new systems to help further develop the forum space.  First of all, our 2024 forum statistics [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/EventsDiscussions_2666/ForumUnwrapped2024Statistics_344129/] were a big hit! This inspired us to make some tweaks to our monthly spotlight thread [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/EventsDiscussions_2666/Changestoour2025forumspotlights_344373/]. These updates will help recognise the efforts of all contributors and will provide you with regular forum statistics. We also rolled out our 2025 Events Calendar [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1WwLhaibXGzoAqwAahvrVbZ27OY-808a2/edit?gid=1940214867#gid=1940214867] - if there’s anything you’d like to add or help with, please let us know about it here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfR0pLsJjrWC952reILl6GWpNOUApCbKJi-aJ-k0AJZaZTM1Q/viewform] or PM tommy [http://www.7cups.com/@tommy]. We have also started to build and expand on our newest community. Men’s Issues [https://www.7cups.com/forum/men/] is now available for your use and you can sign up to the taglist here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/men/CommunitySpace_2680/MensIssuesAutomatedTaglist_344389/] so you don’t miss out on any upcoming events or discussions relating to this topic.  Finally, we’re always on the look out for new forum leaders. If you’re interested in helping our communities and can spare time to make a minimum 10 forum posts within your chosen community, please check out our guide to applying for forum leadership here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/7cupsleadership/CommunitiesHelpWanted_2306/Soyouwanttobeaforumleader_334833/].  Thank you to everyone for your ongoing support with helping maintain a positive and safe space on the forums!
Heather225 profile picture
"Transformation Wheel" Challenge: Links Masterpost
by Heather225
Last post
 10 hours ago
...See more Here is a list of all the important links you'll want to reference when doing the Transformation Wheel! * Introductory post [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/General_2444/IntroducingtheTransformationWheelInvitationtoJoin_342256/] * Official challenge announcement [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/TherapeuticExperimentTheTransformationWheel_2681/TackleyourproblemsandwelcomepositivechangeJointheofficialTransformationWheelChallenge_345975/] * Questions & Brainstorming Prompts [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/TherapeuticExperimentTheTransformationWheel_2681/TheTransformationWheelQuestionstoGetYouThinking_345648/] * FAQs [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/General_2444/TheTransformationWheelFAQs_344075/] * Additional.Topic Examples [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/General_2444/TheTransformationWheelExamplesofIssuestoChallengeforChange_345321/] Resources: * Instruction Guide [https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/10ZNwCgmwk3Gpn0N7W715avZE2HxSyywn1hBvMuTaelA/edit#slide=id.g31c733bb7ac_1_15] * Downloadable Wheel image [https://i.ibb.co/QmX3L59/new-wheel.png] * PDF Worksheet [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1POojXQyix4RYMJLbg9VWgiKgc10ddFvN/view?usp=sharing] * Journal Log Template (Make copy) [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OxBpW7Bn1D3kNFP_Vx1_5fZlp9BkoPc5fNUMUtP85xM/edit?tab=t.0] Forms: * Signup form [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfKmc0EgyrXrPjfXGch4v1GgNkVLiKXowsHF1i8PkWHN-HXiA/viewform] * Progress Report form [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdsKBNiYRMz-HytkdzKc8OExrINTPEeDj64L0Jth8KR4I-PEA/viewform] * Final Reflection form [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScWqiHK8lAK2DXBQRvsdZjktH-0-fzpiOydz_pT_VIbgZW9Xg/viewform] Forum threads: * Welcome to week 1 [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/TherapeuticExperimentTheTransformationWheel_2681/TransformationWheelWelcometoWeek1_345708/] * Week 2: Check-in [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/TherapeuticExperimentTheTransformationWheel_2681/TransformationWheelWeek2Checkin_345709/] * Week 3: How’s it going [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/TherapeuticExperimentTheTransformationWheel_2681/TransformationWheelWeek3Howsitgoing_345710/] * Week 4: Conclusion [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/TherapeuticExperimentTheTransformationWheel_2681/TransformationWheelWeek4Conclusion_345711/]
SoulfullyAButterfly profile picture
2024 and 2025: Word Cloud Activity Results
by SoulfullyAButterfly
Last post
 10 hours ago
...See more Hi everyone, We have kept our tradition of creating word "Cups" or clouds [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/SoulfullyAButterflysContentGarden_2136/2024and2025HelpUsCreateaCupCloud_343431/] for the previous year and the New Year for the 5th year now! I am very excited to share our resulting cups with all of you. For 2024, our dominant community word is Resilient! For 2025, our dominant community word is Healing! Here's to another great year where we work on healing each other and ourselves, together. Feel welcome to share your reflections in the replies to this post.
Hope profile picture
Members - Welcome to 7 Cups! Introduce yourself Here!
by Hope
Last post
 4 hours ago
...See more Welcome to everyone who's joined our lovely community! This post is outdated and no longer in use. Be sure to introduce yourself in our new official welcome thread for all users! Click here! [https://www.7cups.com/forum/welcome/WelcomeIntroductionsto7Cups_1163/Welcometo7CupsIntroduceyourselfhere_331308/] - This post is dedicated to welcoming members. If you are a listener, please show support to the members who post here! Listeners can introduce themselves here. [https://www.7cups.com/forum/NewbieHub_27/WelcomeIntroductionsto7Cups_1163/Welcometo7CupsIntroduceyourselfHere_225605/] Hi there! We are so excited you joined 7 Cups! Allow us to welcome you by posting in this thread! Please tell us why you are here and what topic are you seeking support for? How can we best support you? Here is a resource you may find helpful: Find Welcome Pack here! [https://www.7cups.com/forum/GroupSupport_168/CommunityManagersOffice_2008/Introducing7CupsWelcomePackMembersListeners_238986/] ------------------------- Practice compassion and empathy for yourself and others. Also, on successful completion, get a chance to earn a shiny badge known as "Compassion Hero". Open Here! [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScMEXP6lopKu4ZJAtmctmwk0vq9Fp7T892gWJteqmQoIJa_Dg/viewform] edited by ASilentObserver as of Feb 17, 2021
KrinkTheMellowUnicorn profile picture
Improving the Browse Listeners (personal request) experience
by KrinkTheMellowUnicorn
Last post
 November 16th, 2024
...See more Lately, it has become clear to me that the experience trying to find and chat with a specific listener (as opposed to making a general request for the next available listener with the "Connect Now" button), via the "Browse Listener" flow, currently leaves much to be desired. There seem to be bugs that are increasing the risk of people getting ignored or left hanging, and some listeners also have trouble managing their availability. I've heard that sorting by available listener does not (always?) work, that it would be nice to have people from your country or language sorted to the top by default, that the filtered search can be slow, and other things. So, i thought I'd start a conversation here as I study these flows and mechanisms and try to work out the best ways to improve them in the near future. Please share anything you are experiencing now or have noticed that makes browsing listeners and connecting with someone you requested specifically fail or not work as well as it should. (Feel free to suggest solutions as well but you don't need to have an idea for how to fix a problem to tell me about the problem, and if you do propose a solution please be aware that we may recognize the problem and decide to solve it in another way, or as part of a more holistic improvement.) Have at it! (and thanks! I couldn't do my job without your help!)
mytwistedsoul profile picture
Petition to bring back the old forum set up
by mytwistedsoul
Last post
 November 14th, 2024
...See more Hello 7Cups community! This is a petition to try and get the old forum set up brought back. I understand that change can be good and it can lead us to bigger and better things. This latest forum update has caused some unhappy people. It's harder to follow threads and reply to them. On games where there is no reply button using the comment button will often take you back in years and your post gets lost in time travel. It's very confusing! I say there must be a better way! A way that can give the forums the updates they need but keep the features that the people who use forums the most enjoy. Maybe by voicing this we can convince those in charge to find a solution that we can all be happy with! The worst that can happen is they say no but it's worth a try! So feel free to add a yes on this post. With some luck they'll take us seriously and with alittle more luck this won't get me in trouble! I'm sorry if I tagged you and you'd rather not get involved. Feel free to tag your friends! Tagging- @Sunisshiningandsoareyou @emotionalTalker2260 @Angelx28 @jennysunrise8 @sunshinegiraffe123 @placidAvocado2692 @AffyAvo
resourcefulPond1641 profile picture
Grief and Loss
by resourcefulPond1641
Last post
 September 13th, 2024
...See more As someone who was struggling with both intense grief and loss; after I came back to this site after a break, it took me a long time before I realized those things were still supported here; but they were now under General Support. I think that feels inappropriate; and I never would have thought to look there, because it seems to me likely to be a very different type of person and issue that would cause someone to look into general support, rather than someone looking for specific help to due to going through intense grief over the traumatic death of someone close to them as I was. I understand that that area wasn't actually being used that much; but somehow having it under the area of General Support seems even worse, because it feels so dismissive to me, as if it's not a serious enough this to be allowed it's own area. Or even to be mentioned in the title would have made it at least easier to find (e.g. General Support + Grief and Loss). I'm not sure how to solve this exactly, but I think this is something that needs to be addressed. If it was easier to find / signposted better maybe more people could actually find support there? Or maybe it would be better to let it have it's own area, even if it wasn't used as much. Because it's such an important topic. Intrested if anyone else has any thoughts about this?
Laura profile picture
7 CUPS COMPASSION COURSE
by Laura
Last post
 July 25th, 2024
...See more To all the members out there, I have created this compassion course [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScMEXP6lopKu4ZJAtmctmwk0vq9Fp7T892gWJteqmQoIJa_Dg/viewform] for you!Ã *This course is for members only, not for listeners* Here are some important resources for you to view: Three Components of Self-Compassion [http://bit.ly/1wqEyUg] (Video) 8 Ways to Show Compassion Everyday [http://bit.ly/1t9iePk] And Another 10 Ways to Show Compassion [http://bit.ly/1FMx7w1] This course is for you if: - You want to learn more about how we think about compassion here at 7 Cups - You LOVE the group support chat rooms and want to continue to grow and thrive in that environment - You believe in the mission of 7 Cups and want to learn more about how you can show compassion in your experiences here Wed like all those who complete this course to learn: - The basics of giving and showing compassion - Learn how to get the most out of their experiences in the group support chat room - Learn how to build connection with fellow 7 Cups members - Be a loving, kind, awesome person, who supports the community We want you to walk away from this compassion experience, feeling well equipped to be a loving group support chat room participant. Sending you all hugs! Please give feedback and ideas in this thread! Note: All responses are read by community managers ------------------------- Edit by ASilentObserver on 04/06/2022
KrinkTheMellowUnicorn profile picture
iPhone
by KrinkTheMellowUnicorn
Last post
 October 3rd, 2023
...See more Hey, I started an Android thread [/forum/Welcome_27/KrinksStudio_542/Android_32152/] the other day as we started testing the new Android app but I also should have started this thread because the innards of some tabs of the new app went live over the weekend and changed the iPhone app and also broke some things etc., and I owed y'all a heads up, so sorry about that! We hope to publish the Android update today and then fix a few things on the iPhone side and submit the app for its review in the App Store. I will post updates here and say more about what to expect from the initial (2.0) update and how we plan to keep improving the app from now on.
IndigoRoses profile picture
Common Mobile App Problems
by IndigoRoses
Last post
 September 20th, 2023
...See more If anyone has any other app-related issues that they've been dealing with frequently, please post below! Here are mine: 1. If I scroll up on a group support chat to reread something and then close the app, if I open it again, the chat will be stuck in the place where I left off and will not automatically scroll to the latest messages. 2. When viewing listener profiles under "Browse Listeners", clicking "Show More" to read more of their profile works for the first few profiles, but then doesn't expand and I cannot read the rest of the information. 3. It's rare that I get notifications on time, I'd say they're generally at least 15 minutes behind (which is a bigger issue when I'm on my listener account). Notifications within 7 Cups don't always work either (i.e. the blue dot indicating a new 1-1 message), which has caused some problems in the past. I know that the app is constantly being improved, and I'd like to thank the developers for making huge changes already. I just wanted to acknowledge what's been going on and bring it to the attention of people who may be able to help, instead of using "Ugh, sorry, I'm on mobile." as an excuse. Thank you! :D
blackskysilverdust profile picture
Path
by blackskysilverdust
Last post
 August 16th, 2023
...See more Hi guys im new here. Does the "path" i choose on this site matter or is it the same for whatever path? I kind of panicked and chose one not really right for me. I want to change it but somehow i can't find a way to reverse it. Thank you.
Laura profile picture
Upvotes Needed: 7 Cups Startup Support On Product Hunt!
by Laura
Last post
 August 10th, 2023
...See more We are excited to announce a new section of our member & listener community:  http://www.7cups.com/startups As many of your know, 7 Cups of Tea is a startup! Not sure what it means to be a startup? Learn more about what it means to be a startup here! [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Startup_company] Currently, we are featured on Product Hunt! And we need your help up voting us!  ------->  What is Product Hunt?  Product Hunt is an online community that caters to the tech product fanatics. -------> How can you help!?  1) Upvote us, by going to the product hunt homepage  [http://www.producthunt.com/]finding the post entitled:  "Startup Support System"  If we make it to the top 5, Product Hunt will feature us in their newsletter for the day! After you have up voted, let us know by posting in this thread! We will make sure to give you the PH Upvote badge! 2) Share this Medium Article [https://medium.com/@eriktorenberg_/startup-founders-let-s-talk-about-depression-3e665dbd747d] by, Erik Torenberg (one of the founders of Product Hunt).  Today he published an article entitled: "Startups: Let’s Talk About Depression" [https://medium.com/@eriktorenberg_/startup-founders-let-s-talk-about-depression-3e665dbd747d] You can easily share this article on your twitter or facebook page! (social soldiers team, this is perfect you all )  3) Help us support those who need Startup Support by going through this new guide: http://www.7cups.com/startup-support/ Learn more about what it means to support someone who works at a startup! We all can help!   Why did we create this page?  Startups are incredibly challenging. People involved in startups often feel alone, stressed, anxious and depressed. The larger culture can message that startups are easy. Founders can feel pressure to always signal that they are “crushing it.” Unfortunately, these factors make it harder for people to be honest about the challenges integral to startups. They also make it much harder for people to get the support they need. Successful startups have great people, a great product and a lot of luck. We know these things. What is less well known, is that successful startups often also get a lot of support. They are honest about their struggles and they learn to lean on others to help them succeed. The 7 Cups Startup Support System is designed to help companies grow by creating a safe place where people can be honest about their struggles and the support they need to overcome these challenges.    What does this mean for our community?  7Cupsoftea.com/Startups is the first step towards building more specific areas of our website where you all can find more connection & community around topics, troubles and ideas that are most important to you. You can imagine similar 7cups subcommunities like /nurses, /policeofficers, /relationships...etc. We need your help today in getting the word out about 7 Cups/startup so that we can continue to grow our space into something wonderful, unique and niche.  This is one of many unique opportunities to show ourselves off to the world!    Once you have up voted the product hunt post, let us know in here & we will give you the PH Upvote badge!    
KnittedPenguin25 profile picture
Decreased ratings after seeing abusive member
by KnittedPenguin25
Last post
 July 22nd, 2023
...See more Hello 7 Cups Community! Thank for you all that you guys are doing to keep the site up and running! So far it's been a pleasure to be a listener, and be a helping set of ears here. I've enjoyed being able to talk to most of the people who've decided to come here. However, I've also encountered some pretty nasty people. Each time they came and left, I suspect that they had been leaving negative ratings for me. There were two people were particularly abusive (like, they would come on and refuse to talk, and call me expletives as I tried to assure them that I'm there to help). Even though I can't really help my ratings (they are what they are), is there any way for my ratings to be reconsidered? I don't feel that I should be taking the brute end from people I'd report. Thanks, KnittedPenguin25
rachier7 profile picture
Honors Project Essay: A Self Reflection
by rachier7
Last post
 July 13th, 2023
...See more Joining this internship was a bit of an impromptu decision, so I never expected it to have the massive impact on me that it did. All of my plans for this summer came to an abrupt halt as coronavirus swept the nation, as many others did, too. Instead of going to Germany for a conference, working an in-person, full-time job, and preparing for my Fall study abroad trip, I got a job as a part-time lifeguard, joined a virtual professional development fellowship, and of course, secured my internship with 7 cups. Its only natural that I was initially disappointed that my summer plans didnt go as intended. However, my mindset quickly changed as I adjusted to my new normal and was embraced by this unknown community with welcoming arms. I remember feeling incredibly nervous before I took my first chat. Beforehand, I had completed a lot of the trainings necessary to meet certain requirements and asked other listeners every question I could think of. Ive always known that Ive had a knack for communicating with and helping others. Its almost felt like a calling for me. However, my confidence fell to zero when I realized how much more experience other listeners had compared to me. I was an adult listener, yes, but Im only 20. Who would want to talk to and derive support from someone whos practically still a child? What kind of credibility did I have, as a mere undergraduate student, to assist adults with their serious, real life problems? There were so many other great listeners, who had years of experience under their belt, along with certifications, high ratings from members, and a solid reputation among others on the site. Not to mention the tons of older-adult professionals, who I felt I obviously couldnt compete with at this point in my academic career. I assumed that members would be disappointed when I picked up their chat, and I wondered if it even made sense for me to pursue something when I didnt even know if I could provide what the members would need. Luckily, I proved myself wrong almost instantly. My first chat came relatively easily, and I immediately received positive feedback. It was something simple, along the lines of Youve helped me a lot today or Thanks for being so kind, but that alone reassured me that what I was doing was worth it and that I really was good at what I wanted to do. Since then, Ive only become more confident in my skills as a listener. At the start, I would stick to trying to take chats that I could support through my own lived experiences, like depression and anxiety. As time went on, though, I found myself taking more and more chats that were out of my comfort zone and beyond anything I had personally experienced or understood. This, I found, was the truest test of my own empathy. As humans, were naturally egocentric. Therefore, its pretty easy to become engaged in a conversation that has to do with what affects you. The challenge is caring and wholly, actively listening when someone discusses something that has no bearing on your life or your personal interests whatsoever. It took practice knowing how to effectively respond to the unfamiliar through forethought and calculation, and not just pure intuition. I was worried that I would say something offensive, or not say enough, or say something counterproductive, but with time, I was able to acknowledge that my efforts actually were helping people, regardless of whatever doubts I was having about my own abilities. At the end of the day, we wont always be able to understand what someone is going through. It may not make sense to us, despite our efforts to empathize to the highest degree. Ive found that it is not necessary to fully understand someone in order to show compassion. Ive been able to work on my own humility and come to terms with the idea that there are certain things I will never fully grasp. I am not an all-knowing being, but I can be an unconditionally accepting human when someone needs it. Many people go their whole lives without being able to trust someone enough to confide in them. Many people go their whole lives without feeling entirely and completely accepted for who they are and what theyve gone through. With one compassionate listener, these people feel heard, accepted, and ultimately, not so alone. As a listener and as a person, I am imperfect and the things I say and do are often imperfect. In spite of this, I have come to the conclusion that every single person who listens on 7 cups is offering an indispensable service. Human beings need to connect and feel belongingness as much as we need to breathe. We inherently crave feeling cared for and supported, and without it, we become lonely and we struggle. When I began my internship, I was wracked with feelings of uncertainty. Now, I have an entirely new perspective on how to authentically communicate with others and provide genuine support. So, how do I measure success in my internship journey? For me, its that I know Ive touched lives. Its comments like Wow, I feel a lot better now or Your words mean a lot to me. Its members that have followed up and told me that I made a difference in their day or in their particular situation. The quote, helping one person might not change the world, but it could change the world for one person never sat right with me until now. I always felt pressure to do something big and to do something that would change the world for everyone as they knew it in a profound way. I felt that if I didnt achieve this lofty goal, my life and my career would basically be meaningless. I now understand that each person experiences their own unique universe, and when I step up for another, that universe expands. I now feel like I can truly make a difference. If I change the world for one person, I am changing their world, and thats something I can really be proud of.
GreenBeing5367 profile picture
Some ideas for improvement to the site's UI/UX/bugs
by GreenBeing5367
Last post
 June 28th, 2023
...See more I am using a desktop web browser. I have noticed a lot of changes to the website lately. 1. When I join the Queue of people waiting for a volunteer listener, can you make it really clear somewhere that I am in the queue? Earlier today, I tried to join the queue of people waiting for a volunteer listener. It wasn't clear whether I was in queue or not. I had to switch over to my Listener Account in another browser to confirm that I was really in the queue like I wanted. 2. Please make it really easy and simple to find the correct buttons for Members to join the queue for a Volunteer listener. Right now it's a little confusing. If I wasn't an experienced Listener and Member, I might find it really confused. For example, when you click the Chat button, it takes me to a really strange page. It's like the Chat Page but without any Chat selected. And that page is not very easy to use. 75% of the page is blank white space from the Empty chat window. I could take a screenshot later if you want. Clicking the chat button should take me to a page that has no blank space. Just big buttons for all of the important features: New Volunteer Listener Chat, New Therapist Chat, Your 5 most recent Chats, A button to see all older chats, etc. 3. There's a bug where the last message I received from the person I'm chatting with can appear out of order. For example, Maybe I sent a message at 1:15pm and the person I'm chatting with sent a message at 1:13pm. Somehow their message appeared after mine. I don't have a screenshot. I haven't tried to reproduce the issue. But if you ask me to reproduce the issue, I can.

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