Community Lessons: Recognition and Zero Sum Thinking
Hi, everyone!
We will soon be rolling out the Spotlight Program where we celebrate and recognize members, listeners, and leaders on a regular basis. In talking about this, we became aware of a concern that a few people might become frustrated that others are being celebrated and they are not. We wanted to take a minute to unpack how this thinking is helpful for some environments, but less helpful on 7 Cups.
Zero-sum thinking is essentially thinking that things are limited. The common example here is a pie. If you have 8 people and 8 slices of pie, then each person - ideally - should get one piece of pie. If, however, you have a person that takes 4 pieces of pie, then they are getting more than their fair share at the expense of others. This is a natural impulse and is the default way of thinking in most humans because our ancestors were in environments where there was not enough to go around. There was limited food for example and if one individual or group had more resources then others would have less.
We now live in an environment where zero-sum thinking can be less helpful in certain domains. For example, think about smarts or intelligence. You being smart does not take away from me being smart. In fact, you being wayyyy smarter than me does nothing to my own intelligence, because intelligence is not a limited pie that we all have to share. Collective intelligence doesnt really end. Another common example is people that are attractive or good looking. You being attractive does not take away from my level of attraction. Another example here might be talent. I cant sing or play an instrument to save my life, but your musical talent does not negatively impact me in the least.
What does this have to do with recognizing people on 7 Cups?
Recognition, celebration, championing, and highlighting others is not limited - it is endless! It is the opposite of a pie. You can celebrate others and then there is more celebratory energy in the air so even more people get championed. The recognition pie in act grows bigger!
We wanted to share this thinking with you all in case there were concerns about some people being recognized. We in this community have an abundance of compassion, love, and recognition. The more we lift up others and celebrate them, the bigger our collective pie becomes.
Hope this is helpful!
@Heather225
Me, some days no pie. Bakes and serves pie to others each and every day! Keep baking and serving the pie, little slices always come back to you once in awhile and sometimes when you really needed it the most! 
And even if it doesn't, you know in your heart you baked and served that pie. Icecream anyone? 
@SparkyGizmo Yummy! Pie and ice cream!!!
@sweetrosa1987
I know, right? Pie and icecream! Serving pie for you too!
@SparkyGizmo Thank you! 
@SparkyGizmo 😍 wow
@life30
I'm so glad you like my approach, *high fives* and big *hugs*
@Heather225 Thank you for sharing this! It's important for us to remember that the gratitude we can feel for each other limitless.
With that being said, if you know of someone who deserves to be recognized, take the first step and recognize them yourself! Send them a message to thank them personally. Or create a recognition forum post and include them. Either way, I'm sure it will brighten their day and remind them how important that are to the 7Cups community!
@Heather225 I love this
I like to think that we represent the community. Every milestone and achievement is hence a win for everyone ❤️
How wonderful it would be if we share our pie with others than accumulating at other's expense and celebrating for others
@blissart
I want to share my pie with you today my friend! I want to thank you for being so very amazing in the LSR! Kindness matters and I "see you" and I appreciate you and all of your efforts in that room!
@SparkyGizmo
Thanks for ur kind and encouraging words Gizmo , I share same feelings for u
@blissart
*high fives* my friend!
@Heather225
great post! thank you for educating me :) i'm familiar with zero-sum thinking but now i know the proper term for it!
also, shoutout to all of the wonderful members/listeners! celebrating others is wonderful and encouraging, so have a slice of pie from me
@Heather225 Thank you for posting this :) I guess the rest of us did not "see" the extra work that others were doing because often times we only saw who were selected for what tasks and then later the celebration after the tasks were done. We did not have that opportunity to imagine the process of hard work these people have put into making new things happened. I remember there was one time that I got to see and read about how many translation pages someone I know from here had to do and that time I felt "WOW! This guy deserves this shoutout celebration for the longest time!". To prevent this kind of natural feeling human beings have, it would be nice to share a bit of the details for what they have been doing, I'm sure all of us here will be willing to even give our own pies to these people who sacrifice their personal time to contribute to this site to better help members and listeners :) Personally, I used this celebration to build my motivation to learn more so I could perhaps one day be able to contribute like them as well ^^ <3
@Heather225 Thank you for posting this 
It is always hard to see the background work when a lot of achievements are being showcased for that few but then the other would feel worthless and left out. Know that every act, no matter how small, be it in 1-1, groups, forums or even just approving tests is all appreciated!
Tea 🍵 | Life is not a game of luck. If you wanna win, work hard. – Sora, NGNL
@AddictedTealover98
My wonderful Tea! I have read your words and I believe in them just as you do! I share my pie with you today! You have been someone for me that has seen me work so very hard, behind the scenes all along! You are quick to give credit where credit is due, even if no one else see's it at that moment. I do what I'm supposed to do, even if no one is watching. But, you see it!
You have baked quite a few pies for me and for that, I will be for ever grateful! You operate in the way I do, encouraging and positively re-enforcing the great behavior that keeps this place going! Pie isn't always represented in roles or badges being given, being publicly acknowledged but members of our community staying up all night and baking, baking baking and being kind to one another, serving up that pie each and every day to dig deep and understanding that a kind word of appreciation, from one human being to another is what this place is about. That's my pie! Tea, thanks for being a "master baker"! big *hugs* my friend!
@SparkyGizmo My notification tag didnt pinged me 😂 Thank you for such wonderful words and *Big hugs* back to you my friend! You have been a lot of support too and I hope this community can still foster pies for each other! Share the love haha
~ Tea 🍵 | Life is not a game of luck. If you wanna win, work hard. – Sora, NGNL
@Heather225
The context of this post reminds me of a book I'm reading, "The Lucifer Principal". It explains a lot of interesting topics including how not only humans are prone to the evolution trait of malice.
@Heather225 Great post just ran accross it !!! But all i want is some Pie ? lol like apple or pumpkin or chocolate Please ?
Thanks I am good with just doing what I do here the best I can..
Thankful to have a site that does help so many and yes so many awesome people here that outweigh some not so nice ones.
Buidling people up is sure better than tearing them down !
Okay now some Pie please lol
Tye
I love this! You've explained the concept so well, and I appreciate the many examples you've provided.
It's so easy to get into zero-sum thinking, but this is a helpful and very necessary reminder that your accomplishments are great, and that someone else's accomplishments do not make yours any less significant. Be proud of your progress, and if anything, use others' achievements as motivation to keep bettering yourself! 