Get to know your amazing Ambassadors!

@Laura YAY this sounds soooo great, oh my gosh! I'll probably end up spamming the form with enthusiastic questions, haha! xD Lots of love to each and every one of you for all the hard work you do!

Question: What is your job outside of 7 cups of tea? :)

Answer: I am currently working in a retail clothing shop as a team leader. I love it very much. Clothing is something that I really am passionate about. I love helping someone find the clothing that make them feel good. It's wonderful.

Question: How did you feel when you first received the news about becoming an ambassador? Did you apply or were you nominated? Did you freak out? xD

Answer: I was pretty excited! I actually didn't know that I was going to be invited to the team, and I hadn't really planned on becoming an ambassador. All I wanted to do was help out as much as I could, regardless of my title. @Pali was waiting for me to figure it out so she finally asked me one day if I received anything. I was really confused until I saw the "We would like to invite you the ambassador team." It was pretty cool! And then she got to deal with my excited screaming for a bit. (Sorry Pali)

Question: What is your job outside of 7 cups of tea? :)
Answer: Professional Sleeper. (At least I wish I was!) I'm currently looking for a job that will start my career in organizational development. So, I'm applying for training & development positions!

Posting my answers to my feed, using the #AskAnAmbassador tag for anyone who would like to follow along!

I'll be posting some questions in my feed using Rin's tag, but also in this thread for when I want to answer multiples that will end up hitting the feed character limit.

I answered @Spes' question and a few of @ZaraSmiles' questions in my feed.

I'm also answering the other questions Zara submitted, haha. The only one I won't answer is the question about favorite food because I don't have a favorite food!

Question: What's your FAVORITE project that you're working on currently?
Answer: I think it's currently the mentor-related documents. I really enjoy these kinds of things, which is why I'm aiming towards organizational development as a career. I'm particularly fond of working on a new version of the mentor manual which will be public for the community. I think the design is pretty darn cute!

Question: What is your favorite part of the website?
Answer: I would have to say the forums. :) Back in 2014, the community was pretty small so the forums were rather slow. But, it was almost guaranteed that you would see me in every single thread that was in the forums, haha. I was also the one in the old chatroom that could link people to forum threads. That's how much I love them.

Question: If there's one wish that could come true involving 7Cups, what would it be?
Answer: Forum Update. I will never stop wishing for this!

Time to dive into #AskAnAmbassador

What's your FAVOURITE project that you're working on currently? (@ZaraSmiles)

oooo I have a bunch of exciting projects I'm working on right now but my all-time number 1 project is the Review Approval process. It's so exciting to see the awesome work that our listeners are doing and how much our members appreciate it. I know how uplifting it is and just how much it means to me each time I receive a lovely review and it gives me the warm fuzzies being able to approve these for others. Keep rocking it awesome listeners!

What is your job outside of 7cupsoftea? (Anon)

My favorite job in the world is being a mom to an energetic little 3 and 4 year old who totally rock my world. Young kids have the amazing ability to teach us beautiful lessons - how to be fearless, how to see everyone as special, how to be care-free, how to live life fully and to be happy. My kids have also taught me to express myself freely, to love unconditionally, to give with an open heart, to forgive, to speak the truth and most of all to dream big!

My other job (the one that pays the bills) is in a Law firm in London, crunching numbers as a business analyst

#AskAnAmbassador

First, let me thank you for all of time and hard work you put into our community, lovelies! You have lots of listening experiences, so I'd like to ask do you have any advice you would like to share with new listeners? (@Spes)

Firstly, thank you for your kind words, we love working with this community, and people like you who make it awesome.

One of the things a lot of new listeners come to chat to us about is when they connect with a member/guest on a topic that they know nothing about. Sure, experience and knowledge are very helpful when chatting but the advice I would like to give today is to remember that you don't need experience in a particular topic to offer empathy, support, validation, and acceptance. If you're finding it difficult to empathise because you don't have any experience then perhaps imagine how you would feel if you were in the situation the guest/member is in. If you aren't able to do that then you can also think of similar situations you've been in that may have some similar feelings attached to them, and use that to empathise with them.

I know that many listeners have found this thread very useful when speaking to member/guests in these situations - it's a forum post full of prompting questions that can help you on your way, and you can of course modify and change them as you see fit. Good luck and thanks for your question :)

My feed always thinks I type too much so I hit the character limit a lot longer than I anticipate! So, I'll be reposting the two questions I answered on my feed and a few more on here! There's now a lot of questions so we'll answer as many as we can. :)

What's your favourite TV show?
Criminal Minds!

Hello lovely Ambassadors! I was wondering, would any of you like to share a challenge that you personally overcame related to your active listening technique (or more generally in your role as a listener) here on 7 Cups, and how you managed it? Thanks very much!
In terms of active listening technique, I think it was trying to find my voice and personality in my own listening. It took me a while to figure out what my listening was, and it only happened when I started to experiment and get really comfortable with being uncomfortable. I read a lot on my own too, and really learned how to brush up on communication. A huge part was also recognizing how other people may perceive me and what I say, and what I can possibly do to minimize miscommunications.

For you, what's the most important lesson you've learned on 7Cups? (@ZaraSmiles)
I can't help the world and everyone in it. I've stayed in multiple emotionally and sexually abusive relationships in the past because I've had this mindset and always put it on myself when I was unable to help someone, even on 7cups. I've had chats where I couldn't help my members, and that's really devastating. It really isn't good in the long run, though, and being on 7Cups has helped me learn that there will be times where I need to take a step back and remember that I can't always succeed. I have a pretty good support system on here and offline now. So, while I still have this "I want to help everyone and their puppy" mentality, I have people who help me reign it in to make sure I don't get carried away with it.

What's the hardest part in being an Ambassador?​ (@Ila)
For me personally, I think it's when I hear that someone may be afraid to talk to me for whatever reason or believe me to be a power hungry person. It's not an easy thing to swallow because I struggle with self-esteem and self-image, but it is something to acknowledge because it means that I will only need to work harder to be the best person I can be so I can show everyone that I am not here for the title, and that I am no different than anyone else. Though the reality is, not everyone will like you so it's an important thing to keep in mind when you're in a position of visibility. Be open to feedback and criticism because that is how you will grow, but also accept that you will not always get along with others.

Get to know Sarah...

would you like to share a challenge that you personally overcame related to your active listening technique (or more generally in your role as a listener) here on 7 Cups, and how you managed it?

When I came to 7cups I was very used to face to face therapy and so struggled to adapt to an online form. I found that I struggled without non-verbal communications to read the member, and often I use therapeutic silences but these again are hard to gage in a written format.I found that transparency worked, I am very honest with my members and will explain why I ask questions, I will suggest we have a few minutes to process what has been said and at different times throughout the chat I will ask the member to reflect on how they are feeling in that moment. All of these techniques enable me to stay in the moment with the member.

@Laura asked...

What is your funniest, silliest or most memorable 7cups moment?

My funniest memory on 7cups was a late night (about 2am I believe) when myself and @Heather wrote 7cups the musical. After a few hours of brainstorming and planning I do believe hysteria set in, the songs from frozen were re-written 7cups style! "Do you want to take a general?..."

@ila asked...

Who's the person you care the most about in real life?

The person I care most about is my mum, she inspires me daily with her strength, she loves unconditionally even when she has nothing left to give, she moulded me into the woman I am, and she is my confidente when I need one. We have been through the worst times and got through by supporting each other.

What's your favourite food? a Sunday roast

What's your next goal in life? I would like to have a family, I would also like to fulfill my dreams of having my own therapy practice and publishing my work.

What's the hardest part in being an Ambassador?

For me the hardest part is being human, it is a standard joke within the ambassador team that 24 is just not enough hours in a day. I would love to reply to all forum tags, PMs and emails instantly and to attend all discussions, support sessions and events but it is just not possible. I try to prioritize and be as visible and accessible as possible.

How do you relax after a busy day?

I love going for walks in the dark. I live in the middle of the English countryside so walking through the fields, down by the river or up to the forest with only the sounds of nature is the most calming thing in my world. I love the peace and quiet and the fresh air to clear my head.

@Zizytheturtle asked...

When do you get time to catch a breath?

As ambassadors we are all still volunteers, we are here because we love it. I personally ensure that I take at least one day off the site per week, I think self care is vital. My friends and family are the most important things in my life and so I ensure that I make time for them, they keep me happy. I also spend time in the Teen Listener room to relax, although I am still on the site I find that room so refreshing and relaxing when I have been working on projects. It is a room filled with love and support, as well as silliness and the occassional food fight.

#AskAnAmbassador

I am also posting some answers to my feed #AskAnAmbassador

Get to know Sarah...

@zarasmiles asked so many questions I have tried to answer a selection of them...

How did you feel when you first received the news about becoming an ambassador? Did you apply or were you nominated? Did you freak out?

I received an email from @Laura saying that she would like to offer me a place on the ambassador team, shortly afterwards I received emails from @GlenM and the ambassadors congratulating me. My initial reaction was shock, it was not something I had ever considered applying for. I felt honoured that I had even been considered, I was touched, grateful and overwhelmed, when you spend so much time as part of a project and love it so much, it felt like the site was saying we love you too. I also found out that @Sam was becoming an Ambassador, Sam is my soul sisda, listener twin, holiday bomber and long time friend on 7cups. It made it extra special that we would be starting this journey together.

What's your favourite TV show?

I love American Horror Story (although season 2 was the best one) and Supernatural

What's your favourite forum thread?

#FeaturedFriday I love the featured listener project, our listeners work so hard and dedicate so much, I love that we are able to recognise people for what they do and then see the community offer congratulations and support.

What chatroom do you like best?

I have put so much time and effort into helping to build and develop the member support rooms and I love what they are able to achieve. One of my favourite rooms is Teen Support, when we first launched this room it was incredibly difficult to manage; I love how this room has grown alongside our teen moderator team. It is an asset to them and proof of their hard work and dedication. My other favourite room is Teen Listeners, it is no secret that I base myself primarily on the teen side of the site, I love spending time with my munchkins. You all impress me daily with your maturity and support for one another, I am so proud of your growth, I am inspired by your dedication and enthusiasm and I just love the random conversations and Attenborough style documentaries (@Baubs).

What are your wise words of wisdom to those who aspire to be like you?

Be yourself, there is only one you! You are unique, you have individual strengths and qualities that others do not. Don't aspire to be someone else, aspire to be the best that you can be!

#AskAnAmbassador