Course 2, Discussion 4: The problem is the path
Hello LDP Team!
The problem is the path is the core insight that helps us evolve as individuals and as a community here on 7 Cups.
Here is an overview of this course:
Course Description: It is natural for us to want to avoid problems. Problems can cause worry, anxiety, and frustration. These are feelings that we often want to avoid. Problems, however, are the key to growth. When we face our problems directly we get smarter and grow stronger. A saying that captures this is: Progress = Pain + Reflection. This course helps you learn the value of problems by highlighting the difference between problems you might be concerned about and problems you can directly solve. Next, it walks you through the ancient practice of steering into problems directly in order to unlock their value and gifts. Finally, it helps you identify and measure progress so you can make continued gains in your personal and professional life.
✒️ Watch the following video and identify 3 things in your circle of concern, 3 things in your circle of influence, and 1 thing you can do to remind yourself to focus on your circle of influence.
✒️ Next, watch the following video and highlight what stands out to you about this executive? What did they do that would be considered proactive as opposed to reactive?
Further Reading (Optional but recommended):
This idea of problem is the path is a reoccurring theme in self help books and especially stoicism. If you are interested in learning more about this thought process, we recommend the following books:
The obstacle is the way by Ryan Holiday
A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy, by William Braxton Irvine
✒️ Please reply to at least 1 of your peers in this thread with encouraging or supportive words!
❗After fulfilling the requirements of this post, please check out the next post here!
🔉This post is brought to you by the Leadership Development Program, find information on it here tinyurl.com/AcademyLDP
@FrenchToast
How do you think having too low of expectations, or too little warmth, will impact:
1.) The community
Too low expectations can lead to stagnation—important initiatives might be delayed, and members may not feel motivated to grow or contribute. Too little warmth, however, makes the community feel cold and transactional. Members might feel unseen or undervalued, which could lead to disengagement. Both scenarios create distance instead of connection, which goes against the heart of what 7 Cups stands for.
2.) How you work with your fellow leaders
If I don’t expect much from my fellow leaders, I might unintentionally signal that their efforts or potential don’t matter, which can lower team morale and unity. If I fail to show warmth, it could damage trust and make collaboration feel more like competition or obligation. But when expectations and warmth are balanced, we uplift each other, hold each other accountable, and build a team culture where we can all thrive together.
@FrenchToast
My family
My brothers
My friends
____
My goals
My health
My food
___
Write it once everyday
@FrenchToast
I learned the difference between proactive and reactive
Proactive is to focus on my circle of influence for exemple my health, my carrer
@decisiveLemon8530
Proactive: what I can control , focus on influence circle
Reactive : affected by the environment and blame others, focus on concern circle
@decisiveLemon8530
Hello. That is great that you did part ii of the assignment and learned the difference between proactive and reactive. Did you do the first part though?
@FrenchToast
@FrenchToast
Circle of Concern:
- The economy
- Climate change
- What people do and say
Circle of Influence:
- What I say and do
- Relationships
- How I perform at work
When I feel stressed, I can try to figure out if what's stressing me is in the circle of concern or circle of influence and go from there.
✒️ Next, watch the following video and highlight what stands out to you about this executive. What did they do that would be considered proactive as opposed to reactive?
Reactive: Worrying about the reactions of relatives
Proactive: Doing a leadership program to try to improve one's skills and abilities
@FrenchToast
Circle of Concern:
- The economy
- Climate change
- What people do and say
Circle of Influence:
- What I say and do
- Relationships
- How I perform at work
When I feel stressed, I can try to figure out if what's stressing me is in the circle of concern or circle of influence and go from there.
✒️ Next, watch the following video and highlight what stands out to you about this executive. What did they do that would be considered proactive as opposed to reactive?
Reactive: Worrying about the reactions of relatives
Proactive: Doing a leadership program to try to improve one's skills and abilities
@FrenchToast
@FrenchToast
Circle of Concern:
- The economy
- Climate change
- What people do and say
Circle of Influence:
- What I say and do
- Relationships
- How I perform at work
When I feel stressed, I can try to figure out if what's stressing me is in the circle of concern or circle of influence and go from there.
✒️ Next, watch the following video and highlight what stands out to you about this executive. What did they do that would be considered proactive as opposed to reactive?
Reactive: Worrying about the reactions of relatives
Proactive: Doing a leadership program to try to improve one's skills and abilities
@FrenchToast
Circle of Concern:
- The economy
- Climate change
- What people do and say
Circle of Influence:
- What I say and do
- Relationships
- How I perform at work
When I feel stressed, I can try to figure out if what's stressing me is in the circle of concern or circle of influence and go from there.
✒️ Next, watch the following video and highlight what stands out to you about this executive. What did they do that would be considered proactive as opposed to reactive?
Reactive: Worrying about the reactions of relatives
Proactive: Doing a leadership program to try to improve one's skills and abilities
@FrenchToast
For some reason, my post will not save.
✒️ Watch the following video and identify 3 things in your circle of concern, 3 things in your circle of influence, and 1 thing you can do to remind yourself to focus on your circle of influence.
Concern: Weather. Prices. How other people behave.
Influence: How I respond/react to others. The mindset I approach things from. How I'm spending my time.
Remind: Take a moment to think about the situation objectively and remember that I have some level of impact when it comes to my circle of influence and so I have the power to influence some of those factors.
✒️ Next, watch the following video and highlight what stands out to you about this executive? What did they do that would be considered proactive as opposed to reactive?
The executive was able to keep level headed and respond under pressure to make steps of progress, opposed to responding to retaliate for things not going to plan.
@FrenchToast
Watch the following video and identify 3 things in your circle of concern, 3 things in your circle of influence, and 1 thing you can do to remind yourself to focus on your circle of influence.
The 3 things circle of concern: 1. People seeing me a broken disabled person and not knowing why or when i try to explain the still don't understand. 2. The health insurance system it's self fails us every day. 3. Boundaries. I have concerns withs people pushing passed my bounties when they are clearly set.
3 things in your circle of influence: 1. As being a disabled person I can communicate better education on invisible disabilities and illness. 2. I can avoid burnout so i can retain a positive balance in life. 3. setting schedules, time Managment, and keeping to routines helps me save energy and keep healthy/ it also cuts down on flare ups.
Next, watch the following video and highlight what stands out to you about this executive? What did they do that would be considered proactive as opposed to reactive?
By paying attention to the teams' strengths and weakness and listening to what was needed, there was a rapport made with the team and a balance was made. So, there for by being proactive they their boss what he needed and built a harmonious team.
I love your examples
