Course 3: PL 102 - Introduction and Story (Discussion 2)

@GlenM

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1. What was the thing that stood out to you most in the introduction?

The poem which was written by Lu Tong

"kisses away my thirst"

2. What was  most important lesson you learned from the story of Ancora (Chapter 1)?
Rich people make use of their resources but they don't share it with the poor. When the city started to break down even worse, people realised that the only way to bring their country is using the power of kindness, courage and empathy.

3. How can we learn and help others get more comfortable with the idea that asking for help - or experiencing need - is a strength or a skill that we need to develop to help one another grow stronger?

We should be comfortable with the idea of getting help and asking for help because the only way to develop is to ask for help. Not a single person is capable of surviving by themselves and everyone needs help at one point.

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@GlenM

1. What was the thing that stood out to you most in the introduction?

That it is not the book that we want to rush through, instead we may want to pause every now and then and consider the points. And the authors (7 Cups Community leaders) believe everyone can grow through challenges and get to the other side, The book not intended to judge anyone and fully aware that personal growth is not easy.

2. What was the most important lesson you learned from the story of Ancora (Chapter 1)?

Our mental pain comes from fear and the only cure is human care and compassion. Facing fear and pain with the help of others create resilience.

If you are ashamed of admitting that you have problems, then you cannot ask for help ➤ If you cannot ask for help, then you cannot receive help ➤ Without receiving real help you may find it hard to genuinely help other people.

The process of asking for, receiving, and giving help is what keeps us well.

3. How can we learn and help others get more comfortable with the idea that asking for help - or experiencing need - is a strength or a skill that we need to develop to help one another grow stronger?

By practising active listening skills which we have learned and trained, we have a chance to build trust, cultivate hope and grow love.

But aware when we need help and support too every now and then. Switch to Member Account when our cup is draining. There’s no shame in that.

The strongest and courageous ones are those who can admit they are human too and are open to receive support, love, kindness, warmth and compassion as much as they are ready to provide those. ♡

1. What was the thing that stood out to you most in the introduction?

The introduction was calming and soothing. The three main ideas especially the one about personal growth was really encouraging, personal growth indeed is not a straight line. Apart from this, I also love the poem by Lu Tong.

2. What was the most important lesson you learned from the story of Ancora (Chapter 1)?

I really loved reading the story! The most important lesson I learned from the story of Ancora is that its okay to ask for help when needed. Once we receive the help, we feel better and want to help others and this process creates healing. Also if we are ashamed of admitting that we have problems, then we cannot receive help.

3. How can we learn and help others get more comfortable with the idea that asking for help - or experiencing need - is a strength or a skill that we need to develop to help one another grow stronger?

We need to offer help in a comfortable way reminding that its okay to ask for help and everyone needs help at some point.

@GlenM

1. What was the thing that stood out to you most in the introduction?

I appreciate how non-judgement and personal growth are so emphasized. The part where it tells the reader to grab a cup of tea is both endearing and makes me feel more proud of the 7Cups branding.

2. What was the most important lesson you learned from the story of Ancora (Chapter 1)?

The most important lesson I learned was ignoring things so not make them better, make them go away, or allow you to grow as a person. Isolating oneself does not actually help when feeling distress. Practicing openness and participating in a community is the best way to deal.

3. How can we learn that asking for help - or experiencing need - is a strength or a skill that we need to develop to help one another grow stronger?

Don't be ashamed to reach out for help! Engage in the community and don't isolate yourself because you feel so low, or so alone in your problems - the only way out of that feeling is to connect with others and communicate your needs. We all go through such situations and the community is what keeps us strong and stable.

What was the thing that stood out to you most in the introduction?

I liked how it helped to get you to mentally prepared. It explained that some parts would be difficult and that its ok. I espc liked the way it helped relax me by saying grab a cup tea which is exactly what I did to sit down for a little quiet time and read.

What was the most important lesson you learned from the story of Ancora (Chapter 1)?

That it is not ok to not be ok. It explains how closing yourself off from people, ignoring things and putting stuff off will not resolve it. You feel like you have no choice but you in fact do. If you are not doing anything about it or avoiding people then that is a choice that you alone have made. It may be the wrong choice but it is still a choice.

How can we learn that asking for help - or experiencing need - is a strength or a skill that we need to develop to help one another grow stronger?

We need to ask for help more often and we should constantly seek out those with experience. It helps us grow, be happier and life should only improve if you are constantly growing and being rewarded with happiness. It’s a contagious feeling and when you are happy with yourself and with how things are going then you will want to spread all the positivity with others. We should all strive to grow stronger and accept any help along the way with open arms.

1. What was the thing that stood out to you most in the introduction?

i love how they let you know beforehand that it is not going to be easy and that they let you know that it is going to be complicated and challenging to navigate and that it is going to take some time. I also love how encouraging and supporting they are.

2. What was  most important lesson you learned from the story of Ancora (Chapter 1)?  Â

the most important thing i learned is about the basic process that creates healing. that need forces you to face your problems and then ask for help to solve them, then you receive help and feel better, once you feel better you want to help others so that they can feel better. This stood out to me the most: "If you are ashamed of admitting that you have problems, then you cannot ask for help. If you cannot ask for help, then you cannot receive help. Without receiving real help, you may find it hard to genuinely help other people."

3. How can we learn and help others get more comfortable with the idea that asking for help - or experiencing need - is a strength or a skill that we need to develop to help one another grow stronger?

By using the basic process that creates healing:"need forces you to face your problems and ask for help in solving them. Once you receive the help, you feel better and want to help others."

"life is hard, the need and the pain is real, but you are alive. you might be struggling and need to (or already) seeking help. you are not numb. In fact, you may hold the cure that people need, but none of them can see it."

@GlenM

1. What was the thing that stood out to you most in the introduction?

I really lived how it spoke about how challenging personal growth can be, we all make mistakes and we sometimes feel like we are about to give up but when we are reminded by our goal we need to also understand that it's not going to be easy. We all are different and how they described the fact that our actions might not make sense to others but when we chose a thing to do, we know that we did it for a reason. It might be a mistake but this is also another way of learning and growing

2. What was  most important lesson you learned from the story of Ancora (Chapter 1)?

When we try hiding or ignoring our pain and fear, it just grows into a worse form. With love, trust and hope we can together feel like we belong, like others understand us and we have someone to lean on throughout the hard time. Whenever we come through a painful or challenging experience we know that we always have someone we can talk to and can get help from. This is how we can treat pain and fear in a healthy way and I really loved how the story was told because I have been someone who isolates myself when I feel pain, I felt like no one would understand or be capable of helping me but then I learned a lot from 7 cups and right now I try my best to get support from and support others

3. How can we learn and help others get more comfortable with the idea that asking for help - or experiencing need - is a strength or a skill that we need to develop to help one another grow stronger?

Show by example, be someone who's brave to ask for help and be happy while doing that. Ask others for help so they can see that it's ok to do so and they'll eventually approach you.
When someone asks for help, never treat them like they're a burden! Thank them for trusting you and coming to you, give them your time and full attention by listening to them clearly and interacting with them, ask them questions about what they need help with and how you can help and tell them that they can feel free to ask you for help whenever they need it!

1. What was the thing that stood out to you most in the introduction?

I think the thing that resonated with me is empowering others to believe in their own potential

2. What was most important lesson you learned from the story of Ancora (Chapter 1)?

I learned that getting comfortable in asking for help is important. We cannot do everything on our own.

3. How can we learn and help others get more comfortable with the idea that asking for help - or experiencing need - is a strength or a skill that we need to develop to help one another grow stronger?

To me, getting more comfortable with the idea that asking for help is not a sign of weakness and it definitely takes a lot of time. Definitely encourage others to improve one step at a time. Small steps matter.

@GlenM

What was the thing that stood out to you most in the introduction?

What stood out to me the most in the introduction was the starting few sentences, they made me engaged and want to continue reading on.

2. What was the most important lesson you learned from the story of Ancora (Chapter 1)?

It was the fact that life isn't just full of good things and good days, some days will be hard and some will be terrible, some will be amazing and some will be okay. It's a rollercoaster and it's okay to have bad days because there's always more good days ahead


3. How can we learn and help others get more comfortable with the idea that asking for help - or experiencing need - is a strength or a skill that we need to develop to help one another grow stronger?

Well, we can do this by encouraging people to ask for help, by encouraging them and yourself that everyone needs help at some stage of their life or situation. And things will be much easier if people asked for help. By staying non judgemental when you see someone ask for help, sometimes for example in school if you ask a question which seems to have an obvious answer to everyone else, except you. And you hear people quietly laughing at you for asking that 'silly' question. If there was none of that, or even less of that, people would be more normalised to ask questions and get the help they want.

1. What was the thing that stood out to you most in the introduction?

About that personal growth is not easy. That it's okay to get lost, get distracted. That it's important to make your way back whatever it takes. That the path is always here whereever I'd feel lost.
Also, about that maybe we don't know every detail about people's personal things, we still have things in common, which unites us all in our journey through the life.

2. What was most important lesson you learned from the story of Ancora (Chapter 1)?

That trust, hope, love is a cure against fear. That fear only increases when you run from problems, you become more sensitive, irritated and exhausted to smaller problems, if you run away. That there is no shame in having the need in others presence.

3. How can we learn and help others get more comfortable with the idea that asking for help - or experiencing need - is a strength or a skill that we need to develop to help one another grow stronger?

It should be popularised. The one who is asking for help should be encouraged with compassion when he receives help. They should know that having problems is normal. That there is no shame in having them. They should know that admitting the need would help them to be more helping to others. They should know they should not deny the pain and pretend all is good. That admitting the need will help to exit the numb state, finally.