The Problem Is The Path: A Reflection on 10 Years - An Invitation to the Impossible
We made it to 10 years!
90% of new organizations, businesses, or startups die in the first 5 years. We made it double that by working hard together and overcoming tens of thousands of challenges. And we know we still have a long way to go.
7 Cups is a bit of a paradox. We have high hopes while at the same time being in the nitty-gritty of daily problem solving. We keep our eyes on the north star, but also roll up our sleeves and get our hands dirty each and every day. We hold this tension, this juxtaposition, between what is now and what could be in the future.
How do we make progress? We make progress through problem solving. We don’t have a grand strategy; rather, we believe the problem is the path and we solve the next biggest problem in front of us. When we get that one done, we move onto the next and so on. And that is how we’ve collectively built 7 Cups. This concept can be tough to get your mind around. This is a good book that can help.
How do we continue to problem solve to make gains? We are hopeful, work hard, persevere, and collaborate. But there is another variable too and one that we don’t have good language to capture.
We can point to it with words like good fortune, luck, blessing, chance, fate, grace, kismet and godsend.
7 Cups is by far the hardest thing that I’ve ever tried to do in my life. I’ve pushed myself past the breaking point several times. I don’t recommend this. I was just trying with all that I could and felt it was the only option. And you know what? I kept coming up short. But, then, something else would happen—something that I have no control over—something that has zero to do with my efforts or capabilities. And once again we’d catch a lucky break and be back on track.
Carl Jung would define these happy accidents as synchronicities, “events that appear meaningfully related yet lack a causal connection.” Some people call these miracles. For me, they often feel like stumbling upon a secret passageway or finding a hidden key. Like our backs are against the wall and then the eagles swoop in and rescue us like in this scene in the Hobbit.
Early on I was very aware of the enormous challenges we faced and it admittedly was overwhelming. I was afraid we wouldn’t be able to solve them. Then, with hard work (and a lot of luck) we’d figure it out and move onto the next challenge. Over time, and overcoming obstacles, I have developed more faith in us and more faith that these seeming coincidences will break our way.
Most very fortunate people have caught lightning in a bottle 1x in life. Somehow, our community has managed to catch it 3x. We will likely need to catch it 3 more times to make this work. A betting man wouldn’t bet on us. He’d look at us and say, “Well, yes, they have been remarkably fortunate, but their luck will run out at some point.”
I am taking the other side of that bet. I am betting - we are betting - that our luck or good fortune will not run out, but may even increase. Why? I’m not entirely sure, but I can tell you that is the trend I’ve been observing. Each year we have more and more good fortune and I think this will continue to compound.
Am I overly optimistic? Probably. Will we make 1000s of more mistakes? Yes you can count on it. Will there be more near death experiences? I hope not!
What we are doing is a unique experiment. We are betting that we can all work together to create a community that helps people get better in real ways. That IS what we are up to. And as much as I admire and deeply respect our collective work and community, this is a daunting feat and I know that we will need a lot of help to get there.
Will we make it to the summit?
I see no reason why we will not. Afterall, we’ve made it this far, and we are more than halfway up the mountain. I’d like to think we are past the most challenging parts of the journey!
Thank you for your hope, your hard work, your collaboration, and your trust. I will continue to do my best and give it all I’ve got to get us there. What we’re doing is virtually unheard of. We’re creating the map as we venture further on, and we are going to need some help far beyond anything that I can cook up.
7 Cups was and is an invitation to the impossible. Let’s continue to pour into each other and our community and see where the path leads. I’m looking forward to taking in that summit view with all of you.
In closing, Lisa said the following about being aware of good fortune, things breaking your way, or synchronicity, “It represents the flow of life happening all around us and if we pay attention to those moments, we can find valuable insight. Becoming more mindful is one way of becoming more attuned to synchronicities.” A reflection question: Have you experienced or been surprised by good fortune or luck in your life in unexpected ways? If yes, any insights you can share with us so we can better understand?
With deep respect, gratitude, and love,
Glen
@GlenM
Thank you so much for all the work you do even if it is tough, tough, tough. A verse for you and us all from the Bible: Psalms 121:1-4
I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel (Glen and 7Cups) will neither slumber nor sleep. I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes.From Helga.
@Helgafy thank you for sharing this verse with me and for your kind words!
@GlenM
Hello, this is an inspiring post, you have overcome a lot with this site. There were many problems, things that were out of your control but many times you had luck on your side and succeeded.
I really like the quote about synchronicity. My recent synchronicity- well I doubt if I have am good enough to pursue Mathematics- and the book I follow to learn my desired math field, this book's author has the same birthday as me. It really inspires me. Also another math group was established on my birthday. So I see them as the universe telling me I could be good at it too. I'm not sure if this is synchronicity or me forcing things. But I get many synchronicity, now I regret not writing them down and remembering. I'll try from now on. Do you think what I said about my birthday counts as synchronicity?
Thank you for running this site, even though I have many complaints about it, it helps me reach people. Thank you. Sending you lots of love and warmth. <3
Friend seashell.
To read your info was to read about myself. Lack of energy (I have ME/CFS), about the people in my area. But as you can see of my post beneath I have this thing in between also that they happen at the same time or organically. I have been written them down for some years now.
@Helgafy
Helga it's wonderful to know you related with my situation. It helps to know I am not alone. Also it feels like you have empathy, which makes me feel hopeful.
It's nice you saw eagle and it matched with this post. I'm glad you had this synchronicity. Sending you lots of love and blessings <3
@Helgafy
I also want to add that I'm really sorry you have ME/CFS. I like what you said "Paolo Coelho wrote, 'The path is bestowed with signs'. ", I often look at the signs too, so it resonates with me.
@seashell145
Friend.
@Helgafy
Helga, you're so nice. I'm really sorry you have been hurting for the past 18 years, I feel guilty hearing that. I have mostly been hurting for the past 6 years. But I understand or can imagine how it's like to be in pain. And I'm really sorry you're suffering so much.
You are so kind, you sent that beautiful song to me. I'm going to hear it. You're so nice Helga. Sending you lots of love and warmth. I will try to make a blog post where we can talk, but right now I'm a bit tired. I've also seen the post you made in "Iamwhoiam"'s blog. So I'm going to copy this response there to, just in case this disappears somehow. So much love for you Helga <3 <3
@seashell145 thanks for being gracious ❤️! yes, i think so, i think it is mostly how we choose to interpret those events that happen and I think much of it is subjective. Glad you are paying attention!
@GlenM
Thank you for the reply Glen! Thank you for supporting with my interpretation and hopefully I'll write them down more. Wish you lots of more luck in your endeavors and hope you can be peaceful! <3
@GlenM
Thank you for your message here.
@Helgafy I recently read Coelho's alchemist again! What a simple and inspiring read. Thank you for sharing :)
@GlenM
Have you experienced or been surprised by good fortune or luck in your life in unexpected ways? If yes, any insights you can share with us so we can better understand?
Every day! Every day is a unique surprise, and I believe there is a mysterious beauty in everything that happens. What's my part in this game of happenings? I just need to cultivate virtues, higher values, feelings of service and humanity, of selfless giving, of forgiveness and patience, of humility and devotion, in me, and as I do that, luck has been and will be in my favor always! Success/perfection is not important, but being on the right path with the right spirit is important, and then everything unfolds in its mysteriously beautiful and astonishing ways.
I like this article and how there was a reflection about a second variable called luck or fate! It's the most interesting subject for me to reflect upon, because the highest beauty is experiential and we struggle to put it down through intellect and reason. Reflecting upon this unknown yet miraculous factor makes us humble too, as a limited and innocent human being. That there is some caring force beyond our control and reasoning.
@Fristo really well said as usual Fristo! I like how you said the following and contrast it with typical success with this other path. It can be tempting to follow the success path, but the other path is indeed much richer "Success/perfection is not important, but being on the right path with the right spirit is important, and then everything unfolds in its mysteriously beautiful and astonishing ways."
@GlenM Congratulations to you, our team and the entire community!
Finding pathways in the midst of problems is a smart approach that our community cleverly uses. I love how we never give up but push through barriers by seeing things in many perspectives. We value creative ideas and are confident in one another even if the ideas do not at first feel strong. It is teamwork, persistent, and the belief in others that helps us continue to grow.
What others call fortune or luck, I may call an opportunity. And one thing I've learned is that every opportunity presents room for growth and learning.
Over time, I have realized we need to document more of these positive experiences or milestones and so these fortunate outcomes may be more enlightening.
Another insight for me is reflection. Without reflection we cannot grasp what we may have learned. and with sharing reflections, we learn from one another!
Thank you for helping us all flourish with you in this journey, and I can't wait to see what we do next.
@SoulfullyAButterfly thank YOU for being an integral part of our journey! And great insight and way to capture the path of problems. I agree that it is a real strength of our community. We would not have made it anywhere as far as we have without the ability to work together and overcome challenges. One step at a time!
@GlenM
Hi O.G. ! 😊❤️ Thank you so very much for creating this forum post and for sharing with all of us! I love how you have reflected on where we have been as well as your hopes and dreams for where it is that we will go! I think you have been a great example to us in "fall down, get up, fall down, get up". There is more to be said about a person in how they got back up than in how they fell down in the first place 😊. *Grit* anyone? 😊😊😊 (Truly, my all time favorite 7 cups core value. I feel as if once you embrace that one, the others will flow from that).
I am certainly grateful for you, your brainchild, your courage and perseverance to see this through. 10 years my friend, 10 years! Weeeeeeeeeeee weeeeeeee! 😊 Like they say in Texas "it ain't braggin' if you done it". (not from Texas by the way, I just think that's super cute, lol) 😁
I loved hearing how maybe we are still existing against all odds. We have caught lightening in a bottle 3 times? If you want to share what those 3 moments were, I would love to hear them. What was it, what happened? What were those 3 pivotal moments and can we go back to them, see how it worked, what happened and how to maximize our potential on capturing some more? I certainly am one to say...."if you throw enough stuff against the wall, something is bound to stick".
I like how you brought up the topic of luck. I think it's an interesting concept. I'm all over the place with my feelings in regard to it. I like to think that the universe is trying to work in my favor. I remain hopeful. Once we have lost hope, well, then we have lost everything, have we not? I like to think of Karma but in the positive way (rarely looked at through that lens) and that Karma knows everyones address. Perhaps it knows mine too 😊. Sometimes doing the right thing, being a good person just because it's the right thing to do does catch up to you eventually. ❤️
I believe in divine intervention as well. Yes, I believe in miracles!
I think how I feel about luck is kind of a hodge podge however, ultimately...........my biggest thoughts in regard to luck is that luck is simply where preparation meets opportunity (and who knows how that magical opportunity will present itself). We do have free will in all of this. We can be prepared.
So, if I were out at sea in a tiny boat and I saw the storms coming in.......would I pray? Yes, I would pray and big time. In addition, "God helps those that help themselves" so I'm gonna' paddle like the dickens.
I hear you saying that we need to catch that lightening in a bottle 3 more times to make this work. Our biggest resource here is our people. "The problem is the path". Would you like to share the problems? Would you like to share the load? "Many hands make for lite work". By challenging us and sharing with us what the problems are I'm hoping that we could all possibly rise to the occasion, that you could be harnessing our energy and pointing us in the right direction. I certainly am a will spirit. ❤️
I remember a time years ago when you created a forum post. You asked for help. You asked that we all pull together as a team. That for me was a very powerful moment Glen. I was a witness to your vulnerability which I see as a strength! It was pivotal in that you were asking "me" (as well as all of us) for help. But you were speaking to ME in that. You came down to meet me and asked little ole' me for help. Small is mighty. Lots of little things add up to very big things and I took you seriously. Something really changed in me that day and in my approach around here. Well, it worked and it was at a time when things did turn around and started taking on a new direction and maybe at a time when you needed us the most!
You never have to do this alone my friend. ❤️ We are all in this together! I'm listening and I hear you.
Happy Birthday 7 cups! 🥳 Glen, I believe in you, I believe in this place and I believe in us!
*high fives* 😊 and big *hugs* ❤️
@SparkyGizmo thank you for these encouraging words and high five! We've had so much luck or good fortune it is hard to capture all the times. I'll need to make another post at some point to highlight some of the things that have broken our way with very little to no relation to our own actions or capabilities. It make it a surprising journey!
And, yes, thank you for stepping up! Early on, I thought I had to carry much of this on my own and was afraid to share the burden. Thankfully, reality has a way of breaking us down. And it broke me down and I was forced to be more honest and say, hey, this is really tough and I don't think we are going to figure this out if we don't work together. And it was a huge relief. Everyone showed up, rolled up their sleeves, and said we got this. And we haven't looked back since. Now we are just finding better and better ways to support one another. We crossed a threshold and things are just going to start optimizing from here.
But it was due to a lot of hard work. You and many others putting your shoulder behind the plow to help get us here. I'll always be extraordinarily thankful to our community for working alongside me to help make 7 Cups a reality. We've got much further to go, but we have already come so far ✨
@GlenM
❤️ ✨ ❤️
@GlenM Thank you for this very real post Glen! Congratulations on pursuing your dream for 10 years!! In terms of luck, I think it comes when it's supposed to. It may not always come when you'd like it to, but the way you handle that time being is what matters. The idea is to never give up. Even if you are in the worst of circumstances, you don't give up. If your dream is what you want, then nothing can take that away from you. A dream will give you the motivation to keep going until you achieve it. Don't ever give up on anything you want in life because it will all be worth it in the end! You will achieve what you want!
@LittleBirdie30
Well said my friend, well said! 😊👍
*high fives* 😊 and big *hugs* ❤️
@SparkyGizmo Thank you Gizmo!! I appreciate you and glad that you are a part of this community ❤️
@LittleBirdie30
So grateful for you as well! ❤️❤️❤️
@SparkyGizmo Thank you!!
@LittleBirdie30 these are excellent points! I once heard a very successful person say don't ever give up. Most people give up and they can't see it through. If you don't give up, then you'll see it through. Your comment reminded me of that.
And great point that luck shows up when we need it!
@GlenM beautiful post!
"The problem is the path" is a comforting & motivating value. It comforts you when facing hardship. It feels like a promise of better times ahead.
I'm sorry to hear you were overwhelmed with enormous challenges early on and glad you found a way to handle them.
Have you experienced or been surprised by good fortune or luck in your life in unexpected ways?
Yes and here are my takeaways: fortune and luck are a matter of mindset/point of view, and whether you view it as less or more it multiplies. And that surprises are best served when we least expected! 😄
In my tribe there's a saying "Urip iku sawang sinawang" in literal sense, life is about looking at each other. This phrase is used as reminder to not do that, like the grass is always greener on the other side. If we do that, we may miss (not mindful of) these unexpected fortunes.
Happy birthday community! Stay kind, caring, and remain true ✨️
@GlenM Congrats on 10 years! May the Lord Bless and Keep this site up and running for many more.
I know it takes a team to make things work but it takes an amazing Leader/Owner to start it and watch over it like they would a child they love and we all know you love your family and we also know you love this site!
Thank you Glen for all you have done over the years and will continue.
Mental Health is still not taken seriously and it is such a shame. I hope and pray one day I will wake up and we will never hear ever again - It's all in Your Head!
I am 5 years in here and I do at times feel let down or I have left others down or I complain to much etc.. but in my heart and soul I want what is best for the site.
Listeners and Members are what makes this work right, without the volunteers and the members coming there would be no site or maybe a forum site like some others and no chatroom's or listeners.
I have been a part of many sites and they either sell out or just shut down or they are empty. It is really hard to see this happen . This site is by far the largest and offers mega help!
So Glen I do thank you and admire the work you have done and I admire everyone who helps make this site work.. members and listeners .
Happy 10 years and many more to come!
Tye ❤️🌹
@GlenM
Thank you so much for the awesome post Glenn! It's so nice to be a part of this wonderful community and witness how it's growing up! It's 10 yearss old now yayy! I hope 7 cups will grow forever by spreading kindness and love to everyone! And thank you so much Glenn for building this wonderful community ( and being wonderful chief cook here XD) Thank you all the listeners and members for all hard work you have done to help cups for grow this far!!! I am so excited for birthday cake hehe 🎂🎉.
