Living with Leaders Self-Interviews!

Interviewee: @blissfultouch29

What message do you want to leave for the world through your life?

The message I want to leave for the world through my life is to drive safe, you are not untouchable, and to never take your siblings or family for granted.

What are your personal goals and what helps you progress towards achieving those goals?

One of my major personal goals is to get my driver's license soon.

What do you hope to achieve in the next one year?

I hope to achieve getting my driver's license.

Interviewee-: @Fristo

What have you learnt in your life so far, from which the world can benefit?

I have learnt to go slow and take your time to understand yourself before you act in the direction appropriate for you!

What has been your learning at 7cups, from which the fellow 7cuppers could benefit?

My dear fellow 7Cuppers, what I've learnt in my 7 Cups Journey is that this is a place to give kindness and receive a lot of it back! When I come here, I look to offer what I can (it could be something as simple as a compassionate hello), and almost always I am treated with so much love, support, help, and kindness. We are an amazing community.

What have been your learnings as a listener? (If you are a listener.)

Be patient when listening to a member. Slowly understand their world and look to be there for them! If despite trying to be there, you are unable to support, that is okay, you can let the member politely know you aren't comfortable in the chat and refer them to another listener!

Any 7cups friends whom you admire a lot?

I admire like so many :D Some of them are @StargirlTina @GoldenNest2727 @innateJoy9602 @kindSoul10 @WarmLightXO @dtanushree @AmazedAgaric @SirenOfSerenity @sunisshiningandsoareyou @Littlefairy28 @cristlecares @MistyMagic @gentleemperor @theboymoana @Myosotis17 @versatileLily7902 @noellelistens @An1mal @amiablePeace77 @HopefulBambi @Perplexed1

Any feedback for the Living with Leaders interview series?

I love to see everyone sharing their learnings and learning from one another!

Interviewee: @BenittaJ

What have you learnt in your life so far, from which the world can benefit?

Life is unfair. But you need not be unfair.

What has been your learning at 7cups, from which the fellow 7cuppers could benefit?

From what i learnt 7cups is a place of supporters, motivators, care givers, encouragers, smile spreaders.

What kind of connections and relationships are stable and meaningful?

Relationships which are supportive, understanding others' perspectives, caring, encouraging and motivating others are stable and meaningful.

Interviewee: @cristlecares

1) What have you learnt in your life so far, from which the world can benefit?

So far I've gone through so many challenges and have overcome so many obstacles, and I've learnt that our life is not a race. There's no 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes. We are on a solo trip called life and exploring the world itself is an achievement and happiness is our reward🌻 So I've learnt to forgive, forget, not care about others' judgements, make happy memories, and be kind without any hesitation 😄🌻

2) What have been your learnings as a listener?

After being a listener for 2 years, and after talking to more than 1000 members, I've learnt that everyone is facing difficulties in their lives. Everyone is going through something tough, something very challenging. So I've learnt not to judge anyone by the way they are, by the way they think, by the way they behave and also to be kind and compassionate towards others no matter who they are and how they are🌻

3) Which quality is the most important in a human being and why?

The most important quality in a human being according to me is Kindness🌻 This simple word can create wonders and do magic🌸 A simple act of kindness holds in it, a power we can not even imagine😄 So when you get a chance to be kind, never hesitate! As I always believe 1 act of kindness = 2 hearty smiles

Any 7cups friends whom you admire a lot?

Ahh there are so many listener friends I admire alotttt🌻🌸 But mentioning the usernames I'm sure I know right😄 @Sunisshiningandsoareyou @Fristo @dtanushree @Jenna @FighterArpi @CommunitymodChristine @kindSoul10 @Amymir6 @communityModEden @ASilentObserver @brilliantTurtle89 @amiablePeace77 @Amy @Hope @Goalsforlife

Any feedback for the Living with Leaders interview series?

Thank you so much for this beautiful Interview form🌻🌻 You all are working hard! Keep it up💪🌻

Interviewee-: @Angela0712

What have you learnt in your life so far, from which the world can benefit?

Emotions are not negative things that need to be managed or regulated; one should always try to embrace our own emotions as that is one of the most precious gifts of life (imagine living in a world where no one experiences any emotion – we become more like robots than actual humans).

What have been your learnings as a listener? (if you are a listener.)

Active listening skills are really really really important as it is an integral part of being able to empathize with others' experiences. Providing unconditional positive regard to members can often help them feel a lot better

What message do you want to leave for the world through your life?

Life is challenging, but it's worth challenging yourself.

Interviewee: @perplexed1

What have you learnt in your life so far, from which the world can benefit?

What i have learned is we are all equal in this world, status, amount of money, ability, achievements or basically anything makes no one human any less or more superior. We are all valid and as worthy as next human. The fact that nobody is perfect also ties into my point, if you ever find yourself looking at a person and feel flawed as a result, stop and think, they also have flaws and hang ups also you just don’t know them.

How does one make peace with the uncertainties of life?

Making peace with uncertainty is difficult but living in the what-ifs results in missing the now. Uncertainty comes with both positive and negative outcomes, strangely we are already at peace with the positive uncertainty e.g winning the lotto. Positive or negative uncertainty isn’t worth thinking about until it happens.

In what ways are you, or can be, a good presence in the world?

Being a good presence is in my opinion achieved by being compassionate and simply treating others how you would like to be treated.

Any 7cups friends whom you admire a lot?

@fristo, @starlitsky4762, plus many more but I’m bad with names I hope you know who you are

Any feedback for the Living with Leaders interview series?

Nice idea, valuable insight learned from the answers

Interviewee: @bubblyPumpkin8003

What have been your learnings as a listener?

More professional behaviour. [A useful resource for listeners: What does it mean to be professional as a listener?]

How do you practise self-care at 7cups?

Have a cuppa/brew

In what ways are you, or can be, a good presence in the 7cups community?

I love helping newbies and the members

Any 7cups friends whom you admire a lot?

Fristo for recommending this to me

Any feedback for the Living with Leaders interview series?

Thank you fellow listeners for being so supportive

Interviewee: @TheAlchemist1111

What helps you be a good listener in real life?

I think giving others warmth and a trustworthy space to share their heart without any fear of getting judged, privacy, and being unbiased towards their issue. People often speak without completely understanding and listening the whole story, which i think is one of the main reasons we feel unheard or find others not understanding us. After coming to 7 cups, I learnt how important it is to provide space and have patience for listening. Here on 7 cups, listeners are accountable to the member as they trust us without knowing our real names, identity and share their deepest secrets, problems which they cannot share in real world. I feel the same accountability in real world when someone wants me to be their listener.

What has been your learning at 7cups, from which the fellow 7cuppers could benefit?

While talking to members sometimes I get solutions to my problems. I feel it is healing for both members and listeners. I would like to share that taking chats made me confident to initiate conversation in real life. I used to be blank while initiating talks, now i am getting confidence and i think people around me are also getting more comfortable with me.

How do you practise self-care at 7cups?

I do ground after taking chats and being online for a long time by meditation and writing gratitude journals. I go for evening walks. If the chats exceed my time I refer members to other listeners or schedule them for next day. Also if i am not comfortable with sharing something I clearly say no to that. I don't compromise my mental health and create healthy boundaries whether it is listener to member or listener to listener chats. If chats are overwhelming, I listen to music and dance sometimes 😁. Listening to music and dancing really helps me to reenergize. I experiment with different things daily like cooking something new, trying new things. I try to be happy as much as possible and also spread happiness around me

Any 7cups friends whom you admire a lot?

@Just4youthe1, @Memorablemoments12, Mentors: @MidnightRaven999, @Hope

Interviewee: @Rose644

What has been your learning at 7cups, from which the fellow 7cuppers could benefit?

• The most important thing that I have learnt is everyone is unique, you cannot and should not compare people.
• Self care is important - you might think not taking a break for yourself is fine but it's not.
• Boundaries - I cannot stress enough how important boundaries are, set limits for yourself and abide by it.
• Mistakes - everyone makes them, don't feel bad or embarrassed about it learn from them.
• Guidelines - familiarize yourself with the guidelines, they are what keep you safe and maintain appropriateness.
• Patience - hasty actions can be harmful.
• Never judge a book by its cover.
• Respect - the person opposite you will react by how you interact. Sometimes they can be having a bad day and their response is not to be disrespectful but might come that way, just be yourself.
  
  
  
  

What's your understanding of self-care and how can one best practise it?

As the term suggests self care is taking care of oneself. It comprises of your emotional health, mental health and physical health.

It's vital to take care of not only physical body but mental health too.

Now the question of how to achieve this? Well it's different for every person but some tips that might help are-

For physical health- exercising, good nutrition, hygiene, maybe a bubble bath or cycling to relax yourself.

Emotional health- This is the most trickiest for me. Setting boundaries, pursuing hobbies, listening to favorite songs, being around friends and family (I believe we choose our family, the family you are born into isn't necessarily your family) may lead to positive emotions and a support system for when you have to deal with negativity of life or have emotional swings. If you feel like crying, cry - see a sad movie or read a sad boo- just let it flow to lessen the burden you sometimes feel.

Mental health- Set a timetable, don't procrastinate, prepare in advance, seek assistance when needed, follow your dreams don't let the passion die. Be free.

I read books whenever I feel too much or nothing at all, go cycling in mornings and listen to Taylor Swift on repeat.

What's something inspiring to you that always captures your interest?

Whenever I see someone following their dream, being passionate about their interests or having the courage to dream I'm captivated by it. When we are young we dream a lot, we have wild imaginations and a lot of passion and eagerness for everything. Then life happens and we change. Some of us dream, some of us stop believing in dreams and others are bitter about it. Some achieve what they want, some find happiness in what they achieve and others collect the broken shards of their dreams and aspirations.
But we all move on and that's what matters.
Whatever happened in past, now we are here still going on. And that's inspiring, to see you stand up against obstacles, talking about your interests with fiery passion, it motivates me to go on.
It's a silent message- You can do it too.
So, I'm thankful to everyone for trying. It matters a lot.

Any 7cups friends whom you admire a lot?

@LavenderHere, @Jessrabbit7, I have a lot but I dont remember their full username, only the nick name version of it 😭.

Interviewee-: @amicableWater4529

How does one make peace with the uncertainties of life?

You make peace by having a foundation from which to work from (can be anything) and adapting to change - if not being on top of it to drive it (meaning don't let life rule you, be in control of your life).

Which area of 7cups (could be a chatroom, a forum, or any aspect of 7cups) do you want to especially see the growth of?

There can be better write ups in regard to the guidelines in the sharing circle, so people aren't confused by the unwritten rules.

In what ways are you, or can be, a good presence in the world?

My direction of optimistic altruism towards the future makes me a good presence to the world. I'm there for people in the end - helping the environment to create a better place for them.

Any 7cups friends you'd like to nominate for a self-interview?

mod's, @calmmango9611, @rhea3, @wooof, @kflev, the other one I didn't get the name of

Any feedback for the Living with Leaders interview series?

Hey thanks for creating this - it's great and cool to participate where I have a voice to share with others to inspire and learn from