Non-Trivial with Jovial

Interviewer: @ouiCherie

Oui: As far as I know, Jovial is compassionate, smart, and supportive. Their efforts and passion in building the Support Plus (SP+) sub community is remarkable. Let's get to know more about this inspiring and dear friend of mine, @jovialButterfly6752

Hi Jov, how are you?

Thank you so much for interviewing me Cherie. So honoured. Hanging in there :) One day at a time.

Oui: I'd like to start with Support Plus, if you don't mind.

• What motivated you to join SP+ leadership and to continue building the sub com?

• I feel strongly about neuropsychiatric conditions in general because of my lived experiences. I want to dedicate my life to being there for people because I know what it’s like to struggle, and it gives me great joy. People deserve a space to be heard and resources to cope if possible. We are definitely not mental health professionals on the team but we do our best to create awareness and clear up misconceptions.

If I remember correctly, the SP+ subscribers have grown over 2x from when you started. That's really amazing. Respect!

*feeling shy*. It’s all thanks to the leadership team: previous and current team mates.

You're a Community Mentor Leader (CML) for the particular sub-com now, but I know very well, in the beginning you worked hard both to create content and actively invite people to join the leadership team.

• What were the biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?

• It’s daunting trying to build a sub community from almost scratch, but I was motivated by the fact that a number of people have the conditions we cover: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorders/Conditions (ASD/ASC), Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), Body Focused Repetitive Behaviours, Hoarding, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). I was driven by a desire to bring people together as these conditions weren’t receiving much attention.
  
  It can be exhausting organising everything, which is why having Project Agents, Support Team Leaders, and Community Mentors is essential whenever possible.
  
  I tend to bite off more than I can chew but I learned to delegate sub-community tasks as I found team members to join the leadership team.

I have always had the support of mentors, friends, and leaders on 7 Cups, so that helped me to cope or take action when I felt indecisive.

Communication can be difficult if people don’t respond but I understand and try to let it be rather than checking in every single day if someone isn’t replying. Also, it can be extra challenging conveying the meaning of what you mean to say on the internet, but patience and attempts to rephrase are key.

• CML is a tough leadership role. What are your takeaways about leadership from the journey, so far?

• Well this is what I believe regardless of the role. In general, a good leader raises people up. A good leader treats their team fairly. My contributions to Support Plus wouldn’t have made a difference if not for all the efforts of our team members, both existing and previous members. Also, leadership can come with conflict, but there are people to help you along the way so that you can become a better leader and ultimately, a better human being.

• Out of the community, you've applied for PhD programs and here you graduated from different programs in 7 Cups Academy. What do you like about the 7 Cups Academy?

• I like the fact that I got to learn a range of transferable skills that have even been beneficial in both my Cups journey and daily life. For example, the Building Community Program has naturally been extremely helpful with building up support plus. I like that Academy Programs can be application oriented as this is a better way to learn.

You're one of the OGs for icebreakers here, so how about we do icebreakers now? 😀

• If everyone has to change their username, what would be your new username and why?

• Bob. Because why not xD Or I might go with ‘username’ as my ‘username’ because once again, why not.

• How do you want to feel at the end of 2022 and how do you plan to achieve that?

• As a person with chronic health conditions (physical and neuropsychiatric), my goal is always being kind to myself and prioritising self-care. As a perfectionist and because I need structure, I know I can break down goals and do a little everyday to get to where I want to be. It’s a constant process of rebuilding these patterns/systems that help me cope as things change when you feel down because of your mental health, etc. I don’t believe in New Year’s Resolutions. Everyday is a new day, and I try to avoid beating myself up for not following through with a habit. Rather than consistency in the habit itself, I think consistency in trying again is more important. An example of something I want to do: my health hasn’t been great so I haven’t been exercising for a while. To get myself back into it, I could maybe do 10 minutes of yoga for as many days as I can in a week, add 10 more minutes the following week, and so forth. You can’t go from 0 to 1 immediately.

Last but not least, any message for the community?

As we’re in the holiday season right now, I thought this image would be apt. Resilience doesn’t always look pretty. It’s still resilience if you’re crying or sad. More people experience the holiday blues than you think, and that’s completely valid. You don’t have to feel a certain way, and this extends to all days of the year.

All credits to the creator. I don’t own this image.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EUbwPwCWoAIpiUw?format=jpg&name=medium

Thanks for the time to answer the questions Jov 💜 all the best for 2022 and the future!

Thanks for being my Listener Twin through thick and thin. I learn so much from you every time we speak!

This interview is part of the Living with Leaders Interview Series. Learn about the series here