5 Principles of 7 Cups
Ive been doing a lot of research on AA lately to try to see what we can learn from their experience. We have a lot of parallels with them. We are both free, anonymous, peer, volunteer, support systems. We have listeners, they have sponsors. They have the 12 steps, we have the 7 Cups. (As a caveat, this is not at all an endorsement of AA. I've also compared us with the Samaritans in the past and those posts are not equally not an endorsement of the Samaritans. These are just organizations that provide free support to others and we do that as well, so it is good to learn what we can from them).
Ive also been thinking a lot about community governance. i.e., spelling out clearly what the values are that guide how we govern the site. We write about this in our values, the book, and our community guidelines, but we didnt yet have anything like their traditions. Ive added these because I think they will provide more clarity to what we value.
5 Principles of 7 Cups:
7 Cups is greater than any one of us. Our ability to grow and help others is contingent upon our unity. If 7 Cups is harmonious, then we provide more effective support. If we are divided, then we provide less effective support.
7 Cups helps people find relief and personal growth through both the giving and receiving of compassionate care. All other goals, projects, and ideas are secondary to this mission.
7 Cups is an open and accepting organization. All are welcome. The only requirement is to want to give or receive compassionate care.
7 Cups requires those in leadership positions to be highly empathic, open-minded and humble. Openness and empathy keep leadership aligned with the mission of 7 Cups.
7 Cups will always be a volunteer-driven organization. Professionals will play a role, but, fundamentally, 7 Cups will remain a volunteer driven organization.
I'm actually impressed with these.
@GlenM Excellent! 
We should..honest,sincere,reliable,
Sorry but posts like the one starting this thread really put me off 7cups.
Not everybody agrees that AA/12 step programmes are necessarily "a good thing".
I certainly don't based on 1st hand experience (Al Anon), second hand experience (alcoholic now ex wife who did stints in 12 step rehab & attended AA) and my own background reading/research.
In any case their success rates are pretty poor in spite of what might be claimed.
Anyway I'm beginning to think that 7cups probably isn't right for me so I may just drop out.
Hope it suits others better.
@puddy I wouldn't read this as an endorsement of AA. I'd read it as a way of looking at AA to see what we can learn from them. Also, I'd encourage you to read the content of the 5 principles and respond to them. Those principles are the main point of the post.
if you disagree with them or do not want to be here then that is fine and I wish you the best, but I'd make that judgment on the content above and your experience.
@puddy don't apologize! You are more than welcome to your own opinions, and if the similar pathways or styles between 7 Cups and other organizations makes you feel uncomfortable, I can only hope that people would understand and respect that. I hope that regardless of if you stay or leave, the decision benefits you. I certainly wouldn't blame you if you wanted to leave when considering how much discomfort remaining in our community could cause you.
All the best, and take care!
Nice!
Good. but it should be 7 principles of 7cups.
Hi Glen,
I thank you for all your work and I enjoy myself on this site
Its great don't get me wrong but, I do not trust AA and do not find them to be a reliable source for any help.
I do not want to see this site associated with any cults.
@King0fclubs thanks for this feedback. I'll add clarifications above because this is the second time this came up.
@King0fclubs calling AA a cult is extremely judgemental, rude and disrespectful. Its a support group for people who choose to use it. So is 7cups. Judging any type of peer support network is wrong.
@Henle
I think they're entitled to their opinion.
As are others to different ones.
I'd hate to see 7cups become a place where only an accepted line of groupthink was acceptable.
THAT would be a sure sign of cult like behaviour.
@Henle
So I take it you have not done any research on AA. Yes its claims to be a support group but, cults like to claims things to get people to join.
Its okay to disagree with me but, I suggest looking into it yourself before dismissing me.
i'm just glad that 7cups exists. it's true that it may not be for some, but for those looking for support and an assurance that somewhere out there there is some place where you can give and receive help.. to me it's a great thing :)
Good post. It might even be a good idea to send a notification once a month for a reminder :)
there are two principles missing, for having one in each cup 
