January 2024 Community Update!
Dear Community,
Happy Holidays! I am just getting back home. I grew up in New England and finally made it home last night after nearly 15 hours in the car. I’m so glad to be home! And back in the office. I missed our work!
A nice thing about the holidays is that the world quiets down. Everyone agrees to not call or email one another. I love that quiet space. It gives me a lot of time to think in bn walks with family, presents, and way too many desserts.
This month, 7 Cups has achieved a great milestone by launching talk therapy! Talk therapy can be a great alternative to text-based therapy. Our users now have the flexibility to select text-based therapy or therapy over an audio/video live session.
I think about us (7 Cups) all the time. I’m still percolating and refining some ideas that I hope to share soon. As always, your ideas, thoughts, and feedback are always very welcome.
I wish you all a lovely New Years Eve and Day! I hope 2023 can be put to a nice close - like closing the last page of a book - and that 2024 opens before you with hope, peace, and community leaping from the pages.
H
As we close out 2023, and ring in the new year, I thought it'd be fun and therapeutic to do some reflection exercises as a community to get us thinking ahead. I’ve rolled out a challenge: 2024 Finish the sentence. Please give it a try and once you’ve finished that (and bookmarked the page to revisit!), consider Writing a Letter to Your Future Self. It's like those letter-writing sites but instead of scheduling them to send it back to you, I will be doing it! There's no due date. I'll be scheduling them as they're submitted!
I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for the love and support you’ve poured into our community over the year. You take such good care of each other on every level, from leader to listener to member, and it’s that unwavering spirit of compassion of human sincerity that sets us apart and makes us a truly unique and special force in this world. I look forward to continuing to nurture great work relationships with you, and getting the opportunity to collaborate with even more of you, as we drive our mission and further expand our reach. Everything 7 Cups stands for is the result of your efforts - we couoldn’t do this without you! Happy New Year!
Laiba
The Inner Development Goals Course was added as an elective choice in the 7 Cups Internship, Content Development and Marketing program, Leadership Development Program, and the Quality Listening Program.
Learning about cognitive distortion series came to an end, we covered a total of 10 popular distortions. In Dec, we covered Should statements & Mental Filtering. Thank you to everyone who followed along and worked on their personal growth then you may want to check out the posts made for our therapy event here.
Obs
Thank you all for your best efforts to bring compassion, support, and encouragement to everyone. Your actions made a world of difference in the group support chats. I hope we continue to do same and scale it further in 2024. On Group Support front, a bunch of updates:
We got the most exciting feature update- Quote Reply! We received positive and uplifting feedback from all who tried it. It allows to create a smooth and easy to follow conversation flow for everyone in the group chats.
We introduced Group Support refresher quizzes to refresh the memory on the important guidelines of providing support in a group setting. It was a great to notice how many did well with the refresher. Attempt them if you haven’t yet!
On the Listener Group Chat front, shout out to @Hopedreamlove to organize fun filled 12 days of Teen Listeners holiday event. Thank you everyone to join in and participate and making these sessions special and memorable. Also, we initiated Listener Level-up Series to discuss diverse listening topics together and learn from each other to level up our listening experiences as team. Please do join and share your thoughts as every experience and learning counts.
Also, we started various discussion sessions and big shout out and thank you to all leaders who stepped up to make it possible. Thank you to @wishfulwillow6962, @bluerivercares, @chillingrain for going above and beyond to bring support for community.
SoulfullyAButterfly
This month, we wrapped up the Stress Savvy Challenge with great reflections on the journey - this challenge helped several users explore stress in a safe environment while learning about strategies to help.
To celebrate the big launch of the 7 Cups video and audio therapy, the community admin team organized content around 25 days of Gratitude, Self-Care and Personal Growth which was a great way to reflect via therapeutic strategies. You can find this content here.
Keeping up with the end of the year celebrations, our annual 7 Cups Word Cup activity is also live now. We look forward to your reflections via words for 2023 as well as 2024.
Lastly, our research opportunities still open include the IPU based study based on systemic therapy. Systemic therapy focuses on relationships between people and the patterns of interaction within the systems that impact the well-being of the individuals within the system. If you are interested in trying this therapeutic opportunity, you can find more information and sign up here. The window for signing up for this study is closing soon! All members and listeners can now apply regardless of the date they signed up at 7 Cups.
I wish you all a great time reflecting back on the great year 2023 has been and am excited to explore 2024 and what it brings for us.
Evelyne
We have had a successful month in Quality land. The Listener Coaching Team month we've got @KindnessMatters2020 as our new Mentor Leader and @Bluerivercares as our Project agent. They’re both are doing exceptionally great on their new roles.
@AuWolf led the new safety initiatives for Safety Team. They posted the first Safety forum Discussion last week here. They also hosted the first room Safety Discussion on Tuesday. 8 people participate in the scavenger hunt that ended the 22nd.
Care Team had @ArcadianSage as our newest Guide and they are currently working on onboarding @chillingRain as our newest PA.
CheeryMango
Dear Community,
As we bid farewell to 2023, I’m thrilled to wrap up the year with you all! This month, we celebrated the holiday spirit with a fantastic series of festive activities on the site, bringing joy and connection to our community. You can participate in all of the events we hosted here.
In addition to the holiday festivities, we've been hard at work onboarding new forum leaders to our communities. Their dedication is vital in fostering engaging and supportive spaces for our members.
@Tommy and I extend our deepest gratitude to each and every one of you for your unwavering support and contributions throughout the year. Your efforts have truly made our communities thrive. If you too would like to offer support to the communities, find out how you can offer more support to a community of your choice here.
We are currently looking for new additions to join our Communities Leadership Team as Project Agents. There are currently four focuses available for you to choose from: Events, Engagement, Community Building and Leadership. The application form and full details of what we are looking for can be found here.
Thank you: @tranquilBlossom79 @Mya000 @pandanfe @AutisticYouth @OllieRNLI999 @BlueRivercares @dreamIcicle8467 @Bunnylovesyou @CompassionateArrow @Lovemymoonflowers @amiablePeace77 @EmmaE @Ninziesss @MistyMagic @PoliteOcean @EmotionsListener @RumpleSteeleSkin @VerseArt @FaithfulZareia @audienta @HealingTalk @MistyMagic @purplelady568 @SunShineAlwaysGrateful @MeaningfulSilence @AffyAvo @HopieRemi @MeaningfulSilence @Barltik2065 @KateDoskocilova @KristenHR @EmotionsListener @BlueRivercares @Clio9876 @Jem7Cups @HachiBee @bestVase7265 @SomebodySpicy13 @YourCaringConfidant @Optimisticempath @Mya000 @heathermarie95 @HachiBee @Bubbles2025 @helpfulstrawberry312 @calmKermit7178 @WorkingitThrough2 @PeacePink @starryCandy6123 @Comphi @ASilentBunny @Snor1ax @YourCaringConfidant @Clarezg @Kristynsmama @CyclingThroughLife @ComradeRuhi @Ralien @SomebodySpicy13 @BlissfulBue @chyni @El2002snow @EmpathysGarden @Mya000 @SparkyGizmo @Sunisshiningandsoareyou
As we eagerly step into 2024, we look forward to the innovative ideas and leadership our communities will bring. Together, let's make the upcoming year even more remarkable!
@GlenM
Thank you so much to everyone also involved on this platform! It has truly been an amazing year and I hope to continue being a part of the 7 Cups community!
Happy New Year and take care everyone!
@GlenM
happy new year! 🌈
@GlenM
Happy 2024 Glen!
Happy 2024 to all!
2023 has been such a rollercoaster of creativity and innovations both in technology and functionalities, closing the year with audio-video therapy and the Quote-Reply feature that @Obs mentions, which helps so much, particularly in large group sessions.
And always experimenting, trying new formats for support and growth like the Huddles, the Exploration Garden, and the last one the IDG Course a great springboard for human flourishing. It is amazing the wisdom and depth distilled in the essays posted in the IDG Community by those doing the Course, which are a testimony to the outstanding quality of this new addition to the Academy.
Also outstanding have been the essays written this month by @Hope and @SoulfullyaButterfly bringing the best practices in each topic in an easy-to-implement way, so useful for anyone who wishes to improve themselves, and a pleasure to read. I hope they are preserved and stay available maybe as Paths or in a kind of "library" like the Mindfulness audios. This series of essays marks a new height in original content creation by 7 Cups, I think.
There has also been a massive effort this year to increase Listener quality, a quantum leap really. The implementation of AI on-the-job training for Listeners (an early adoption of this breakthrough, disruptive and controversial technology, but to improve human-to-human support, not to replace it, something unique I have not seen anywhere else), the reinvigorated Listener Learning Discussions, and in general strengthening of all the programs that improve Listener quality: Mentoring, Coaching, Peer Support (with a great effort by @Jenna to improve it) the Care Team, the AL tests, VL, etc., everything has been strengthened and scaled up, culminating this month with the new Listener Level-up Series by @Obs.
Listener quality has been a great concern in 7 Cups, and in a display of remarkable self-awareness, intelligence, vitality and proactivity as an organization, this concern has been addressed and continues to be addressed in all possible ways, with a big investment in thought, time, energy and resources.
To the point that 7 Cups has a high-quality and vibrant Academy with the highest academic standards!
Which has been continuously growing and improving this year. And we are prepared to take more students and do even better in 2024. Thank you, @Hope for believing in me and entrusting me the responsibility of QLP Ambassador! As said, we are a strong team, and we will take many more students in 2024 at the highest standards possible!
And congratulations, wonderful Hanna, @positivePumpkin22 for becoming a most deserving LDP Ambassador!
On the Communities front, I want to congratulate @CheeryMango and @Tommy for the amazing job they have done during all 2023, populating the Communities with passionate and hard-working leaders and making the Communities more and more a tremendously caring, buzzing and welcoming haven of comfort and support, and also of inspiring art, deep reflection and uplifting fun.
I wish to close by quoting @Heather225, whose words I couldn't agree more, that it’s "our unwavering spirit of compassion" and "human sincerity" that "sets us apart and makes us a truly unique and special force in this [troubled] world."
7 Cups is a great, humane, wonderful Community!
Wooohooo!
Cheers to that, and Happy 2024 everybody!
@HealingTalk as always, a great summary and many thanks for your appreciation HT. I think this comment is a great "wrap-up" of 2023.
@SoulfullyAButterfly
Thank you, Soul! You shined during all of 2023.
And the past month you were at your very best!
I wish you a great 2024!
@HealingTalk amazing summary! Thank you for observing, participating and sharing all the hard work that happens across the community, platform and behind the scenes.
@Jon7Cups
Thank you, Jon!
You worked so hard the past year, and with such creativity and professionalism to bring the best you could conceive and your great technological skills implement, to make 7 Cups a much better platform for us all, and especially a more welcoming place for new users.
You also gained visibility, exposing yourself to both praise and criticism with much composure, compassion, and understanding. It's impossible to please all, and the few discontents raise their voices much more than the happy majority, always, in all organizations and even countries.
But we are all keenly aware of your passion and commitment to making 7 Cups a much better place, implementing technologies and designs to facilitate communication among us, increase Listener quality, and make 7 Cups more user-friendly for newcomers, so many more people can benefit from all that our great Community has to offer.
I wish to express my gratitude in the name of our Community for your many great contributions, always working so passionately to make things better. And also present my apologies, personally and in the name of the Community, for the unpleasant situations you might have faced, that you managed with utmost care and professionalism. And continued working with the same passion to bring us the best new functionalities and improvements
I wish you the very best in your life this new year, and look forward to discovering the new wonderful things you will bring us during 2024!
Cheers to that! 🍸🍸
Marcelo.
Thanks for your kind words @HealingTalk. I appreciate it. Its a daily balancing act between competing priorities and requests and we sadly can't fulfil everyone's request - no matter how obvious they may seem to that person. Thank you for seeing and appreciating this. It is not easy!
@Jon7Cups
I can imagine, Jon!
You are most deserving of our appreciation!
@HealingTalk thank you as always for the comprehensive kudos and for *seeing* all the work that is done on 7 Cups! I appreciate you understanding the practical work we do here and also the ways you generalize out to the see the goal or objective we are hoping to attain. We try many things and not all of them work, but we are a stubborn bunch and we keep at it. Encouragement from the community always helps. Very much appreciated!
And a big thank you to you too for all that you do here around the community. You are a champion of others and you lift them up. And, it has been nice to learn more and see your work more closely, with your new role as a QLP ambassador in the Academy. Thanks for helping us to continuously elevate quality!
@GlenM
Thank you, Glen!
I love so much 7 Cups, for personal reasons, like we all here. Reasons that might stay confidential as they should, but this emotional side is very intense, a great determinant of how I appreciate this wonderful Community you have created, and all the work that is done here.
I also admire 7 Cups as an organization. The way it's organized and managed, so unique.
The structural framework of this wonderful Community providing emotional support and therapy for thousands and thousands of people.
Its unrelenting drive to get better, through much thought, effort, and experimentation, and to reach more people in need of support, which is vast in this world.
And all the good, bright, compassionate and committed 7 Cups people, many of whom are in leadership roles. Good, bright, compassionate and committed leaders at all levels. Among those I know, are the best people I have ever known.
So it's a privilege for me to serve alongside you all in this noble organization, in 1-1 chats, the Forums, the Communities, the Academy, and now learning the ropes as Ambassador (wish me luck!).
A great opportunity that 7 Cups gives me, which is greatly rewarding and adds much meaning to my life.
@GlenM
Talk therapy ! great !
