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GlenM profile picture
Part I: The River - Exploring Life as a River
by GlenM
Last post
 April 3rd
...See more Welcome to part 1 of the Way of the River series [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/GlensNookCommunity_547/IntroducingTheWayoftheRiverSeriesMasterpost_367734/]. We are going down the river of life in our kayak. At the start, it may feel unnatural or a little clumsy. Maybe we lose our paddle or get stuck on rocks, but with more experience we gradually learn to read the water. With a little more experience we can begin to feel the current pulling us. Sometimes we might not want to follow the current. Instead, we might have our eye on a beautiful spot across the water on the side of a river bank. Many of us will work really hard to cross the river to get to that spot. It will require a lot of extra paddling because we are going against the current. One sad, but instructive experience happens when you finally make it to that hoped for spot and realize it is not as good as you had imagined. You were sure it was going to be beautiful, but somehow it fell short of that beauty. This is frustrating because it took so much energy to get there. Some of us are stubborn, slow to learn, or both, and we have to make this same mistake many, many, many times. Eventually, however, we too learn how to read the water and follow the current. Sometimes the current leads us right past the spots we wanted to go and then surprises us around the bend with a far better spot. These are great situations. Oddly, even though we shouldn't, we often give ourselves credit for finding the new spot, when most of the credit should go to the current. Still, these are great times and should be deeply enjoyed because they do not happen all the time. Other times the current can lead us down more treacherous waters with rocks, eddies, and sticks that can be tough to navigate. Sometimes we lose a paddle, flip the kayak and get wet. In particularly tough times, we may even get injured. We don’t usually take “credit” for our role in these situations and instead happily blame the current. Why do these more challenging times happen? I believe they happen so that we can learn. Nobody wants to feel the anxiety, difficulties, and sometimes pain that happens during these times, but these are indeed the times that teach us the most skill. We don’t learn to become master kayakers when the river is smooth. We learn how to be master kayakers on the rapids. Adversity challenges us to overcome. So, what is the right approach? The approach is one that goes against our natural impulses. It can sometimes feel like it goes against everything that is within us, especially when it is painful and not what we had hoped for. The stoics were master kayakers and they have a statement, “the problem is the path.” They encourage us to steer into the challenges and to trust the current. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) [https://www.7cups.com/act-therapy-techniques/] encourages us to see the challenge as an opportunity to learn to solve a problem that we’ve been ignoring. These are wise words. Abraham Maslow, another master kayaker, tells us to go further. He instructs us to see the challenges as a gift, to embrace them like we would a friend, to listen deeply and carefully to what they are telling us, to listen to their whispers. He encourages us to see the challenges as ends in and of themselves; and warns us not to look past them as a means to an end. He wants us to see and appreciate them for what they are – independent, difficult, and beautiful experiences. The river of life brings us smooth, deep, and troubled waters. Thankfully we do not paddle alone. We find other kayakers on the water that also teach us lessons. Most of the lessons come down to following the current rather than insisting on our own plans. This key lesson is a lifetime lesson. Reflection question: We have all gone through challenging times, or rough rapids, and overcome them in the past. What would you tell a friend going through difficult waters now? I’m thankful that I have found all of you on the river. Thank you for paddling alongside me 🙏✨❤️. ------------------------- This post is part 1 of The Way of the River Series. Find the complete information and all related posts here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/GlensNookCommunity_547/IntroducingTheWayoftheRiverSeriesMasterpost_367734/]  ------------------------- Reading the theory is just the map, but the real progress happens in the water. Apply to join the exclusive closed group here and kayak together! ------------------------- >>> Proceed to Part 2! [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/GlensNookCommunity_547/PartIINavigatingYourOwnKayak_367866/]
Heather225 profile picture
Join the Way of the River Huddle, a week-by-week walkthrough of the series!
by Heather225
Last post
 March 27th
...See more We are excited to launch a 5-week walkthrough of the Way of the River series, and we would love for you to join us. This Huddle is a closed group setting where we will read, reflect, and learn together. Week by week, we will discuss practical ways to handle difficult times, build strength, and support one another: We will discuss one part each week: Week 1: Part I – Exploring Life as a River [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/GlensNookCommunity_547/PartITheRiverExploringLifeasaRiver_296728/] Week 2: Part II – Navigating Your Own Kayak [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/GlensNookCommunity_547/PartIINavigatingYourOwnKayak_367866/] Week 3: Part III – Paddling Alongside Others [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/GlensNookCommunity_547/PartIIIPaddlingAlongsideOthers_368094/] Week 4: Part IV – Charting a Course for All of Us [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/GlensNookCommunity_547/PartIVChartingaCourseforAllofUs_368358/] Week 5: Part V – Understanding the River Map & Finding Your Flow [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/GlensNookCommunity_547/PartVUnderstandingtheRiverMapFindingYourFlow_367733/] If you are looking for a supportive space to grow and want to practice handling life's challenges alongside peers, come join the group. You will earn badges, discuss weekly prompts, and build connections along the way. Sign Up HERE [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfdUljhoiZW9Iwf-8NGit6kW_l4z_hwZ7PAfJxg8jcMHJJzXQ/viewform] Space is limited to keep our group size small, so do not wait to secure your spot!  For your future planning, the Huddle schedule for 2026 is as follows: * (In Progress) March 23 – April 26 * April 27 – May 31 * June 1 – July 5 * July 6 – August 9 * August 10 – September 13 * September 14 – October 18 * October 19 – November 22 * November 23 – December 27 * December 28, 2026 – January 31, 2027
Heather225 profile picture
The Way of the River Huddle: Frequently Asked Questions!
by Heather225
Last post
 March 23rd
...See more What's a Way of the River Huddle? The Way of the River (affectionately abbreviated WotR) is a 5-part series designed to help you discover actionable insights for handling adversity, building personal resilience, and supporting those around you. It changes the way you look at the currents you face. The Way of the River Huddle [https://www.7cups.com/forum/groupmod/7CupsHuddles_2394/IntroducingtheWayoftheRiverHuddle_377109/] is a peer-supported closed group chat that follows all five weeks, focusing on one part every week, and is reserved for discussing the content What is the structure of the 5-week journey? Each week, we discuss one part of the series over 5 weeks: Week 1: Part I – Exploring Life as a River [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/GlensNookCommunity_547/PartITheRiverExploringLifeasaRiver_296728/] Week 2: Part II – Navigating Your Own Kayak [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/GlensNookCommunity_547/PartIINavigatingYourOwnKayak_367866/] Week 3: Part III – Paddling Alongside Others [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/GlensNookCommunity_547/PartIIIPaddlingAlongsideOthers_368094/] Week 4: Part IV – Charting a Course for All of Us [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/GlensNookCommunity_547/PartIVChartingaCourseforAllofUs_368358/] Week 5: Part V – Understanding the River Map & Finding Your Flow [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/GlensNookCommunity_547/PartVUnderstandingtheRiverMapFindingYourFlow_367733/] How does the room work? Because our members join us from all over the globe and across several time zones, the interactions in the room are largely asynchronous. The room is open 24/7, and we provide weekly and daily prompts to help you navigate The Way of the River material. The key to a thriving space is continually nurturing communication, so we highly encourage you to interact with one another, engage in conversation about the readings, and cheer each other on as we complete our weekly forum responses. Fostering these connections is what makes the huddle such a supportive environment for everyone! What if the room is quiet or no one is there when I log in? Don't let a quiet room discourage you! Since our community spans across so many different time zones, there will naturally be moments when the chat is less active. We encourage you to still share your thoughts on the week's part, answer the daily prompts, and leave encouraging messages for others to read when they log on. Your messages help keep our momentum flowing, and your peers will see them and reply as soon as they are online! Are there live sessions? Do I have to attend them? We host one optional live session each week to introduce the new material and discuss it together in real-time. It will be on Fridays (1PM ET). Since interactions are asynchronous and the room is always open, you can still fully participate, discuss the series, and get support even if you can't make the live chat. What is expected of me if I join? To make the most of your experience, we ask that you participate in the group chat at least once a week. You are required to introduce yourself and share your initial thoughts on the series in Week 1 to confirm your spot. Be open to discussing the weekly material, completing your forum posts, supporting others, and practicing respectful communication following 7 Cups guidelines. How do I join? This is a closed group, so you must sign up via the Google Form (here) [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfdUljhoiZW9Iwf-8NGit6kW_l4z_hwZ7PAfJxg8jcMHJJzXQ/viewform]. Invites are sent out before the start of each new 5-week cycle. What if I'm too busy to join right now? The WotR Huddle is an ongoing initiative. We onboard new participants every 5 weeks. If your schedule is full right now, you can always catch the next round when you have more time! ------------------------- All this info and more is in the official guide. [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hRvQWdQlsWRG34IooHJ3sTrAtvT4ipW4RsT3ufozht0/edit?tab=t.0]
JasGab200519970 profile picture
Ice-breakers - newbies and oldies (😂😆😄)
by JasGab200519970
Last post
 March 27th
...See more Hello hello guys!!  How are you all?  I hope today has been eventful - a day of adventure, fun, mystery and sparing of heart strings. Some of us feel more intensely than others whilst some are more subtle in how they feel.  Which is you - animation destination or poetic like the blossom tree? I think I maybe calling out someone crush?! (Lol what do I know 😆👍) 🌷How would you describe yourself? Quick, lightening responses sending shock waves  Letting the neurological pathways stay steady  Ping pong - the back and forth banter individual who gives some back! Peace to you and your family. 🌺🌸🌷
Heather225 profile picture
The Way of the River in Everyday Application: Please Share!
by Heather225
Last post
 January 29th
...See more What aspect(s) of this series have you applied to your off-cups life? And did it surprise you? Did it organically surface, or was it something you consciously applied?
Heather225 profile picture
Way of the River 🌊 What is a lesson you didn’t know you needed to learn?
by Heather225
Last post
 January 23rd
...See more One of the most powerful ideas from the Way of the River series for me comes from Part 2 [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/GlensNookCommunity_547/PartIINavigatingYourOwnKayak_367866/]: the concept of "The Rock as a Teacher." When we are navigating our own kayaks, we often see the "rocks" (our challenges or setbacks) as things that are just in our way, that shouldn't be there. But the river teaches us that every rock actually helps shape the flow of the water and gives us a chance to learn how to steer better. My question for you is: What is a lesson you didn’t know you needed to learn? Is there a "rock" in your life that you’ve started to see as a "teacher"? Did you learn something unexpected about your own resilience? Was there a "Mr. 8" [https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1t9JHJdZgyTjc7wZc1H6zeCl8VIvKhwiFAQttDqgVnJA/edit?slide=id.g33d1671c7a5_1_29#slide=id.g33d1671c7a5_1_29] that actually led you to a better path? As the proverb goes, "the obstacles in our path are not blocking the way; they are the way." The rocks aren't there to stop us; they are there to teach us how to flow better. Comment below and let's share in these unexpected wins!
Heather225 profile picture
The Gratitude Current: "Today I am grateful for..."
by Heather225
Last post
 January 17th
...See more Inspired by Part 1 [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/GlensNookCommunity_547/PartITheRiverExploringLifeasaRiver_296728/]. Fill in this sentence: Today I am grateful for the current that carried me through...
Heather225 profile picture
What Connects Us as Kayakers: Common Threads of the River
by Heather225
Last post
 January 14th
...See more It's so inspiring how everyone jumped into this series. It was not always easy to work through all that information, answer deep reflection questions, and support one another, yet here we are. When I think about what connects us, the first thing that comes to mind is curiosity. There is a naturally inquisitive mindset in this group and a beautiful openness to new ideas. Another characteristic I see is resilience. It is clear from all your replies across the different parts of this journey that we aren't just here to receive help. We have all discovered that helping others is actually a vital part of our own healing process. We find purpose in turning our past pain into a source of comfort for someone else. I also think there is a unique authenticity that bonds us together. I would love to hear from the rest of you! What do you think are the characteristics we all share? What other qualities or characteristics do you see in yourself and your fellow travelers on the river?
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