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Heather225 profile picture
Important Update: Forum Email Transition & Contact Inquiries
by Heather225
Last post
 2 days ago
...See more Hi, everyone! To improve our workflow and ensure we answer your requests as quickly and efficiently as possible, we've retired the forum@7cups.com email address. Moving forward, we are directing correspondence regarding forum actions and reports to the community@7cups.com inbox (also known as the Helpdesk). [https://help.7cups.com/hc/en-us/requests/new] You can reach out to community@7cups.com for: * Forum actions, reports, and questions regarding moderation or edits * Requests to edit, move, or delete threads For questions about forum roles and leadership, please contact our Forum Ambassador: @tommy [http://7cups.com/@tommy]
Hope profile picture
7 Cups for the searching soul book - Read and review to get a badge!
by Hope
Last post
 October 23rd
...See more Hi everyone, I hope you are doing well. Some of you may be aware that we have our very own book! It's called the 7 Cups for the searching soul. There is even a training /self-help guide based on the same book. The book focuses on helping you understand your behavior better, provide you with tips and tricks to grow as a person, and provides in-depth information about how our platforms can support you with your journey of growth. We encourage everyone to read the book and reflect on its contents. The admin team and I have read the book and we have really enjoyed the overall experience. You can download your copy of the book on Amazon for free here [https://www.amazon.com/7-Cups-Searching-Soul-7Cups-ebook/dp/B01BFWMCXY] * Please note that the book is available in the following Amazon marketplaces: United States, United Kingdom, Canada, India, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, Japan, Spain, France, Italy, Australia, and the Netherlands. Don't see your country listed? We've got you covered! Please find PDF and MOBI versions here [https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/611898]. To get the Soul Searcher badge please follow the following steps: Download the e-book from Amazon (if your country provides it) or use the second link and read it. Leave us a review on Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/7-Cups-Searching-Soul-7Cups-ebook/dp/B01BFWMCXY] or Good reads [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28930126-7-cups-for-the-searching-soul?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=465CcxbNjk&rank=1]. Respond to this thread, let us know you did step 1 & 2 and tell us what were your favourite bits! We will appreciate your support in downloading and reviewing the book as more downloads/reviews help us reach and support more people.
Heather225 profile picture
Updated Community Roster & Support Resources (2026)
by Heather225
Last post
 October 18th
...See more Hello, Cupsers! Whether you have a question, need to report an issue, or just aren't sure where to turn, here is a quick guide to our key team contacts, support channels, and resources: Community Admin Team Me: Head of Community (see limited hours post) [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/HsHangout_1970/Anupdateonmyscheduleandgettingthesupportyouneed_382330/] @SoulfullyAButterfly - Head of Content/Product Team Member: Queries and Platform Support for all site projects/features @Hope: Dean of the Academy [https://www.7cups.com/academy/] @Bookworm4: ATL Program & Teen Safety The Ambassador Team The Ambassadors are volunteer leaders who represent our highest level of commitment to the 7 Cups mission. Each one oversees a crucial function on 7 Cups. The two Ambassadors below have made themselves available for general questions if an Admin is not around: @AnnaSilverberg - Quality Ambassador (QM and Listener Coaching Team)  @Rebekah - Safety Ambassador (Safety Awareness Team)  You can view the rest of our Ambassador Team roster here: Ambassador Team Availability Updates [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/General_2444/AmbassadorTeamAvailabilityUpdates2026_381757/].  The Help Desk The Help Center [https://help.7cups.com/hc/en-us] is our central intake for all site reports and inquiries. Please use the Help Desk [https://help.7cups.com/hc/en-us/requests/new] for: * Investigation requests, behavioral reports, safety concerns * Feedback/suggestions (community, site, etc.) * Any questions! Account Reviews Form If your account has been unexpectedly deactivated, submit your name to the Account Reviews form [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScqva6u9GVllcKFBro2ZOg2tugEknrU8cMoi__JJClisFZzJw/viewform]. I hope this information empowers you to navigate the community with confidence. Thank you for being such an important part of our Cups family and looking out for one another! ------------------------- If you're getting value out of 7 Cups, please consider donating to keep our community going. Back us here. [https://www.7cups.com/back-us/] 💙
GlenM profile picture
November 2026 Community Update!
by GlenM
Last post
 3 hours ago
...See more Dear Community, I hope all is well! It is now starting to get chilly here and the fall foliage is well underway. I’m looking forward to having my whole crew home for Thanksgiving. We’ve been busy on many fronts. The 7cups.com/local [http://7cups.com/local] section was updated. It looks and works better than it did before. Additionally, we’ve been making a lot of behind the scenes updates. Things that are not obvious, but make the site work more efficiently. The same on the app fronts too. The android version was just pushed the other day and iOS will be live soon. The peer certification process continues to move forward as well. We are working on client AI models to be able to assess progress. This is similar to the CMU tools that I shared in other updates. They are just tied to each section so a person can know how well they’ve done. The plan is to submit in FL first and then in NJ shortly after. We also introduced a new section in the hobby zone called Pet Corner [https://www.7cups.com/forum/hobbyzone/PetCorner_2754/]. Pets bring such meaning to life and are a delight. If you have animals or a pet and you are interested in sharing, then start a thread! I started a thread on my turtle friends that you can find here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/hobbyzone/PetCorner_2754/TurtleIsland_392653/?post=4315381]. I’ll also drop in pics of Teddy every now and then too. Wishing you all a lovely fall! Best, GlenM H Happy November! We've retired the forum@7cups.com email address and are now directing correspondence regarding forum actions and reports to the Helpdesk. Details in this post. [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/Siteupdatesandchanges_2007/ImportantUpdateForumEmailTransitionContactInquiries_392333/] Note: The 7CupsForums account will still be active to allow forum mentors to notify users of post modifications and removals. Help Wanted!: We’re still looking for Verified Listeners [https://www.7cups.com/forum/7cupsleadership/CommunitiesHelpWanted_2306/HelpWantedWereyouontheListenerVerifiersTeamWeneedyou_392151/] to join our team of folks who facilitate the verification process for our listener community. Read about what this role is and the prerequisites here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/listenerjourney/ListenerVerificationProject_1839/JointheListenerVerifierTeam_370826/], and PM questions to @ChillingRain. The Welcome Committee needs friendly faces to represent 7 Cups to our newest members! If you’re a listener looking to do meaningful work for newbies, please consider joining us. Visit this post for the deets. [https://www.7cups.com/forum/welcome/TheWelcomeCommitteeTeam_2670/CallingAllVerifiedListenersHelpWantedonthe7CupsWelcomeCommittee_332406/] Thank you to @Sealiously, who has been leading the adult side of this team! Hope October has been a steady month overall, mostly centered on routine maintenance and coordination across the Academy. On the team front, we welcomed two new mentors to the 7 Cups internship mentor team to help support the community moving forward. Alongside that, we have been reviewing the internship coursework to find a reasonable way to award credit for time spent on coursework rather than strictly counting 1-on-1 listening hours. This is in addition to the listening hours credit. That update is being wrapped up and will be officially announced and implemented in November. To keep everyone informed and clear up any gaps in understanding, we also introduced two new resource posts this month. One breaks down how hours are tracked for the Quality Listening Program [https://www.7cups.com/forum/qlp/AnnouncementsandUpdates_2201/QualityListeningProgramQLPChatandPracticumHoursGuide_393007/] (now linked directly in the QLP requirement list), and the other explains how referral clicks function as an elective for the internship. [https://www.7cups.com/forum/interns/FAQsandResources_1127/ElectiveReferatLeast20Peopleto7Cups_392898/] On the community front, I shared a new post titled Stop Maximizing, Start Living: Good Enough Beats Perfect. [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/HopesCorner_2162/StopMaximizingStartLivingWhyGoodEnoughBeatsPerfect_391756/] It dives into why obsessing over perfection drains our energy, and how embracing "good enough" gives us the breathing room to actually enjoy our daily lives. As always, you can find shorter, bite-sized versions of these thoughts in my ongoing thread, Life, As It Is (Reflections). Feel free to drop in, follow along, or share your thoughts. SoulfullyAButterfly This month, we’ve launched 2 growth paths by religious scholars/experts. They contain opportunities for daily reflection as well as community discussions hosted on the forums. We will be rolling out growth paths/protocols for more faiths soon! * 20 Days with Jesus in His Suffering by Dr. M. Elizabeth Lewis Hall, Dr. Jason McMartin, and Dr. Lisa Igram | Community Paths | 7Cups of Tea [https://www.7cups.com/path/playlist/20-days-with-jesus-in-his-suffering-by-dr-m-elizabeth-lewis-hall-dr-jason-mcmartin-and-dr-lisa-igram/]  * 20 Daily Psalms of Lament by Dr. M. Elizabeth Lewis Hall, Dr. Kelly M. Kapic, and Dr. Jason McMartin | Community Paths | 7Cups of Tea [https://www.7cups.com/path/playlist/20-daily-psalms-of-lament-by-dr-m-elizabeth-lewis-hall-dr-kelly-m-kapic-and-dr-jason-mcmartin/] We’ve also launched The Pet Corner, where you can create personal pet threads for the community to support and follow along - learn how to get started here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/hobbyzone/PetCorner_2754/IntroducingthePetCornerHowtoCreateYourOwnPetThread_392250/]. Bookworm4 ATL and Safety reports were processed in a timely manner as per our community guidelines. Please note that you can reach out to me directly for any concerns or questions
Hope profile picture
What have you done to prevent burnout today? Preventing Burnout at 7 Cups
by Hope
Last post
 4 hours ago
...See more Hi everyone! This is a forum post linked to the path 'Preventing Burnout at 7 Cups' [https://www.7cups.com/path/playlist/preventing-burnout-at-7-cups/] What have you done to prevent burnout today? This can a variety of things like: • Saying no to a task because you have enough on your plate • Taking part in self-care activities • Taking a self-care break from 7 Cups
Hope profile picture
Life, As It Is (Reflections) - Sep 2026 and onwards
by Hope
Last post
 9 hours ago
...See more Hi everyone, I hope you’ve been well. Life, however you look at it, is not easy. It’s demanding, unpredictable, and often doesn’t go the way we plan. It can also feel isolating at times, like you’re the only one dealing with certain challenges, or like you’re stuck in patterns of thinking that don’t really help. But if you look into philosophy, psychology, or even religious and spiritual traditions, you’ll notice something consistent. People have been dealing with the same kinds of struggles for a very long time. And over time, they’ve developed different ways of understanding and handling those realities. Just adding a bit of context to this thread. I usually share a reflection every Monday and Friday with the admin team. There’s no fixed theme. The idea is simply to revisit useful ways of thinking about life, often drawn from people who have spent time studying it deeply or have navigated it well. Most of these lean optimistic, but not in a surface-level way. More in the sense of helping make peace with challenges, uncertainty, and the limits of our control, and finding ways to think about them that are a bit more steady. I’ll try to post these here as well. You can subscribe to the thread if you’d like to get notified when I add a new reflection. Expect about one or two posts per week. Feel free to respond, add your own thoughts, or just read quietly. And you can ignore it entirely too. Just putting it out there in case it’s useful to anyone.
HumbleMoonk profile picture
Passionate QA Tester Looking to Help Make 7 Cups Better
by HumbleMoonk
Last post
 21 hours ago
...See more Hey! I'm new to 7 Cups, but I'm a QA Tester by profession. I've already noticed many bugs while exploring the platform. I'd love to help by reporting and reproducing issues, testing new features, or even assisting with development tasks. If there's an opportunity to contribute, I'd be happy to be involved!
Heather225 profile picture
Important Update: Forum Email Transition & Contact Inquiries
by Heather225
Last post
 2 days ago
...See more Hi, everyone! To improve our workflow and ensure we answer your requests as quickly and efficiently as possible, we've retired the forum@7cups.com email address. Moving forward, we are directing correspondence regarding forum actions and reports to the community@7cups.com inbox (also known as the Helpdesk). [https://help.7cups.com/hc/en-us/requests/new] You can reach out to community@7cups.com for: * Forum actions, reports, and questions regarding moderation or edits * Requests to edit, move, or delete threads For questions about forum roles and leadership, please contact our Forum Ambassador: @tommy [http://7cups.com/@tommy]
GlenM profile picture
The Way of the River: Paddling Together
by GlenM
Last post
 Tuesday
...See more Hello Community! We are all on the river of life. We all hit rocks, or challenges, that can be difficult to overcome. And we paddle through those hard times together. For a long time I've been working on a simple way to describe how we get through hard water here at 7 Cups. Many of you helped shape it through your posts, feedback, and stories over the years. How this thread works: This is our home base on the river. Read through once, then come back anytime, every week, every day, or whenever you hit a rock, and share the rock you're facing and the paddle stroke you're taking. Jump to the last page to see where everyone is now. Welcome You belong here, just as you are. You don't have to have it figured out. You don't have to be the strong one. You're welcome here because you're hurting, not in spite of it. Everyone here has hit rocks, and that's what makes us a community. You don't earn your place by doing anything. You already have it. The paddle strokes below aren't a test. They're simply what we do together. Card (You can take a screenshot of this or save the image for a reminder) You belong here, just as you are. You can't control the river. You can choose how and when to paddle. We are paddling alongside you. Avoided rocks come back. Faced rocks change us. * Name. Say what the rock is. * Reach. Ask for help. Take the rope someone throws you. * Balance. Breathe, rest, let the feeling pass. * Face. Turn toward it. Ask what it might be teaching you. * Act. Take your next paddle stroke. * Let Go. Forgive, and release the outcome. * Give. Paddle alongside someone. In rough water: Name, Reach, Balance. Remember * Paddling away from danger is navigating too. * Some rocks are losses, not lessons. We can carry those together. * If you're in danger, get to shore. Reach crisis support now. An easy way to remember the strokes Navigating Rapids Builds Friendship And Lasting Grace Each first letter is a stroke: Name, Reach, Balance, Face, Act, Let Go, Give. Anyone who has rafted with others knows it's true: getting through rough water together makes you friends and aware of grace.  The Way * Life brings rocks, and some rivers are rougher than others. * We avoid them. We deny, blame, numb, or thrash. * Avoided rocks come back. We keep hitting the same kinds of rocks until we face them. * Facing rocks, with others beside us, changes us. * Wisdom isn't fewer rocks. It's spending less time on them, and more people we can help. The Seven Paddle Strokes Each paddle stroke has something you do, and a way it connects you to others. 1. Name You: Say what the rock is in plain words. Challenges become a little easier to hold once we can put words to them. Together: When we name a rock to someone else, we don't have to be alone with it anymore. 2. Reach You: Ask for help. Take the rope someone throws you. Let someone in. This is the stroke we can come back to again and again. Together: We heal through relationships before we heal through techniques. Sometimes we need someone simply to listen. Sometimes we need someone to remind us that we're not alone. Choose people who help you feel safe enough to be yourself and face what you're going through. 3. Balance You: Stay upright in rough water. Breathe. Rest. Give the feeling time to move through you. You're the sky, not the cloud: feelings pass through you, but they aren't all of you. Look after the basics too: sleep, food, movement, and time to recover. Together: Sometimes we borrow someone else's calm before we can find our own. Sitting beside a calm person can make the river feel a little less rough. 4. Face You: Notice the rocks you've been trying not to see. Avoiding something isn't a failure; sometimes avoidance is how we survived something difficult. When you feel safe enough, begin to turn toward it. You can ask: What happened? What am I feeling? What do I need now? And, when you're ready: What might this rock be teaching me? For some people, faith, God, a Higher Power, or a sense that Life can be trusted can be part of this. For others, meaning comes from somewhere else. There is no single way to make sense of what happens to us. Together: Whatever you believe, you don't have to face the rock alone. We're paddling alongside you. 5. Act You: Take your next paddle stroke. It doesn't have to be a big one. Maybe you need to solve something practical. Maybe you need to say, "I'm sorry." Maybe you need to set a boundary. Maybe you need to leave a situation that isn't good for you. The paddle is yours. Together: Others can help you think it through. They can listen, help you see things differently, and cheer you on. 6. Let Go You: Challenges often stir up old hurts and remind us of difficult past relationships. Forgive the person from your past that this brings up, forgive yourself, and forgive the person in front of you now. Forgiveness doesn't mean removing a boundary or staying somewhere that hurts you. A boundary can come first. Letting go also means accepting what is, even when it isn't what we wanted, and loosening our grip on how we thought things should turn out. We can't control every bend in the river, but we can trust that, whatever comes next, we can meet it. You'll know you've let go when the old hurt doesn't catch you the way it used to. Together: Letting go is easier when someone is paddling beside you. 7. Give You: When you have the strength, paddle alongside someone else. You don't have to fix their problems or tell them where to go. Just be there. Share what the river has taught you when it might help. Listen when they need to be heard. Together: Paddle with them, not for them. You can help others while still needing help yourself. That's how belonging grows. How Belonging Grows You belong from the moment you arrive. But the feeling of belonging usually grows in stages: * Uncertain. "Will I be okay here?" * Safe. "Kindness here is reliable." * Known. "I know names, and people know mine." * At home. "I'm glad I'm here." * Paddling alongside. "I help others find their place here." Share where you are on the river This thread is our place to paddle together. Come back anytime. Rock: What you're facing (one or two lines is plenty) Paddle Stroke: Which paddle stroke you're taking (Name, Reach, Balance, Face, Act, Let Go, or Give) Beams/Prayers? Ask if you'd like them Then reply to at least one other paddler. When you reply, paddle with them, not for them. Big rocks and small rocks are both welcome. A flat tire counts! If a rock shifts, reply to your earlier comment and tell us how it went. Add "OK to share" if we can someday share your story anonymously to help others find their way down the river. I'll go first below!  Navigating rapids builds friendship and lasting grace. See you on the river!
Hope profile picture
7 Cups for the searching soul book - Read and review to get a badge!
by Hope
Last post
 October 23rd
...See more Hi everyone, I hope you are doing well. Some of you may be aware that we have our very own book! It's called the 7 Cups for the searching soul. There is even a training /self-help guide based on the same book. The book focuses on helping you understand your behavior better, provide you with tips and tricks to grow as a person, and provides in-depth information about how our platforms can support you with your journey of growth. We encourage everyone to read the book and reflect on its contents. The admin team and I have read the book and we have really enjoyed the overall experience. You can download your copy of the book on Amazon for free here [https://www.amazon.com/7-Cups-Searching-Soul-7Cups-ebook/dp/B01BFWMCXY] * Please note that the book is available in the following Amazon marketplaces: United States, United Kingdom, Canada, India, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, Japan, Spain, France, Italy, Australia, and the Netherlands. Don't see your country listed? We've got you covered! Please find PDF and MOBI versions here [https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/611898]. To get the Soul Searcher badge please follow the following steps: Download the e-book from Amazon (if your country provides it) or use the second link and read it. Leave us a review on Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/7-Cups-Searching-Soul-7Cups-ebook/dp/B01BFWMCXY] or Good reads [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28930126-7-cups-for-the-searching-soul?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=465CcxbNjk&rank=1]. Respond to this thread, let us know you did step 1 & 2 and tell us what were your favourite bits! We will appreciate your support in downloading and reviewing the book as more downloads/reviews help us reach and support more people.
Hope profile picture
What personality type are you?
by Hope
Last post
 October 20th
...See more Take the Myer Briggs personality test [https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test] and tell us what personality type are you?
Heather225 profile picture
Updated Community Roster & Support Resources (2026)
by Heather225
Last post
 October 18th
...See more Hello, Cupsers! Whether you have a question, need to report an issue, or just aren't sure where to turn, here is a quick guide to our key team contacts, support channels, and resources: Community Admin Team Me: Head of Community (see limited hours post) [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/HsHangout_1970/Anupdateonmyscheduleandgettingthesupportyouneed_382330/] @SoulfullyAButterfly - Head of Content/Product Team Member: Queries and Platform Support for all site projects/features @Hope: Dean of the Academy [https://www.7cups.com/academy/] @Bookworm4: ATL Program & Teen Safety The Ambassador Team The Ambassadors are volunteer leaders who represent our highest level of commitment to the 7 Cups mission. Each one oversees a crucial function on 7 Cups. The two Ambassadors below have made themselves available for general questions if an Admin is not around: @AnnaSilverberg - Quality Ambassador (QM and Listener Coaching Team)  @Rebekah - Safety Ambassador (Safety Awareness Team)  You can view the rest of our Ambassador Team roster here: Ambassador Team Availability Updates [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/General_2444/AmbassadorTeamAvailabilityUpdates2026_381757/].  The Help Desk The Help Center [https://help.7cups.com/hc/en-us] is our central intake for all site reports and inquiries. Please use the Help Desk [https://help.7cups.com/hc/en-us/requests/new] for: * Investigation requests, behavioral reports, safety concerns * Feedback/suggestions (community, site, etc.) * Any questions! Account Reviews Form If your account has been unexpectedly deactivated, submit your name to the Account Reviews form [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScqva6u9GVllcKFBro2ZOg2tugEknrU8cMoi__JJClisFZzJw/viewform]. I hope this information empowers you to navigate the community with confidence. Thank you for being such an important part of our Cups family and looking out for one another! ------------------------- If you're getting value out of 7 Cups, please consider donating to keep our community going. Back us here. [https://www.7cups.com/back-us/] 💙
Heather profile picture
Review the 7 Cups App and Earn a Badge! (Listener)
by Heather
Last post
 October 15th
...See more Hi everyone, You can find our app here [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sevencupsoftea.app] for Android and Here for App store. [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/7-cups-anxiety-stress-chat/id921814681]. If you search for "7 Cups" in the Google Play Store or App store you can also find it! Please report bugs or other problems here [https://help.7cups.com/hc/en-us/requests/new]. We'll address the issues quickly to keep improving it. Finally, if you review the app in the google play store OR App store (ratings and text-based review), then please post here and we'll award you 'Listen on the go' badge. Reviews are important because they help us reach more people. The more reviews we get the higher we climb for keywords that people search for when looking for help. Please help us in reaching more people by leaving us a review! We appreciate you Thanks everyone :) ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎ Follow 7 Cups on social media Instagram - @7Cups [https://www.instagram.com/7cups/] ​| Twitter - @7Cups [https://twitter.com/7cups] & @7CupsTeen [https://twitter.com/7CupsTeen] | Facebook - 7CupsOfTea [https://www.facebook.com/7CupsOfTea/] | Youtube - 7 Cups of Tea [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYsco2bYgzQzUsLnaO899Qg] ﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎﹎ updated on May 29, 2020 by Hope
Hope profile picture
Stop Maximizing, Start Living: Why "Good Enough" Beats Perfect
by Hope
Last post
 October 13th
...See more Hi everyone! this post catches concepts that I find to be quite valuable and relevant, and I feel like they make the most sense when combined together. I've tried to make those connections, and this is sort of a melting pot of many different thoughts that really bring home the idea. So stay with me, really read through the post, and pace yourself. If you actually apply the activity at the end and really internalize the idea, it can save your most valuable resource in life: time. Your most valuable asset is also the most perishable!  We often spend days, weeks, or even years trying to engineer the perfect decision. We analyze every variable, weigh every outcome, and wait for absolute certainty before taking a single step forward. What we fail to realize in this state of endless deliberation is simple: our most valuable possession isn’t money, energy, ego, it is time!  When you wait for 100% certainty, you aren't being cautious; you are paying for an illusion with your most finite resource. By the time absolute certainty arrives, the window of opportunity has usually closed. Indecision feels like safety, but in reality, indecision is a decision. It is the choice to let time pass you by while you sit on the sidelines of your own life. In fact, refusing to make a decision is often the worst choice of all because you completely surrender control of the outcome. "People are frugal in guarding their personal property; but as soon as it comes to squandering time they are most wasteful of the one thing in which it is right to be stingy." — Seneca "It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it." — Seneca Why We Delay: Ego and the Safety of Potential If we look closely, our hesitation is rarely about a lack of information. Most of the time, we know exactly what we need to do, but we get trapped by ego and fear: * Fear of criticism: We become so terrified of being humiliated or making a mistake that we choose inaction over discomfort, fearing the opinions of people whose lives we wouldn't even want. * The comfort of unfulfilled potential: Procrastination keeps the dream alive in its pristine form. If you always wanted to write a book but never put in the work, the illusion remains that you would have made it if you tried. The mind often prefers the easy comfort of infinite possibilities over the messy reality that things might not work out as envisioned. Yet doing something imperfectly beats doing nothing every time. If you spend months overwhelmed by which diet or routine to choose and do nothing, you stay at zero. Picking any credible, widely available plan and executing it will get you 70% of the results, which is infinitely better than 0%. The 40/70 Rule and Moving Forward In life, whether you are choosing a career path, a degree, a major life direction, or a personal goal, there are infinite possible variations of how your story could unfold. There is no single "perfect" trajectory waiting to be unlocked through overthinking. You cannot outthink an experience you haven't lived through. Instead of waiting for complete clarity, aim for the sweet spot: make your move when you have between 40% and 70% of the information. * Less than 40% and you are moving blindly. * More than 70% and you are moving too slowly. Action brings the clarity that thought never can. When you make a "good enough" decision and execute it quickly, you enter the real world of feedback and growth. "In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing." — Theodore Roosevelt Satisficing Over Maximizing Psychology highlights a clear distinction between two mindsets: Maximizers, who exhaust themselves trying to find the absolute best option, and Satisficers, who choose an option that meets their high standards and then move forward. Research consistently shows that Satisficers are significantly happier, less stressed, and more productive. Why? Because they understand that a good decision made today and acted upon vigorously is infinitely better than a "perfect" decision that never leaves your head. If you spend your life terrified of making the wrong choice, you end up making no choice at all—and that is how people inadvertently settle for a stagnant life. "Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action." — Benjamin Disraeli Setbacks Are Just Data What about when a decision leads to a mistake or a setback? Accept it as a routine part of the process. A setback is not a failure; it is simply new data to inform your next choice. The person who makes ten quick decisions, fails at three, learns, and adjusts will always be miles ahead of the person still sitting at the starting line, trying to guarantee success on their first try. You do not need to see the entire staircase to take the first step. Trust that the version of you who has to deal with the consequences will step up when the time comes, adapt, and make it through. Key Takeaways!  * Treat time as your primary currency: Overanalyzing costs more than making a fixable mistake. * Recognize passivity as a choice: Refusing to decide hands over your control of the outcome. * Stop protecting potential: Facing an imperfect reality is far more powerful than hiding behind a comfortable "what if." * Act on partial information: 40% to 70% clarity is all you need to make an educated move. * Embrace the "good enough": Satisficing leads to progress and peace of mind; perfectionism leads to paralysis. Activity for you! * Identify the Stalled Decision: Write down one choice you’ve been delaying or overthinking this past month (e.g., reaching out to someone, launching a project, choosing a routine, or applying for something). * Check Your Information Gauge: Do you know at least 40% of what you need to know to take the next step? * The 10-Minute Move: If yes, spend 10 minutes right now taking the smallest tangible step forward send the email, submit the draft, buy the basic equipment, or sign up. * Release the Ideal: Remind yourself that a 70% outcome in reality beats a 100% fantasy in your head.
GlenM profile picture
October 2026 Community Update!
by GlenM
Last post
 October 12th
...See more Dear Community, I hope that you all are well! Things are good here! I was just sharing with H that I have some turtles by my house. I built them a turtle island. H thought it’d be fun to share it with you all. This is version 4 or 5. The original versions kept not working as well as I hoped. I had to keep iterating. So far so good on this version!     Speaking of iterations - please find my latest, simplified, streamlined, and hopefully much better version of the Way of the River: Paddling Together here. [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/GlensNookCommunity_547/TheWayoftheRiverPaddlingTogether_391098/] I think this is version 30+. I’m very much hoping this version is better. If you have a chance to check it out, then I’d welcome your honest thoughts! On the CMU front, we’ll soon be messaging many of you to participate in the virtual client study. We will be rolling out a certificate and badge for completion. Once the study is done, we’ll roll it out to everyone. We are also making good progress on the peer certification front and will be submitting our curriculum for review soon. I’m with H in that this is one of my favorite months of the year too. A sweater, jeans, and a cup of coffee looking at the colorful trees. What a great season. I am thankful for all of you! Best, GlenM H Happy October, my favorite month! (Does anyone here do any autumnal activities? Lemme know below!) I spent much of my month assisting our Mentor Leader, @ChillingRain, with renovating the Verified Listener Team. Lots of cleanup and reorganization over these weeks, but the team is looking stronger than it's been in a long time. Thanks to everyone who’s helped us get back on our feet! If you’re interested in joining the team to get more listeners verified, drop Rain a PM. Becoming a verified listener is a critical milestone in the listener journey. If you are not yet verified, check out this post (HERE) [https://www.7cups.com/forum/listenerjourney/ListenerVerificationProject_1839/GetVerifiedFastEasy_348504/] after reading this update! Another area of intense focus has been the Welcome Committee. @Sealiously has kindly stepped up to move operations along. We need many new members on this core onboarding team. If you’re a listener who wants to make an immediate impact on our platform and make newbies feel welcomed into our tribe, please check out this post (HERE) [https://www.7cups.com/forum/listenerjourney/ListenerVerificationProject_1839/GetVerifiedFastEasy_348504/] for the criteria to apply.  Hope The main update this month has been a change to the internship extension policy to make it more flexible and supportive for interns who need extra time. Extensions will no longer require additional coursework beyond the first four-week extension period, which should help reduce added pressure for those already working to complete requirements. Maximum durations still apply (12 weeks for Community Track and 24 weeks for Student Track), and the update is currently being trialed until December 31, 2026. Full details here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/interns/InternshipProjectAnnouncementandUpdates_1899/7CupsInternshipExtensionPolicyUpdate_390553/] We currently have a couple of mentors in trial for the 7 Cups Internship Program, and we’re excited about the extra support they’ll bring as we move into October. Outside of that, it’s been a steady month with ongoing maintenance and coordination across programs. On the community front, I put out two new community posts this month. The first, Rethinking Success [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/HopesCorner_2162/RethinkingSuccessTheGoodNewstheBadNewsandtheHiddenCostofGettingGood_390212/], is all about how real progress actually comes from making mistakes and putting in the repetitions, rather than expecting to get everything right on attempt one. The second, The Trap of "What If" [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/HopesCorner_2162/TheTrapofWhatIfAndWhythePastCouldntHaveHappenedAnyOtherWay_390992/], dives into why replaying past mistakes in our heads just drains our energy, and how switching to a "Next Play" mindset helps us focus on what we can actually do right now. If that’s your kind of thing, I drop shorter, bite-sized versions of these reflections in my ongoing thread, Life, As It Is (Reflections) [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/HopesCorner_2162/LifeAsItIsReflectionsSep2026andonwards_390987/]. Feel free to drop in, follow along, or subscribe to get updates.  SoulfullyAButterfly This month was focused on more progress on the Peer Support training front, with exciting updates on training/assessment perspectives. In addition, we are planning the next community event and reviving other therapeutic areas like purposeful closed group spaces such as the Huddles for both adults and teens. Bookworm4 ATL and Safety reports were processed in a timely manner as per our community guidelines. Please note that you can reach out to me directly for any concerns or questions Ambassador Highlights: AnnaSilverberg - Quality Mentors/Teen Stars, Listener Coaching Team & G.Admin Fall is here, with all the colorful leafs 🍂 Quality Mentors/Teen Stars have been diligent in sharing their wisdom, guiding our listeners in their path of listening. I am very proud of all the work they do. If you’d like to become one, click this link here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe_5Tku49HtnxkqYGVpBvz_j3n-jHbYJh305JMMjYQymUATDg/viewform] and if you meet the requirements, feel free to apply. Our amazingly brilliant Listener Coaches have been putting in a lot of work, coaching and providing information where it’s needed. This month, 74 requests were replied to and each one done with care, lots of active listening as well as empathetic guidance. The passion they carry is out of this world, and that’s something that is easy to see 🙂‍↕️ 💓🐑💓 On other work, we’ve been exploring boundaries in Teenie town, as well as focusing on understanding the chatroom rules better, you can check out our teenified chatroom rules here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/safe7cups/TeenSafety_2661/ChatroomRulesTeenified_390322/] 🙂‍↕️ Embrace the time of 👻🎃🦇Halloween 🦇👻🎃 and have yourself a wonderful day 🍂 Rebekah - Safety Team (Patrol, Outreach, Discussions), Safety & Knowledge Sub-Community & G.Admin Hi everyone! Safety Team has been absolutely smashing records this month, with so many new onboards and a record number of flags from some users on SP. Their dedication and hard work absolutely does not go unnoticed 💙 We have a new teen PA! @cheerfulKiwi1776 has shown a lot of excellent work within safety, and I'm so excited to see where she goes! 🌟 As always, we are recruiting for Safety Patrol! Apply HERE [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeiPkuyjGZs7x2NY5b1tgkO5QoRRiXzFFobMpHiWthKUxgaKg/viewform] if you meet the criteria [https://www.7cups.com/forum/SafetyKnowledgeat7Cups_181/SafetyPatrolTeam_1685/SafetyPatrolOutreachTeamFAQ_285029/]!

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