Community Guidelines

We welcome your participation in the Groups and their Discussions!!
Revised 5/19/25

Groups:

Groups are gathering places where members can discuss whatever they want related to the Steps & Tools.  You’ll find a Group for each Step and every Tool.  For example, if you are studying the Mindfulness Tool, consider looking at the Mindfulness Group.  You’ll find numerous Discussions on how to apply Mindfulness at work, as a parent, etc. 

To participate in the discussions, you’ll need to press the button, “Join Group”.  If you desire to share information, publicly or privately, please feel free to start a discussion or reply to someone else’s post.  This is how we all learn from each other. 

You can create your own Group!  Here are two possible scenarios:

1. You want to take the Self-Compassion course with some family members. You can create a private Group open only to you and the family.  Once they become an Exploring Member, invite them to the Group.  You’ll have a place to discuss whatever you want and even schedule Zoom sessions with each other.
2. You are a Life-Coach and want to run a Group on Mindfulness Meditation. You can create a private Group to use the Mindfulness and Meditation Tools in running your Group.  Once your clients become Exploring Members, invite them to the Group you’ve created.  It will be a private place to discuss how to integrate those Tools into their lives.  You can even schedule Zoom sessions with each other.

Community Guidelines for Posting:

The posts are a great place to practice Thrive and Awaken® concepts.  Those would include being respectful and compassionate to yourself and others.  The Community is a place where you get to help others evolve by sharing how you learned something the hard way.  You are joining them rather than being ahead of them.  Lead by example. Use positive language in your communication.  Others will feel that and be more likely to pass it on to others.

By using the Groups and discussions you are agreeing to:

• Being Kind and respectful.
• Embracing others including their religion, political beliefs, race, age, gender, sexual orientation, physical and mental challenges, neurological diversity, and socioeconomic status.
• Mindful of sharing the space in a balanced way so others can participate too.
• Share your perspective rather than telling someone they are wrong.
• Keep all posts confidential.
• Refrain from selling something or recruiting to your site/services.

Use language consistent with Thrive and Awaken® concepts. Your messages will help others experience a loving and supportive community.  Here are some guidelines for framing such messages:

1. Be Specific about What You Want:
   Say: “I’d like suggestions on how to use mindfulness during the day.”
   Rather than: “I’m really struggling and am lost in the busyness of my day.”
2. Use Kind & Respectful Language:
   Say: “We all struggle with doing things the way we want. I’ve been practicing Grounding & Breathing during challenging conversations and find that helpful.”
   Rather than: “You really goofed that up.”
3. Focus on You Rather than Suggestions for Others:
   Say: “I find organizing my schedule first thing in the morning is helpful.”
   Rather than: “You should try organizing your schedule first thing in the morning.”
4. Be Encouraging:
   Say: “Remember, whatever you do, you’ll learn from it.”
   Rather than: “You shouldn’t do it that way.”
5. Present Possibilities Rather Than Solutions:
   Say: “Have you considered rehearsing your speech out loud? I’ve found that helpful.”
   Rather than: “I think you should rehearse your speech out loud.”
6. Express Appreciation & Empowerment:
   Say: “I appreciate how challenging that project was. It sounds like you put a lot of time into it.”
   Rather than: “Boy that sucked, despite all the time you spent you just couldn’t get it right.”
7. Use Uplifting Words:
   Say: “I’m hopeful for your job interview.”
   Rather than: “Remember you screwed up that last job interview. Don’t do that again.”
8. Use Respectful Phrases: Speak to others how you’d like to be treated.
   Say: “Could you please describe that differently.  I’m not understanding.”
   Rather than: “You are unclear.”
9. Use “I” Statements:
   Say: “I would like for us to use this Discussion to talk about mindfulness.”
   Rather than: “You are going off topic and should be in a different group.”
10. Show Empathy:
    Say: “I appreciate you are going through a tough time. How can I support you.”
    Rather than: “You are being a Victim. You should be over that now.”
11. Use Positive Reinforcement:
    Say: “Yay for trying that again.”
    Rather than: “You keep doing the same mistake over and over again.” 

Zoom Guidelines:

Tips for a Great Online Meeting Experience

• Keep Your Camera On (if possible)
  • Your visible presence encourages the speaker and enhances group engagement.
  • Plan ahead: Ensure good lighting and a stable location.
• Turn Your Camera Off When Eating or Moving
  • Quickly finish your snack or movements, then rejoin visually.
• Quietly Exit Meetings
  • If you must leave early, exit without announcing it.
  • If it’s a small meeting where your full presence is expected, privately message the facilitator before leaving.
• Clearly Identify Questions in the Chat
  • Type “QUESTION” in all caps at the start of your message for clarity and visibility.
• Use the Public Chat for Messages
  • Address the entire group rather than the facilitator privately.
  • To highlight messages to the facilitator, use “@name.”
• Show the Speaker Their Message Is Landing
  • Smile, nod, give thumbs-up, or visibly laugh to encourage and affirm.
  • Use chat to briefly share what resonates or add additional thoughts.
• Minimize Chat Distractions
  • If chat becomes distracting, temporarily hide it. (Check Zoom tutorials on minimizing distractions.)
• Update Your Zoom Regularly
  • Check manually every few weeks for updates to enhance your meeting experience.
• Check and Update Your Display Name
  • Ensure your display name clearly represents you (name, title if applicable).
  • Avoid including distracting links or promotional information.
  • Rename yourself during meetings by clicking on your video and selecting “Rename.”
• Be Mindful and Courteous
  • Send silent goodwill when leaving early or during distractions.
  • Aim to contribute positively to the group atmosphere.