What’s In Your Cup?

What a fantastic week I have just experienced! I delivered my Mental Resilience Masterclasses online to two international companies. On Tuesday, I delivered Masterclass 1 to Orthex, a company based in Finland, and on Thursday, I delivered Masterclasses 1,2 and 3 to NSG Pilkington Glass’s staff in Poland.
 
Both days were great fun, and the feedback was very positive. It still surprises me that I can effectively convey the messages I deliver online. One comment from Orthex mentioned they were amazed at how I connected with them online. They weren’t expecting the experience to be so interactive and engaging.
 
A comment from the NSG session mentioned how the techniques I teach work for both home and work life. “It was very inspirational, and there was a lot of useful content, nice tools, and some life thoughts that can be used at work or in private life.”
 
 
Online Masterclasses
 
Working online opens up doors that working face-to-face doesn’t. It allows staff worldwide to join sessions and enjoy the benefits of receiving knowledge and inspiration without the travel implications. NSG had most staff in one room, with others joining the TEAMS session online. Both groups enjoyed the identical impact of techniques and inspiration.
 
I am talking to both companies about potentially involving more staff from different countries for future masterclasses. This is exciting as it allows me to connect with staff worldwide, whereas face-to-face meetings limit this possibility.  
 
Don’t get me wrong—I love face-to-face sessions, and given a choice, I would choose face-to-face, but it’s a joy to know that when this is difficult, the online option works exceptionally well.
 
 
A Powerful Analogy
 
‘Imagine you’re holding a cup of coffee. Someone accidentally bumps into you, causing it to spill. Why did you spill the coffee?
 
Most people would say, “Because someone bumped into me.”
 
However, that’s not entirely accurate. You spilt the coffee because there was coffee in your cup. Had it been tea, you would have spilt tea.
 
The bump merely caused whatever was inside to come out.’
 
 
This simple analogy offers a profound lesson about life. When life “bumps” us—whether through stress, adversity, or conflict—what spills out reflects what’s already inside us.
 
If we are filled with anger, frustration, or bitterness, these will surface in challenging situations. Conversely, if we’ve cultivated patience, kindness, and gratitude, these qualities will emerge when things go wrong.
 
 
Life’s Challenges Reveal Our True Selves
 
Maintaining a façade of calm and composure is easy when everything is going smoothly. But the real test comes when we’re shaken. Adversity exposes our true character, much like the coffee spilling from the cup.
 
We might not notice what’s brewing inside us until life throws us off balance. In those moments, our reactions reveal whether we’ve filled ourselves with constructive or destructive emotions.
 
What’s in Your Cup?
 
This leads to a crucial question: What’s in your cup? When life gets tough, what spills over? Is it peace and understanding, or is it resentment and frustration? Whatever is inside you—your emotional and mental state—will determine your response to life’s inevitable challenges.
 
If you’re filled with anger or bitterness, those emotions will dominate your reactions. On the other hand, if your cup is filled with joy, compassion, or patience, you’ll handle adversity with grace.
 
You Choose What to Fill Your Cup With
 
One of the most empowering aspects of this analogy is the reminder that while life hands you the cup, you choose what to fill it with. You may not control external events but ultimately control your inner world—thoughts, emotions, and attitudes.
 
This means that your response is ultimately your choice when life shakes you.
 
If you want positive qualities to spill out during difficult moments, fill your cup with them in advance. This requires conscious effort and regular self-reflection. Cultivating mindfulness, practising gratitude, and developing emotional intelligence are ways to ensure that your cup contains qualities you’re proud of.
 
Resilience and Self-Awareness
 
The key takeaway is that we must build resilience and self-awareness. Life’s bumps are inevitable, but what comes out during those moments is up to us. Regularly assessing what we’re filling our cups with can shape our emotional responses in healthier, more productive ways.
 
If negativity dominates your inner world, addressing and replacing those emotions with positivity and resilience is crucial.
 
Ultimately, when life bumps into you, what spills out reflects what’s been inside you all along. Choose to fill your cup with peace, joy, and understanding so that what spills over when life shakes you up will be beautiful.
 
 
Thoughts for the week. 

1. What qualities do you consciously try to “fill your cup” with daily?
2. How do you typically react when life throws unexpected challenges?
3. Can you recall a recent situation where your reaction reflected what was truly “in your cup”?
4. This week, be aware of what you are filling your cup with. Ensure you are filling it with peace, positivity, patience, kindness, resilience and love. 

 
Well, that’s it for this week. Have a wonderful weekend, and keep believing.
 
Warm regards

John


https://jdmindcoach.com/product/off-the-wall-how-to-develop-world-class-mental-resilience/