Being intentional about our space

Being intentional about our space

by | Sep 9, 2022 | Belinda's Thoughts, Friday Inspiration, Recovery

Being intentional about our space

Busy lives can often translate into cluttered homes. In many ways, our environments really do reflect our internal states.

My husband Joe is going away for work for an extended period of time this fall. He doesn’t yet know it, but amazing things are going to happen to our home in his absence. Inspired by the Home Edit, I’m committed to intentionally organizing our house so that it is calming and joyful. I actually want to have fun with this. It’ll be important for me to place items that spark happiness in plain sight.

Deb Dana, Social Worker and Polyvagal Theory expert speaks of the importance of objects and surroundings as tools for self-regulation. She suggests that we take a moment to find something that reminds us of the feeling of being anchored and calm (regulated), then placing it somewhere we’ll see it as we move through our day.

Simple suggestions for positive internal shifts.

In our next Maintaining Health Program we’re going to explore more of Deb Dana’s work. We’re calling the day “Get Your Glimmer On.” It’s in person, with a trip to Maker’s in the afternoon. Please let us know if you are planning on coming so that we might order lunch and reserve a spot for you

Warm regards,

Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych.
Executive Director, Landing Strong

No risk no reward

No risk no reward

by | Sep 2, 2022 | Belinda's Thoughts, Community, Recovery, Resilience

No risk no reward

Often the things that are the most rewarding involve challenging ourselves. It’s through pushing the limits of what’s comfortable that we discover our strengths: whether it’s through signing up to race in the Valley Harvest Run or allowing ourselves to be seen and heard within group. Taking small risks, while scary at first, ultimately allows us to become more confident healthy versions of ourselves.

What challenges might you look forward to this fall?

Are you willing to lean out of your comfort into an area of new growth

What could you tell yourself when that little voice in your head threatens to get in your way?

We still have spots in the on-line Identity and Transition program if this speaks to you. We’re a community that supports each other as we take small risks aimed to improve the quality of our lives.

Anything worth doing likely has something in it that’s hard.

Warm regards,

Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych.Executive Director, Landing Strong

The courage to show our true selves

The courage to show our true selves

by | Aug 26, 2022 | Belinda's Thoughts, Community, Recovery, Resilience

The courage to show our true selves

Recently I watched two really well-done documentaries on Netflix about Olympic Athletes who underwent gender transitions: Olympic Decathlon gold Medalist Caitlyn (formerly Bruce) Jenner, and professional Skateboarder Leo Baker (documentaries titled Untold Caitlyn Jenner; and Stay on Board the Leo Baker Story respectively). Both stories describe the inner struggle faced by people who are very much public figures who feel unable to reveal their true selves without facing devastating consequences. Both Caitlyn and Leo are exceptional people who desperately want to live their true lives, no longer feeling able to keep up the image of what others expect of them. The whole world watches, and many criticize as they speak their respective truths.

Although these are stories about gender transition, they are ultimately tales of struggle, courage, conviction, and staying true to oneself. It is a theme of having to give up a former identity and learning to embrace something new. These themes are universal. What interested me most was the notion that inner struggle was possibly an important part of what motivated these athletes to become world class. Our struggles also become character defining strengths.

I wanted to take a moment to salute all individuals who possess the courage to walk a new path: be it gender transition, or rediscovering or redefining oneself following injury.

Warm regards,

Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych.Executive Director, Landing Strong

Life Lessons from the bees

Life Lessons from the bees

by | Aug 19, 2022 | Belinda's Thoughts, Friday's Inspiration, Mindfulness, Resilience

Life Lessons from the bees

Last year I planted a small Greek Oregano plant. This spring, it germinated, but instead of being a small herb, it took the form of a woody bush. I thought about cutting it down as it was unsightly, but when I leaned in, realized it was literally a hive of activity. This one plant was filled with HUNDREDS of buzzing honey bees.

This plant that I almost pulled had become the most valuable contributor in the garden

Following injury, we don’t always understand our purpose and may lament the fact that we are no longer the person we used to be. The thing is, our skills and strengths never really disappear. They just show up unexpectedly in forms we might not recognize or be accustomed to. It’s often a matter of simply leaning in and looking more closely.

Our Identity and Transition program is about knowing who we are outside of our work roles. Mining down to the values that define us.

Creating Confidence and Clarifying Strengths focusses on reclaiming personal power.

Call now if either call to you.

Warm Regards,

Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych.Executive Director, Landing Strong

Things don’t always turn out the way you expect

Things don’t always turn out the way you expect

by | Aug 12, 2022 | Belinda's Thoughts, Mindfulness, Resilience

Things don’t always turn out the way you expect 

Last winter I wrote of my dream of making blue beans almondine with beans grown from my garden. I’m happy to report that I was able to harvest the beans this week, but the dish did not quite materialize as imagined.

When I cooked them, the brilliant blue colour vanished, and I was left with a pot of plain ol’ green legumes.

At first I felt incredibly disappointed. With a moment’s reflection, I realized what had happened was quite special. The beans may no longer be blue, but they are magic!

When any of us are in a period of change or transition, it’s easy to be self critical if we don’t turn out as expected. I encourage you to examine more deeply the magic that might be stirring within. You may be in the process of becoming something brilliant, but not yet recognize your final destination. Chances are, it won’t be what you expected.

Our Identity and Transition program is quickly filling up.

Call soon to avoid disappointment.

Warm regards,

Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych.Executive Director, Landing Strong

Who are you… really?

Who are you… really?

by | Aug 5, 2022 | Belinda's Thoughts, Resilience

Who are you… really?

To be enlightened is to know oneself -and not run away

– Veronique Vienne
 

It’s not easy knowing who we are beyond the work we take on in life: Military Member, Police Officer, Fire Fighter, Corrections Officer, Health Care Provider. These are all powerful roles, guided by deep- seeded values such as integrity, compassion and service. We all want to make our mark on the world, but this nature of work takes an invisible toll that is often unrecognized for years, even to ourselves.

Now you’ve stopped and are taking stock. What was it that prompted this?

Perhaps you’re more irritable than you used to be.

Or your focus or memory seem off.

You catch yourself tearing up during your children’s TV shows.

Your body has chronic pain that occupies all your thoughts.

These may be your body’s way of signaling that your ready for a change. A step towards assisting yourself rather than always being focussed on helping others.

Check out our fall program line-up and see if there’s something right for you.

Warm regards,

Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych.Executive Director, Landing Strong

The medicine of meditation

The medicine of meditation

by | Jul 29, 2022 | Belinda's Thoughts, Friday's Inspiration, Gratitude, Mindfulness, Resilience

The medicine of meditation

In The Art of Doing Nothing, Veronique Vienne notes the word meditate has the same root as the word medicine.  All you have to do is look at Buddha to know that he is indeed a happy man.  I mean, it takes effort to smile that much.

Clearing our minds of the traffic jam of daily life is no simple feat.  In fact, few people can maintain a calm composure for more than a couple of minutes.  The moment I think I’m getting there, I suddenly remember the grocery items I have to pick up on the way home… or a report I have to write… or what I’m going to have for dinner.

Veronique Vienne writes that, paradoxically, it is when we accept that we can’t meditate that the meditation starts to work.  Instead of being a success-oriented venture, the practice becomes a humble reminder of how difficult it is for any of us to stay in touch with ordinary reality.

My strategy over this next month is to do a small drawing meditation each day.  Many of you have joined in our artistic sessions at Maker’s where we’ve learned to do just that.  The focus isn’t on creating good art.  It’s simply on creating.

How wonderful would it be for us to draw or write together.  Our September Identity and Transition program uses meaningful discussion and creative practices to create opportunities for exploring who you are beyond your uniform.  If you haven’t yet signed up it’s not too late.  Just give us a call or drop Julie a line.

Warm regards,

Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych.Executive Director, Landing Strong

The joy of wandering

The joy of wandering

by | Jul 22, 2022 | Belinda's Thoughts, joy, Resilience

The joy of wandering

This month, I’m devoting myself to the art of doing nothing. Inspired by a book of the same title by Veronique Vienne, I read about Henry David Thoreau, an American naturalist, poet, and philosopher, who often reflected upon the importance of simple living in natural surroundings:

Thoreau enjoyed rambling aimlessly in the wilderness, in search of leafy sanctuaries. Two or three hours of meandering would carry him to “as strange a country as I ever expect to see.” This approach to walking was what Thoreau called sauntering, a technique he believed was used by French errant knights (the French sans terre means “without land or home”). Itinerant warriors, these freelance saunterers were always on the move, journeying from castle to castle, in search of their next crusade or military assignment. (p. 16)

Over the next two weeks if you look for me, you won’t find me. I’m off sauntering around the Dingle Peninsula in Ireland with Joe. Because we won’t have trusty steeds, our bags, thankfully, will be transported for us. All we have to do each day is walk the 20 kilometers between rest stops. No schedules or deadlines…our only responsibility is to show up at a pre-arranged Inn at the end of each day.

Perfect. I’ve bought sensible hiking shoes, art supplies and a water-proof suit. Guided only by our interests, aversions and curiosity, I’m devoting myself to clearing my mind of all the responsibilities of daily life.

I’ll think of you as I walk, and hope that you too might find some sauntering time in your life.

Warm regards,

Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych.Executive Director, Landing Strong

Seeking to understand

Seeking to understand

by | Jul 15, 2022 | Belinda's Thoughts, Resilience, Wellbeing

Seeking to understand

You know those moments when as soon as you say something, you know it came out wrong?

In group, we have a practice we call a “do over.”

It’s an opportunity to freeze-frame a moment, coming back to it and replaying it, with the opportunity to say things the way we intended. It’s a chance to make sure we are understood.

To allow others to do this, we need to give them the benefit of doubt: assuming that their intentions are honourable, even if their communication may not be great.

I wonder what would happen if our guiding principle became “seek to understand?”

What a different place the world would be.

Warm regards,

Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych.Executive Director, Landing Strong

Who are you now?

Who are you now?

by | Jul 8, 2022 | Belinda's Thoughts, Resilience

Who are you now?

How much of our lives do we spend trying to fit in?

Albert Einstein said, “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live it’s whole life believing that it is stupid.”

When people are affected by Post Traumatic Stress, they often fall into the trap of comparing their current self with their former self.

If you believe you are supposed to be that old version of yourself, you likely also hold the belief that you are broken. You may simply be different.

Is it possible that maybe you’re now a fish that’s just not meant to be climbing a tree?

It may be helpful to ask the following questions:

          Who am I now, and what is most important to me?

          What strengths do I currently possess that my younger self did not have?

          What insights and understanding do I bring to the table now that I did not have before?

We invite you to explore these questions in our fall programs:

Identity and Transition examines who you are beyond the Uniform.

Navigating the Culture Divide is about making a smooth transition from military first responder roles to civilian life.

For those who have previously taken a program with us, stay healthy this summer with our Maintaining Health Program July 14 and August 18, offered in-person for the summer months. Drop us a line or give us a call now to guarantee a seat.

Warm regards,

Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych.Executive Director, Landing Strong