Welcome to our second week of applying business principles to health and recovery. This week, Iād like to talk to you about the power of belief.
Branding is a term in marketing that helps us understand the intended customer experience. Donald Miller, in his book Building a Story Brand, describes branding as a transformational process: itās a journey that offers promise of a desired final destination. Our ābrandā is our aspirational identity. Itās how we want to feel. Branding is about helping to guide people toward a stronger belief in themselves.
Miller provides the example of Starbucks. When you purchase a Starbuckās coffee, youāre buying much more than coffee. Youāre buying an experience ā a way of seeing yourself ā sophisticated, chic, someone worthy of being treated to something special. The simple act of drinking coffee is transformed into an experience of savouring, and the price becomes secondary to the experience. Marketing genius.
I think about how we describe ourselves to others, and wonder how our personal branding affects how we are perceived, and treated.
Do you view (and describe) yourself as an injured veteran or first responder? Or are you someone who is embarking on a journey of personal growth following traumatic exposure?
Are you unemployed, or taking time to learn more about yourself?
Are you exhausted, or rather, in need of a well-earned break?
Are you trying to recover what was lost, or looking to broaden who you can be?
Are you overwhelmed by emotions, or enriching your ability to feel and connect with others?
Itās worth considering how you want to feel, and being mindful to integrate these words into your internal vocabulary. Words are powerful, for they are the utterance of our internal brand.
Warm regards,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych. Founder, Landing Strong
Lately Iāve been doing a lot of reading about business. At Landing Strong, weāre committed to providing top-tier services on a non-profit budget. Hence the need for great business strategizing.
As I read, Iām struck by how many business principles are equally relevant to health and recovery. Over the next four weeks, Iād like to share with you things Iām learning with the hopes that you too will find them helpful. Please join me on my voyage of inspiration.
Lesson 1: Success is the bi-product of a series of small experiments
Itās an unfortunate reality that most new businesses fail. In the Lean Start Up, Eric Ries claims this is because new business owners tend to make a common error: they put a large investment into a single idea and hope like heck that that they got it right. The author suggests a more innovative approach to entrepreneurship is to run start-ups like a series of small experiments that inform and guide business development. No single stage is too big an investment, and it is always possible to pivot and change tactics if it looks like an idea isnāt working out as expected.
I love this notion, because thereās no pressure to get it right the first time. In fact, the assumption is that you likely wonāt get it right immediately, and youāll probably have to continuously gather feedback to inform product refinement.
What if we applied this principle to healing and recovery? One of the most common errors I witness in terms of people who are trying to make changes in their lives is the pressure they put on themselves to get it right the first time they try something new. If it doesnāt work, they assume it was a bad idea. Maybe, in fact, it was a great idea, it just needed a bit of feedback and fine tuning.
When we design new Landing Strong programs, we work hard to get client feedback at the end of each session. Why? Because our assumption is there are parts that were likely great, and other parts will probably need to be tweaked in order to improve. The program becomes the product of an organic interaction between facilitator and participants.
Recovering from trauma exposure involves reinventing the self. It is, in a way, a new business start-up. Instead of waiting to have it all figured out and hoping we get it ārightā letās consider recovery as a series of small experiments in which you will be trying on new ideas or behaviours, seeing which are helpful and which need tweaking. We should expect the first version of anything wonāt likely be right. Rather, itās a first step in the gradual shaping of something new and wonderful.
Warm regards,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych. Founder, Landing Strong
As many of you already know, this is a special week.Ā Ā Itās National Police week, a time when weāre encouraged to pause and think about the invaluable contributions these men and women make to our quality of life.Ā Ā We thank not just the officers, but also their families, for the steadfast work they do in supporting their loved ones.
Itās my privilege to work with a number of officers, and I am constantly astounded by the extreme situations they find themselves in, and the incredible resourcefulness it takes to stay focussed on the job at hand.Ā Ā I bear witness to the toll it takes on them, and the dedication they demonstrate through years of service. How do they stay resilient I wonder?Ā This question has been a lifelong obsession for me, taking me back thirty years to my masterās research when I interviewed officers across the country, trying to understand the unique stressors that police officers face while on the job.
It takes a special kind of person to stay strong when the going gets tough.Ā Ā The job takes a number of forms: whether itās keeping our streets and highways safe, working homicide cases, investigating cybercrime, conducting sex crime investigations, working undercover with gangs, conducting military investigations, or in the case of RCMP members, doing time in isolated Northern communities.Ā Ā
To each and every one of you, we are grateful for your efforts.
Thanks to you, our communities are that much safer.
Warm regards,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych. Founder, Landing Strong
Have I ever mentioned how much I love homemade chocolate chip cookies? Something deep within me settles as the familiar aroma of fresh baked goodness wafts through my kitchen. The simple routine of baking offers me reassurance that all will be okay.
Although routines can be comforting, never straying from them has consequences. Just because old habits make me feel good doesnāt mean theyāre always good for me. I love that there are things in life that are a sure bet, but at the same time, realize that taking risks is part of moving forward.
Iāve taken a lot of risks lately. Iāll admit it, it has not been easy. It would definitely have been simpler and easier to stay in a place that’s old and familiar.
So why do it you might ask? Why challenge myself when I could simply sit at home baking cookies and watching Netflix?
Truth is, I believe thereās something big around the corner. Something wonderful thatās worth the journey. Weāre not quite there yet, but weāre getting there. You and me and the Landing Strong Team.
How incredible that we allow ourselves to venture into that new place together.
Warm regards,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych. Founder, Landing Strong
Do you read the obituaries? I do. I didnāt use to, but since I have moved to our small community, I have a deeper sense of connection to those around me. Iām surprised by how often I recognize the names or families listed. Living in a small town, Iām more aware of the trials and tribulations of others in my community. When I pass the fruit and vegetable section at Sobeyās, I expect to run into an old friend who I would often see there, only to be reminded he is no longer with us. When I see fundraising notes and coin jars on the counters of local stores, Iām more inclined to donate knowing that I likely have an indirect connection to the face I see on the bottle. When our first responders pass by areas on the highways that mark the sites of accidents, they too are reminded of losses. Having grown up in downtown Toronto, I wasnāt used to that degree of connection.
I received a letter from my father last week, and for the first time noted a shakiness in his writing that reminds me of his passing years. I pray that those who reside on his busy Toronto street will keep an eye out for him, as I know we look out for each. Together we celebrate, grieve, struggle and grow. Growth, recovery and healing lies in the heart beat of our communities. Strength lies in connection.
In appreciation of each and every one of you who helps to make us strong,
Warm regards,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych. Founder, Landing Strong
Itās supposed to be spring, but itās still cold outside. Weāve had a couple glimpses of sun and warmth, only to be quickly reminded that winter isnāt too far in our rear view mirror. Remember, objects in mirror are closer than they appear. This year, more so than many I remember, the wait for spring feels long. Winter brought with it a lot of ice, restricting movement and keeping us confined to our homes perhaps more than usual. With the promise of warmer days just around the corner, many of us are likely seeding our lawns, tilling soil, and preparing for growth in the new season.
This growth can take a lot of forms. It may be literally working in your yard, or might look a little different: inviting someone new out to coffee; speaking to a friend or family member from your heart; trying something new; making the decision to get help; or continuing your growth through participating in a workshop.
What kind of growth are you looking for this season? What specific steps can you take towards reaching that goal?
Remember, small steps in the right direction eventually get us somewhere big.
Itās a funny thing sitting down at a computer, composing thoughts that will be sent out into the universe.Ā Who are you I wonder?Ā What are you thinking? What are you feeling?Ā Will I be able to write something that will make a difference in moments when you may feel tired or alone? Am I able to offer something that is helpful, or simply bring a smile?Ā Normally, when I go out for coffee with a friend, I rely on my companions feedback to let me know how the conversation is going.Ā It may be a smile, a glint in the eye, or a shared confession of the soul.
But when I look at my computer screen, itās different. I imagine you, my on-line friends, busy in your lives, squeezing a quiet moment for yourself so that we might connect and hopefully find points of convergence in our lives. Itās those quiet moments of reflection that cherish, opportunities to dip into the well that nourishes us.
I think today Iād like to make you a cuppa tea, and offer you a freshly baked cookie. Thereās something about the smell of fresh chocolate chip cookies that feels like home. Because theyāre virtual, theyāre calorie free, so you can enjoy as many as you like! Please sit with me as I welcome you into my heart.
Next week Joe and I are off for a well needed break in the Dominican Republic. My main goal is movement. Thatās it, allowing my body to go anywhere or do anything without fear of time constraints. I donāt know about you but for me, one of the biggest challenges of aging is range of motion. If I donāt move enough, I lose myself. Weāre taking our inflatable paddle boards so that we might explore and dip to the tune of our internal rhythms. By the time you get this blog, Iāll likely be out there, floating in the crystalline Caribbean. Iāll take a piece of you with me, and think of you all as I connect with the sun, the sand, the ocean breeze, and my quiet self. Thank you for enriching my community. For although I may be miles away, I know we are still connected.
Thanks as well to those of you who have offered comments and feedback, it means a great deal and helps guide the next discussion.
My husband recently took a group of 30 students, aged 11-18 to the summit of Kilimanjaro. Every one of them made it to the top. Braving the cold on that last difficult night, the students dug deep to find the resources to keep going when their bodies were shrieking at them to stop. There is no doubt in my mind that if they were walking in isolation, very few would make it. With support, encouragement and companionship of others in the same predicament, the venture somehow feels less daunting. There is, indeed, strength in numbers.
This week I came off an intensive week working with veterans and first responders recovering from Operational Stress Injuries. Even though they are only four days into a ten day program, I already see a difference: a lightness in their faces; straightness in their back; and a shift in the manner they speak to one another. What originally started out as a journey of isolation has transformed into a group effort. Accessing emotions that have been long buried they push forward in their desire for recovery.
Initially avoiding eye contact, they now meet each otherās gaze with respect and admiration. Trained to view expression of emotions as a sign of weakness, they are coming to understand it is, in fact, the opposite. Facing that which we fear is the ultimate act of courage.
āWe are alone in this together.ā One of them affirmed. With these words I know that something important is shifting. For what started out as a solo journey, has now become a group expedition.
When I was little, my mother repeatedly tried to get me to eat Brussel sprouts.
āI canātā¦I donāt like them!ā Iād exclaim
āI didnāt give you manyā, sheād insist. āDonāt leave the table until youāve eaten them upā.
And with these simple words, the challenge was on. Belinda vs. Brussel sprouts.
Resting my chin on my hands, Iād stare down the offending cabbages. Determined not to weaken my resolve, I alternated my gaze between the congealing green lumps in front of me, and the painfully slow moving hands of the wall clock. Eventually, sheād give in, removing the plate and sending me upstairs to my room. Iād wonā¦or so I thought.
Iām reminded of the fact that sometimes if we really donāt want to do something, no-one can make us do it. Even if it may be good for us.
The funny thing is, I donāt actually mind Brussel sprouts now. Itās all a matter of how itās prepared.
Trying new things is hard, and stressful. Like making the decision to begin therapy, or sign up for a treatment group.
āBut I donāt do groups!ā you may exclaim.
Ah yesā¦remember, it all boils down to how itās done.
Weāre cooking up some great programs for you.
Starting May 24 and running five successive Fridays, Landing Strong is offering Stop faking good and start feeling good: A program for managing emotions. Iāll be co-leading with Psychologist Patricia MacDonald and Trauma Yoga Therapist Caelin Nadin. A powerhouse team who know how to have fun. Even if programs arenāt normally your thing, come out and give it a try…
Itāll be good for you š
Drop us a line at info@landingstrong.com or call to reserve your spot 902 472-2972. The program is already half full so book soon to avoid disappointment. We will work with your insurance providers to obtain authorization for you to attend.
Warm regards,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych. Founder, Landing Strong
Have you ever wanted to just get away from it all? Burst away from the demands and expectations of daily life? I have. This weekend Iām going to Toronto to meet with family. You know what I intend to do? Pay to be locked up with them. Thatās rightā¦have an escape room experience.
I know what youāre thinking:
āYou need to get out more Belinda. Paying to be locked up with family membersā¦really!!ā
Iāll let you know how it goes. Iāve never tried one before.
Soā¦the fun may be brief, or you may not see me again…if we canāt figure how to get out.
Honestly though, I think we all just need to escape from time to time. Do something fun and with people that we care about. I challenge you all to try something different. Step out of that comfort zone. If youād like to share stories/pictures of your escape, we can post on our Landing Strong Facebook site. Just send them to Mackenzie at mseagram@landingstrong.com. Oh by the way, she is part of this as well, so if social media messaging suddenly stops, youāll know weāre really trapped. š
Keep your posts as anonymous as you wish. Perhaps your ideas might inspire others. Iāll post something of our experience.
Warm regards,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych. Founder, Landing Strong
