Before I lay me down to rest…

Before I lay me down to rest…

by | May 24, 2024 | Balance, Belinda's Thoughts, Creativity, Friday Inspiration, joy

Before I lay me down to rest

As life zooms by, itā€™s easy to get caught up in the high-speed lane. The list of commitments grows longer, and sleepā€¦well, that sometimes eludes me.

In an effort to still my busy brain, I made a commitment to practice mindfulness each evening, before settling down for the nightā€™s rest.

My mindfulness practice is simple: it consists of drawing; even if itā€™s only for five minutes. Iā€™m pretty good at botanical drawings but have never mastered the art of sketching people. I found a good YouTube tutorial and am trying to etch out a quick line drawing of a face each evening.

Iā€™d like to say itā€™s going wellā€¦but it isnā€™t. My efforts are pretty rough-looking. Thatā€™s okay, I remind myself. These things take time.

While I draw, I utter the simple word ā€œgraceā€ to myself. Itā€™s a reminder to allow myself time to settle in, and over time, to grow. I believe that my sketched forms will start taking on a more human shape if I keep practicing.

Will you join the practice of extending grace to yourself?

 

Warm thoughts,

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

Are you sleeping at night?

Are you sleeping at night?

by | Aug 25, 2023 | Balance, Belinda's Thoughts, Friday's Inspiration, Mindfulness, Recovery, Relaxation

Are you sleeping at night?

“Mindfulness is a way of befriending ourselves and our experience.”
–Ā Jon Kabat-Zinn

This week my sleep has been elusive. I know why. Iā€™ve been watching too much news that documents multiple natural disasters as they unfold. My heart and thoughts have been with people around the world struggling as they face adversity.

Our humanity compels us to watch, but the format of presentation, jumping from story to story and image to image, does not allow for mindful processing of what we witness.

I know that itā€™s only by acknowledging the impact things have on us that we are able to properly attend to our needs.

What I really need to do is find a moment when I can simply be still and present with my emotions.

Doing art is a helpful activity that allows me to make sense of my day.

If I allow myself this time for reflection, I will sleep better.

Is there any part in your day that allows you to pause and reflect on how you are doing? What might carving out this time for yourself look like?

Thereā€™s no ā€œright wayā€ of doing mindfulness. Itā€™s a matter of what is right for you.

Warm thoughts,

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

Giving yourself a therapy vacation

Giving yourself a therapy vacation

by | Aug 11, 2023 | Balance, Friday's Inspiration, Mindfulness, Recovery, Relaxation

Giving yourself a therapy vacation

Trauma recovery is hard work.

Just because recovery is your focus does not mean that you donā€™t need down time.

Itā€™s not only therapists who need vacations. Clients too need therapy breaks.

Taking time off work due to injury is not the same thing as a vacation. Doing the work to recover requires steady effort and focus. Other people might perceive time away from the job as time off or vacation. We know itā€™s far from that.

Just as we would take breaks to rest and recharge from our jobs, the same is true for trauma recovery.

How much time do you think would be healthy or helpful for you?

Please enjoy it, guilt free, and know that we are doing the same.

Warm thoughts,

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

Mindfulness moments on Nova Scotiaā€™s craggy shores

Mindfulness moments on Nova Scotiaā€™s craggy shores

by | Aug 4, 2023 | Balance, Creativity, Friday's Inspiration, Gratitude, Mindfulness

Mindfulness moments on Nova Scotiaā€™s craggy shores

We recently learned that many of our Landing Strong community members are rock hounds. I thought it was just me, wandering the beaches of Nova Scotia gleefully gathering prized specimens. It turns out, itā€™s a shared passion. We are united in the joy we glean from finding beauty in our craggy shores.

Is there something simple and beautiful that helps you keep your thoughts in the moment?

– Appreciating the afterglow of a sunset as the pink hue reflects on water.
– Enjoying a cool iced tea on a hot day.
– Hearing the sound of waves crashing on a long expanse of sandy beach.

Itā€™s often the simple things that ground us. Rather than actively working to problem solve the future, or process the past, these activities hold our attention, actively engaging us in the present. There is something calming about going out in the world with the sole intention of nothing bigger than finding the next great rock.

Warm thoughts,

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

The pile of paperwork sitting in the corner

The pile of paperwork sitting in the corner

by | Feb 17, 2023 | Balance, Belinda's Thoughts, Compassion, Friday's Inspiration, Plan

The pile of paperwork sitting in the corner

Itā€™s there, staring at me. I know you get it. We all have such piles.

Our heap of ā€œto dosā€ that weā€™ve not yet had the chance to get to.

Hereā€™s the interesting thing. The more anxious I become about it, the less likely I am to actually do it. The anxiety associated with the task takes on a life of its own.

When we avoid small things, they start to feel very big. If we can bring ourselves to respond to them in the moment, we take away their power. It may involve asking for help from others or leaning into challenging emotions. It doesnā€™t have to become a big weight to carry.

Feeling anxious about things doesnā€™t change them.

Leaning into them does.

Iā€™m dedicated to spending the next few days leaning into my areas of discomfort: taking a look at my piles and developing a strategy to address them. I want my exterior and interior worlds to be aligned.

I donā€™t have to do it all. Just bite size pieces over the next week.

Perhaps you have a similar corner that youā€™d like to work on.

Join me.

Warm thoughts,

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

Hope is just around the corner

Hope is just around the corner

by | May 26, 2021 | Balance, Friday Inspiration, Resilience, Support

There they are.  Crocuses, snowdrops and daffodils, pushing their way to sunlight, oblivious of everything that has transpired during this past year. 

With reassuring predictability and beauty, they remind us that hope is just around the corner.

Stay the course.  

Take a moment to breathe in the fresh fragrance.

Notice the rich colours.

Like prickly bears after a long hibernation we’re eager to be roaming freely.  Reconnecting with long lost family and friends.  I vow to remain patient, tolerant and kind, grateful for the vaccinations that will once again return a semblance of normalcy to our lives.

Giving thanks to all those who have worked so tirelessly to keep us fed, healthy and safe.

Warm regards,

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