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 donā€™t always understand ourĀ 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. Itā€™s often a matter of simply leaning inĀ and looking more closely.

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

Creating Confidence and Clarifying StrengthsĀ 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 donā€™t always turn out the way you expect

Things donā€™t always turn out the way you expect

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

Things donā€™t always turn out the way you expectĀ 

Last winter I wrote of my dream of making blue beans almondine with beans grown from my garden. Iā€™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 olā€™ green legumes.

At first I felt incredibly disappointed. With a momentā€™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, itā€™s easy to be self critical if we donā€™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 wonā€™t be what you expected.

OurĀ Identity and TransitionĀ 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
Ā 

Itā€™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 youā€™ve stopped and are taking stock. What was it that prompted this?

Perhaps youā€™re more irritable than you used to be.

Or your focus or memory seem off.

You catch yourself tearing up during your childrenā€™s TV shows.

Your body has chronic pain that occupies all your thoughts.

These may be your bodyā€™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 ourĀ fall program line-upĀ and see if thereā€™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

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

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

Veronique Vienne writes that, paradoxically, it is when we accept that we canā€™t meditate that the meditation starts to work.Ā  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.Ā  Many of you have joined in our artistic sessions atĀ Makerā€™sĀ where weā€™ve learned to do just that.Ā  The focus isnā€™t on creating good art.Ā  Itā€™s simply on creating.

How wonderful would it be for us to draw or write together.Ā  Our SeptemberĀ Identity and Transition programĀ uses meaningful discussion and creative practices to create opportunities for exploring who you are beyond your uniform.Ā  If you havenā€™t yet signed up itā€™s not too late.Ā  Just give us a call or dropĀ JulieĀ 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, Iā€™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 ā€œas strange a country as I ever expect to see.ā€ This approach to walking was what Thoreau called sauntering, a technique he believed was used by French errant knights (the French sans terre means ā€œwithout land or homeā€). 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 wonā€™t find me. Iā€™m off sauntering around the Dingle Peninsula in Ireland with Joe. Because we wonā€™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 deadlinesā€¦our only responsibility is to show up at a pre-arranged Inn at the end of each day.

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

Iā€™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 ā€œdo over.ā€

Itā€™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. Itā€™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 ā€œseek to understand?ā€

What a different place the world would be.

Warm regards,

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