
Recovery is a Journey not a Destination
Recovery is a Journey not a Destination
Many people when they face a setback in their recovery may think, âOh Iâm not as far along as I thought I was.â When in fact, its simply a bump on the road. Not an indication that they werenât where they thought they were.
There will be many bumps, thatâs natural. Just like how an athlete wonât run their best run every day, you too will have ups and downs on the road of recovery.
How do we stay strong when the journey feels so long? By simply taking note of small wins, we fuel ourselves for the longer journey.
One of the unique things about group therapy is newer members get the chance to meet people further along the road. It helps to trust the process, knowing that if you just keep walking, youâll get to where you want to be.
Warm thoughts,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych.
Executive Director, Landing Strong


What’s your Thanksgiving Back-up plan?
What’s your Thanksgiving Backup Plan?
It must be Friday, because once again thereâs a potential storm forecast this Thanksgiving weekend.
I donât know about you, but Iâm taking special joy in finding hacks to dodge the weather. Turkey remains on the menu, but we donât necessarily need electricity to make this meal a success. Slow-roasted turkey over a charcoal BBQ provides a heavenly smoky flavor that has spoiled me for life.
What work arounds do you have to ensure the potentially wet weather doesnât dampen your spirits?
Although we all have our special ways of preparing this time honored meal, ultimately, we know that Thanksgiving is about so much more.
This weekend offers an opportunity to practice gratitude, for the richness of our lives, the people in it and the beautiful province and country that we live in.
Regardless of the weather I feel grateful!
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych.
Executive Director, Landing Strong


Seeking to understand
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 âdo over.â
Itâs an opportunity to freeze-frame a moment, coming back to it and replaying it, with the opportunity to say things the way we intended. Itâs 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 âseek to understand?â
What a different place the world would be.
Warm regards,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych.


The power of choice
No matter what the situation, remind yourself “I have a choice.”
        – Deepak Chopra
Injury is often associated with powerlessness or a loss of control.  When I first started working in the federal penitentiary, I believed I was capable of evoking powerful, positive change.  Both for the inmates I was working with, as well as with the system itself. Â
âYou donât belong hereâ the inmates repeatedly warned me.  Turns out they were right, but it took me seven years to understand that. Â
Iâve never thought of myself as a quitter. I had to learn the hard way about the difference between quitting, and choosing not to continue.  Quitting is giving up.  Choosing not to continue is making an informed decision based on your experiences regarding what is healthy and sustainable, and what isnât. Itâs easy to judge ourselves based on what we were not able to do.
We can focus on the things we couldnât do, or we can choose to focus on those things that are in our power.
I choose to do my best to help someone today
I chose to invest in my health
I chose to move forward.
I chose love.
Warm regards,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych.
Executive Director, Landing Strong


Managing Triggers
âIâve learned how to be in the presentâ
âHow?â Asked the boy
âI find a quiet spot and shut my eyes and breatheâ
âThatâs good, and then?â
âThen I focus.â
âWhat do you focus on?â
âCakeâ said the mole.
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True confessions time.  When Iâm in yoga, trying to clear my mind, I may not think about cake, but I do contemplate having a lovely London Fog at the cafĂ© next to the studio when class is over.  Itâs usually when I am really uncomfortable, experiencing the full force of my cardboard stiff body that I allow my mind to drift to more pleasant things.
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Itâs normal not to think about the things that are uncomfortable.  When we are at work doing uncomfortable tasks, thatâs an essential skill.  Knowing how to unpack it at the end of the day, though, is often a skill that needs to be developed.
Warm regards,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych.
Executive Director, Landing Strong