Hypnotherapy: My Secret Weapon

This is truly one of the most important posts that I believe I could ever share with you. It’s been a long time coming, sorry!

Hypnotherapy has significantly changed my life for the better. Since beginning Hypnotherapy over 2 years ago, I have used it to improve upon many different aspects of my life. I have used Hypnotherapy to overcome a phobia, destroy limiting fears and crippling anxiety, improve clarity, focus, relaxation, physical skills and strength, increase joy, love, happiness, belief and SO much more.

Mind Shift: The Power of Perspective

Deep thoughts by Sarah Seads.  Great photo by Karen McKinnon.

I dropped an egg on my kitchen floor this morning.  A raw egg.  Ooops.  You know that feeling.  Shi*.

This year has been full of... surprises for me.  You just never know what is around the next bend.    For me, it was a new sport, a black diamond XC ski run and a headfirst crash into the boards.  6 months of persistent whiplash symptoms and a scratched race card, things aren't quite turning out how I had expected them to.  Shi* happens.  I can be pissed off or I can be neutral or I can pick up my rose coloured glasses and let the light in...ahhh...that's better!  Of course, I have gone through all of the stages of emotions, it is only natural.  But as a 'half full' gal, I chose to fast forward through the negative ones and get to the good stuff.  Gratitude- for the health I do have, for the many other ways I can move my body, for the beautiful place I live in and the beautiful people I live with.  Racing is fun, but, it is just one small part of this wonderful life.  Recently, a new perspective was handed to me...from a card reader.  With fear in her eyes, she told me that I should be grateful I had crashed when I did.  She told me that if I hadn't jumped out of the tracks and launched headfirst into the snowbank when I did, that I would not have survived the crash at the bottom of the hill.  Maybe.  Maybe not.  But until that moment I hadn't actually seen that perspective at all.  Woah.  Game changer.  She got me thinking that I should not just be positive, but that I should actually be grateful for the experience.  Yup.  Mind shift.  Perspective is powerful stuff.

Music to Move You

A friend just gave me a mixed CD for my birthweek:)  How fun is that?  Remember the days where you made your friends mixed tapes for roadtrips, birthdays and just because (and didn't worry about being thrown into jail for sharing music with your peeps lol?).

My TEDx Presentation: Human Potential and the Power of the Mind

Back in the fall of 2011 I was invited to speak at the inaugural  Comox Valley TEDx event.

"TED what?" I asked?

And so, my love affair with all things Technology Education and Design began to blossom, alongside millions of other humans around the world.  For those of you who have yet to dive into the TED universe, you don't know what you are missing!  TED talks are very short presentations on every single topic that you could possibly dream up.  Experts, personalities and generally interesting people share their thoughts on anything they believe is meaningful, in under 18 minutes.  From motivation to space exploration and everything in between, there is something captivating for everyone over at TED.

Mind Games: 10 Tips for your Motivation Toolbox

It's sideways raining...again.  I'll go later...  I'll go tomorrow...  I don't want to go!

Been there?  Me too!  Yet people are often surprised to hear me even whisper about periods of low motivation let alone announce them to the world.  They expect me to shout rah rah rah from the rafters day in and day out.  And quite honestly, mostly I do;).  But I think it is important to share that I also feel the weight of inertia slowing down my mojo or even threatening to paralyze my body from time to time.  It has happened before.  It will happen again.  And it happens to everyone including me and you.

Mental Strength: Harnessing the Power of Intention

The end of one year and the transition into the next is the perfect time to reflect, reset and reboot.  You know I love the energy of a new year!  And you likely know that I am a strong believer in the power of intention.  We coaching geeks love goals.  Dream goals, long term goals, short term goals, weekly and daily goals.  We love them all.  Why?  Because we know how powerful these simple tools for motivation and action really are.  No trendy gimmicks.  No expensive contracts.  No state of the art or latest greatest craze.  And definitely no guru's charging your credit card on a monthly basis.  Just you and your vision.  Nothing fancy.

Intention is a powerful thing.  The thoughts that we cultivate day in and day out feed our minds just as the air we breath and the food we eat feeds our bodies.  We are not only what we eat.  We are, in fact, what we think.

Endure

E N D U R E

Some days you have to dig way down into your bag of tricks.

I see beauty in a grey, dripping sky.  I feel life in an ice fed river.  I let out giggles while slipping and falling on wet, slushy snow. 

For me, there will always be a deep gratitude and comfort in the the discomfort.  The pain in my lungs and burn in my legs are sensations that I will be forever grateful for.  The chance to move my body over mountains, through rivers and alongside nature is truely a gift.  When the conditions spiral downward I dig my hands deep into my pockets and hold on to what I know is true.  I know not suffering, but life at its fullest.

Clearing

This is it.  The final hours of 2014.  How do you feel about it?  Just another day?  Or a symbolic moment in time?  Or perhaps both, depending on the time of day😉

We humans love rituals and a chance for celebration.  And New Years is no exception.  In our world the New Year marks an end and a beginning... An old life fading and a new one emerging.

Motivate ME!

Happy Thursday Friends!

A couple of Friday's ago I had the pleasure of leading a 'lunch and learn' session, with the staff at Ecofish Research, as part of their Workplace Wellness program.  I spoke with them about 'Motivation' and shared my tools and tips for getting started and keeping going.   It was a short chat, but everyone can relate to the topic and I hope they all took home a few ideas to add to their own motivation 'toolbox'.

I LOVE the topic of motivation when it comes to fitness, sport and health:)  It is such a wild 'thing' - complex, dynamic, fluid and very very powerful.  Motivation has always intrigued me and I have a passion for helping others find ways to harness its awesome power.  Yes, I even wrote a book on the subject if you want to check it out;)

Who is driving this bus?

My job as a Kinesiologist and coach is 50% art and 50% science. And I truly am as passionate about the mind as I am about the body.  I was fortunate enough to learn about both the science and the art of human movement through my studies at UVic...yes, I have an Arts degree in Kinesiology from the Faculty of Education.  Sound strange?  There aren't many of us out there:)  What that means is I had the opportunity to study Sports Psychology and Sociology along with my Kinesiology Sciences.  That is where my passion for the powerful 'art' of human movement began...

Motivation.
Mental strength.
Will.
Energy.
Focus.
Human connection.
Self efficacy.
Fear.
Passion.
Success.
Failure.

These are topics that intrigue and inspire me as much as exercise physiology.  They are brains behind the brawn.  The captain behind the wheel.  The driver of the bus.

There is much more to performance than simply 'exercise'.   Some say it is 80% mental.  I believe it is more.  And for some it is 100%.  Without the mind to drive the bus onward, upward, over and through...what use is the body?  We make the decision to begin with the mind.  We choose to carry on with the mind.  And when we quit, it is decided first in our mind.

And yet, we spend 99% of our training energy on the body.  Just imagine the beast you could unleash if you harnessed the power of your mind?

Each week I see the mind driving buses off cliffs, into walls and down decommissioned logging roads full of potholes and probable flat tires.  I see buses going off the map and entirely in the wrong direction.  I see buses stuck in a rut or collecting rust in a heap on the side of the road.  

Now, you know I'm not talking about the Greyhound here, right?  

I'm talking about you.  You and me and everyone else around us.  

I hear:

My week was crazy.
My kids were sick.
Work was insane.
Things are nuts right now.

Followed by:

I'm not happy with my weight.
I feel like crap.
I'm sick, again.
I don't have any energy.
I can't sleep.
I am really low.

And to that I ask:

Who the heck is driving this bus anyways?  

  We have one go at this.  Will we choose to hang on for the ride or get behind the wheel and steer this rig?  That, my friends, is up to each and every one of us.

I do not judge.  I observe.  I listen.  I look for patterns in the tracks.  I listen for the engine in the distance.  And when the time is right I am here ready to assist.  I guess you could say that I am the BCAA for your bus:).  Here's the trick...YOU have to be the one to pick up the phone and make the call.  You have a great set of tools to fix er up and get on course.  Some of them might be a bit rusty, but with some care and practice I am sure they will do the trick.  If you need some new tools or additional expertise, there are plenty of mechanics like myself who would love to help you out and get you on the road.

But there are no quick fixes.  Long term success takes long term effort.  You have to do regular maintenance.  You know, check the oil, fill up the gas, plan your route, check the map now and then.  But once you get on board and grab that wheel, man, you are in for the ride of your life.  

Big smile, hair blowing back...are you ready to drive the bus?

:)
Sarah.

You don't have to exercise...

Happy Wednesday!


Excerpt from Fit & Free: Seven Steps to Achieving Fitness for Life

...
Chapter 6:
Creating your Personal Action Plan

THINKING OUTSIDE THE ‘EXERCISE’ BOX
You may or may not have noticed by now that I do not use the word ‘exercise’ very often. I have managed to write nearly 6 chapters in a fitness book without using the word exercise more than a handful of times. Instead I refer to the term ‘fitness’ or ‘activity’. I do this for a very good reason and it relates specifically to the following Fit & Free™ Principle:

You do not have to ‘exercise’ to be fit. 

Stop thinking about physical activity as exercise and start thinking of it as freedom to live your life as you please.

Most people have negative images, feelings and thoughts around the term ‘exercise’.
Physical activity does not have to be in the form of traditional exercise to be effective and the Fit & Free™ steps will help you think outside the gym ‘box’. The steps in this program will teach you that you do not need to ‘exercise’ in a traditional way to gain the benefits of physical activity.
 
I stopped speaking about ‘exercise’ many years ago when I realized that many people experience negative thoughts and feelings when they hear this term. Many of us have experienced failed attempts at various ‘exercise’ program and associate this term with these negative experiences in the past. People often associate the term ‘exercise’ with the following thoughts:

Exercise is hard work.
Exercise hurts.
Exercise takes time.
Exercise is something other people do.
Exercise is not for me.

Take a moment to think about the thoughts and feelings that you have around the term ‘exercise’. How does this word make you feel?

Additionally, many people have preconceived ideas about what ‘exercise’ actually looks like. These ideas are based partially on past experiences, but also largely on images that we see in the media. We are told that in order to get fit we must ‘exercise’ and when we think ‘exercise’ we often picture traditional activities such as:

Going to the gym.
Running.
Playing team sports.

Now these are all great activities and it is very true that many people find fitness success and happiness by engaging in these classic forms of ‘exercise’. This is because their needs are met through these types of ‘exercise’. But what works for Betty may not work for Bob and our activity preferences are as individual as our taste in music or movies. Forget about what ‘Bob’ is doing and throw your preconceived ideas of ‘exercise’ out the window. It is time to identify your own lifestyle needs and activity preferences.

SQUARE PEG. ROUND HOLE.
I have seen too many people fail to reach their fitness goals because of one simple mistake. They did not choose an activity that met their needs. Or, we could back up a bit further and add that they did not even know what their personal needs were before beginning.

We are in such a rush to get fit that we often miss one of the most important steps to securing our fitness future: identifying our personal needs and preferences.

...

Do you have negative emotions in your heart and images in your head when it comes to 'exercise'?  What activities have you done in the past that did not feel like 'exercise'?  What activities do you find joy in?  What are your personal lifestyle needs & preferences?  Now is the time to ask the big questions so that you can reach your big dreams down the road!

Happy Trails,
Sarah.

My Friend Al

WHY do you want to live a healthier, more active life?  And I don't mean to lose 10 pounds for your trip to Mexico this spring...

This sums it all up for me.  

I run and ride and push and climb and challenge my body 'because I can'.  In times of low motivation, painful workouts or mental fatigue this is what drives me onward, upward and through.  This 'pain' that my body is experiencing is a gift, not a punishment as so many see it.  Without a healthy body and legs that can climb I would never have these experiences.  Many others do not have this gift and one day I will not either.   Our health is a gift, not a given, and one that is time bound.  This is my 'WHY' - it resonates powerfully and connects with something deep inside my core.

I feel so grateful to not only have the gift of health but also the gift of this perspective.  Up until the summer of 2000 I had lived my life with the invincibility perspective.  Well, maybe that is too dramatic.  It may have been more like living in a bubble of youth and an ignorance of reality perspective;)  Which, don't get me wrong, is a powerful perspective in itself and one that is also the engine behind pushing the limits of the human experience. 

But in the summer of 2000, my reality shifted and I became sharply aware of the delicate fragility of the human body and the precious gift of health.  The following is an excerpt taken from my book, Fit & Free: Seven Steps to Achieving Fitness For Life.  I also shared this story at TedX Comox Valley in 2011 as part of my 'Human Potential' Ted Talk.  I hope that you find as much inspiration from this story as I do.  I also hope that it helps you begin to uncover your own 'WHY'.  Because once you truly know 'WHY' your want to live a healthier more active life, you will honestly be unstoppable.
Sarah

-----------------

PERSPECTIVE: MY FRIEND AL
If I told you “There are no obstacles in life,” would you believe me?

I truly believe that there is a way around, over, under or even through every obstacle. We may need patience and dynamic perspective but I believe we can find a way around any obstacle with determination and perseverance. Our planned journey may need to change course but we can all reach a more fit and vital lifestyle in our own way regardless of what obstacles life throws at us. This is how I live my life and I am inspired everyday by others who do the same.

I would like to share an inspiring story of determination with you about my friend Al. In 2000, while working as a British Columbia Forest Service Firefighter with Rapattack, one of my co-workers, Al Bergman, suffered a life altering injury that nearly cost him his life.

Al was based in McBride, BC with his crew and had gone out on a training run while he was on standby for work. He decided to go for a run on a trail that climbed to the top of beautiful McBride Falls.

While standing atop the Falls, Al fell 60 feet to the rocks below. He suffered a devastating spinal cord injury in his low back and was paralyzed instantly from the waist down. It took hours for his crew to find and rescue Al before he was taken to medical aid. He was lucky to survive but now faced life in a wheelchair.

Before his accident Al was a competitive cyclist who was up-and-coming in both road and mountain biking pro-elite rankings. He was 26 years of age when he lost the use of his legs.

Al worked relentlessly at the provincial rehabilitation centre to regain strength and to improve his post injury abilities. He turned up at the fire base later that summer and I will never forget it. He stood in the doorway with braces under his arms and took a few steps under his own power. Although Al never regained full use of his legs, he continued to work tirelessly on his rehabilitation and focused on his abilities rather than his disabilities. He traded his bike for a racing wheelchair and began training to compete at a national level in a new sport.

In 2004 Al represented Canada as a wheelchair athlete in the 400 meter event at the Paralympics in Athens, Greece. Just four years after his life altering accident, Al was still reaching for the stars.

And he didn’t stop there. After his accident, Al also met and married his physical therapist, went back to school to learn the trade of bike building and welding, then started his own company building custom bikes. All this after suffering an unimaginable injury just a few years prior.

I get goose bumps each and every time I share this story. Al’s courage and determination fill me with awe and inspiration. I selfishly draw on this energy in my own personal times of need. When I feel I have come to an obstacle or when life throws wild cards my way such as injury or illness I think of Al. When I remember his story I know that there are no true obstacles in life.

Al’s story also reminds me of the most important mantra in my life:
“Your health is a gift, not a given.”

Perspective is everything and when you remind yourself that your health is a gift and not a given your obstacles will not seem so great. There are no guarantees in life and we must take advantage of each and every day. You have your body and your health today but you never know what tomorrow will bring. Use your body and challenge yourself today.

Clear Vision

Happy New Year!

I hope you are as excited about this year as I am:)

What does the coming year have in store for you? Well, that, my friend, is up to you:)

It is time to look ahead and create a clear vision of your future!

You know what to do...but here is a reminder:

• Dream Big. ANYTHING really is possible with time, smart training and determination.


• Set SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Recorded, Time-Bound). Pull out a calendar and pick your events/dates. Identify them in order of importance (A/B/C).


• Identify your limiting factors (speed, strength, endurance, skill, etc) and set medium term goals that will help you over come these and prepare you for your BIG goals.


• Create an Action Plan of short term goals that will get you moving and help you take daily steps in the right direction. Setting weekly goals will keep you on track and help you stay focused over the long haul.

You can do it. How bad do you want to, is the real question?

The power of positive intention is undeniable. Whether it is the 'universe' or simply the effect of keeping your goals at the front of your mind, having a clear vision of your intention is a key step.

• Make a list of your goals and post them on the fridge.


• Create a screen saver on your computer with a list of your goals or powerful images that remind you of them.


• Or, create a vision board and put it somewhere you will see every single day. That reminder may be all you need to keep moving forward towards your goals.

Vision Board
Creating a vision board is a very simple but very powerful experience. This is a project that we often complete during our fitness retreats and our participants really enjoy the process as much as the outcome. Here is how you do it:

You will need:
Pile of your favourite magazines.
Poster board
Scissors/glue/tape etc.

Cut out images and text that resonate with you and remind you of your goals. Arrange them on the board however you are inspired to. Put it somewhere you will see it everyday!

Here is my vision board...an inside peek into my personal dreams and goals! It is on my office door and I look at it every day...and it inspires me every time I see it!

Onward!

Sarah.