Lmst

"🌟 Emotional well-being strengthens resilience and relationships.
💡 Mindfulness and stress management improve mental health and life balance.
🌱 Supporting emotional health empowers communities to thrive.
🔗 https://vaccinationrewards.org/
#EmotionalWellBeing #ResilienceBuilding"

By preparing your mind each morning, you build real resilience. Family setbacks can become chances to grow. #StoicPhilosophy #Seneca #StoicPractices #PersonalGrowth #Mindfulness #SelfImprovement #AncientWisdom #PhilosophyDaily #ResilienceBuilding #InnerStrength (4/4)

Discover how your inner strength can conquer any challenge.

#innerstrengthtips #overcoming #challenges #personalgrowth #selfempowerment #Motivationandstrength #mindsetforsuccess #resiliencebuilding #mentalstrengthstrategies #conqueringfears

The goal isn't to never feel frustrated. It's catching yourself before small sparks become big fires. Eight seconds of breathing resets the mind.

Each minor annoyance is a chance to practice peace. Regular small wins build real resilience. You've got this.

#Stoicism #Mindfulness #ResilienceBuilding #EmotionalIntelligence #DailyChallenges #RespondNotReact #StoicWisdom #PersonalGrowth #Seneca #MentalWellness (2/2)

Wildfire Community Preparedness Day 2025

Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen

Publication (Outlet/Website): The Good Men Project

Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/05/24

FireSmart™ Canada talks about Wildfire Community Preparedness Day (WCPD), a national initiative encouraging citizens to reduce wildfire risk and enhance community resilience. Since its inception, participation has grown from 29 applications in 2015 to 466 in 2025, with 404 awards granted. Supported by the Co-operators, the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR), and wildfire agencies, the program offers $500 grants for local projects like vegetation clearing and evacuation planning. FireSmart Canada promotes shared responsibility in wildfire risk reduction, emphasizing collaboration among neighbours to protect overlapping Home Ignition Zones and strengthen collective preparedness through community-based solutions.

Scott Douglas Jacobsen: What is the purpose of Wildfire Community Preparedness Day?

FireSmart™ Canada: Wildfire Community Preparedness Day (WCPD) is a national campaign that encourages citizens to take actions that will increase their home, neighbourhood and community’s resilience to wildfire. It’s a great first step in the FireSmart journey, aimed at educating participants and helping them take risk reduction actions in their community.
More information on WCPD can be found here – Wildfire Community Preparedness Day | FireSmart Canada

Jacobsen: How has this Day grown over the past decade?

FireSmart™ Canada: In 2025, FireSmart Canada awarded more recipients than ever before with 404 communities. The years ago, back in 2015, we received 29 applications from only a few provinces. Over the past two years we’ve received and awarded applications from every province and two territories, with a record of 466 applications in 2025.

Jacobsen: How many community events were awarded in 2025 compared to 2024?

FireSmart™ Canada: In 2025, FireSmart Canada awarded more recipients than ever before with 404 awards. *In 2024, 378 neighbourhoods were awarded in 10 provinces and two territories, compared to 230 neighbourhoods in 2023 and 162 neighbourhoods in 2022.

*In 2024 this figure includes 97 communities that were also Neighborhood Recognition Participants. This would bring Prep Day recipients down to 281 in 2024. In 2025, these neighbourhoods were awarded through a separate incentive program and are not included in the final 404 count.

Jacobsen: What are the roles of Co-operators, ICLR, and wildland fire agencies?

FireSmart™ Canada: FireSmart™ Canada, in collaboration with the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR), Co-operators and the provincial and territorial wildfire agencies, support this annual event by offering the $500 award. ICLR and Co-operators are long standing sponsors, contributing funding towards this program. The provincial and territorial wildfire agencies also contribute towards the program to support the funding flowing towards the communities within their respective regions.

Program descriptions can be found at the bottom of this email.

Jacobsen: What specific activities do communities typically undertake during the Day?

FireSmart™ Canada: Anyone can participate in a project that reduces wildfire risk, increases resilience, and helps neighbourhoods become FireSmart. Projects can range from hour-long work sessions to full-day activities, or even weekend undertakings. Popular activities include community information sessions and BBQs, community vegetation clearing/removal, evacuation planning, and more!

Jacobsen: How does FireSmart Canada define “wildland fire resilience”?

FireSmart™ Canada: A wildland fire resilient community is a community that is prepared to live alongside fire and have mitigated their risk from it, by implementing FireSmart best practices and recommendations.

Jacobsen: What is the significance of community participation in wildfire preparedness?

FireSmart™ Canada: The FireSmart program helps reduce wildfire risks to homes, neighbourhoods, critical infrastructure, and vital natural resources. This is a shared responsibility between us all. Individuals, communities, governments, and private sector organizations all have a part to play.
As many neighbourhoods across the country are densely populated, it is very likely that properties will have overlapping Home Ignition Zones. When neighbours have overlapping zones, they then share a heightened risk of ignition during a wildland fire. In these cases, it is crucial that they work together to reduce their shared risk. Neighbours can enhance the resilience of their individual properties and that of the entire neighbourhood by working together to reduce risk and remove potential hazards in their overlapping zones.

Jacobsen: How does the ICLR contribute to disaster loss prevention and community resilience in Canada?

FireSmart™ Canada: Please contact ICLR for more information: info@iclr.org

About FireSmartTM Canada
FireSmart Canada™ is a program committed to helping Canadians reduce their wildland fire risk and become resilient to wildland fire through community-based solutions. Through publications, programs, outreach training, and workshops, FireSmart Canada provides tools for Canadians to be pro-active in preparing their homes, properties and neighborhoods for the threat of wildland fire. FireSmart Canada operates under a mandate from the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, and is supported by federal, provincial, and territorial wildland fire management agencies and partners with municipal governments and the private sector. For more information visit www.firesmartcanada.ca.

About Co-operators
Proudly Canadian since 1945, Co-operators is a leading financial services co-operative, offering multi-line insurance and investment products, services, and personalized advice to help Canadians build their financial strength and security. With more than $71 billion in assets under administration, Co-operators is well known for its community involvement and its commitment to sustainability. Currently a carbon neutral organization, Co-operators is committed to net-zero emissions in its operations and investments by 2040, and 2050, respectively. Co-operators is recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers and ranked as one of Corporate Knights’ Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada. www.cooperators.ca

About ICLR
Established in 1998 by Canada’s property and casualty insurers, ICLR is an independent, not-for-profit research institute based in Toronto and at the University of Western Ontario in London, Canada. ICLR is a centre of excellence for disaster loss prevention research and education. ICLR’s research staff is internationally recognized for pioneering work in a number of fields including wind and seismic engineering, atmospheric sciences, water resources engineering and economics. Multi-disciplined research is a foundation for ICLR’s work to build communities more resilient to disasters. Visit www.iclr.org

Last updated May 3, 2025. These terms govern all In Sight Publishing content—past, present, and future—and supersede any prior notices. In Sight Publishing by Scott Douglas Jacobsen is licensed under a Creative Commons BY‑NC‑ND 4.0; © In Sight Publishing by Scott Douglas Jacobsen 2012–Present. All trademarks, performances, databases & branding are owned by their rights holders; no use without permission. Unauthorized copying, modification, framing or public communication is prohibited. External links are not endorsed. Cookies & tracking require consent, and data processing complies with PIPEDA & GDPR; no data from children < 13 (COPPA). Content meets WCAG 2.1 AA under the Accessible Canada Act & is preserved in open archival formats with backups. Excerpts & links require full credit & hyperlink; limited quoting under fair-dealing & fair-use. All content is informational; no liability for errors or omissions: Feedback welcome, and verified errors corrected promptly. For permissions or DMCA notices, email: scott.jacobsen2025@gmail.com. Site use is governed by BC laws; content is “as‑is,” liability limited, users indemnify us; moral, performers’ & database sui generis rights reserved.

#communityPreparedness #emergencyPlanning #fireSafety #resilienceBuilding #wildfireAwareness

These small boundaries keep your attention clear. Try just one today. #Stoicism #EpictetusQuotes #SelfMastery #MentalClarity #DigitalDetox #ProductivityTips #AncientPhilosophy #StoicWisdom #ResilienceBuilding #MindfulLiving (4/4)

Here’s a bold takeaway: If you use Stoicism to shame yourself or others for “feeling too much,” ask: Are you practicing philosophy—or just pretending to be unfeeling? Hard truth: Repressing emotions isn’t wisdom. It’s pain dressed up as philosophy.

Agree or disagree? Share your thoughts.
#Stoicism #MentalHealth #EmotionalResilience #Philosophy #Mindfulness #MentalWellness #EmotionalIntelligence #AncientWisdom #SelfImprovement #ResilienceBuilding (6/6)

Does Life Get Better? How Small Changes Lead to Big Results

“Does life get better?” is a question you may ask yourself. Many of us have asked ourselves this question at various times throughout our lives. It’s likely that if you’re reading this, you’re wondering if there’s more to life or if things will get better.

#PersonalGrowth
#MindsetMatters
#PositiveChanges
#ResilienceBuilding

Keep Struggling 9/10 Protection is not the same as preparation. Shielding from struggle may stop growth. Facing challenges builds strength and mindset. 🛡️ #PrepareDontProtect #ResilienceBuilding #GrowthMindset

Yet Mindset 10/10 Protection isn’t preparation. Encouraging struggle and effort models resilience better than shielding from failure. What actions today help build a growth mindset tomorrow? 🔥 #PreparationNotProtection #ResilienceBuilding #Leadership

I’m Not Always Happy, But I’m Always Positive
https://wp.me/p84YjG-5fD
#PositiveMindset #DailyPractices #AuthenticPositivity #MentalHealthPractices #PositiveThinking #EmotionalWellness #MindsetTraining #PositiveLiving #ResilienceBuilding #MentalWellness #positivity #zsoltzsemba

https://zsoltzsemba.com/2025/06/26/not-always-happy-always-positive-daily-practices-grounded/

I’m Not Always Happy, But I’m Always Positive

Daily Practices That Keep Me Grounded

I wake up and ask myself one simple question: “How do I feel today, and how do I want to show up?” This isn’t about forcing happiness or pretending everything is perfect. It’s about acknowledging my current emotional state while choosing my response to the day ahead.

Some mornings I wake up anxious about deadlines or sad about personal struggles. Other days I feel energetic and optimistic about new opportunities. The difference isn’t in controlling these feelings but in deciding how I’ll navigate them with a positive mindset.

This morning practice has taught me that emotions are visitors, not permanent residents. Sadness visits but doesn’t need to set up camp. Anxiety stops by but doesn’t get to make major life decisions. Happiness comes and goes, but my commitment to positivity remains constant.

The key is radical honesty with yourself about your emotional state. When you pretend you’re fine when you’re not, you waste energy maintaining a facade. When you acknowledge difficult feelings while choosing positive actions, you create space for authentic growth and genuine peace.

This daily check-in takes less than five minutes but sets the tone for everything that follows. It reminds me that I have agency over my responses even when I can’t control my circumstances or initial emotional reactions.

The most powerful realization from this practice is that you can be heartbroken and hopeful simultaneously. You can feel disappointed about a setback while maintaining faith in future possibilities. These complex emotional states are more authentic than forced cheerfulness.

Building Your Personal Positivity Toolkit

Developing a collection of go-to strategies for maintaining positivity during difficult times is essential for long-term emotional wellness. These aren’t happiness hacks or quick fixes, but reliable tools that help you navigate challenges while keeping your optimistic outlook intact.

Physical movement becomes crucial when emotions feel overwhelming. I’ve learned that a ten-minute walk can shift my entire perspective on a problem. Exercise doesn’t solve issues, but it creates mental space for clearer thinking and better decision-making. The endorphins are a bonus, not the main goal.

Reading and learning serve as anchors during turbulent times. When personal circumstances feel chaotic, engaging with books, podcasts, or documentaries reminds me that growth and wisdom are always possible. Knowledge becomes a form of hope when current situations feel hopeless.

Creative expression provides outlets for complex emotions that words can’t capture. Writing, drawing, cooking, or any creative activity allows you to process feelings while creating something meaningful. The act of creation itself is inherently positive, regardless of your emotional starting point.

Connection with trusted people becomes vital during difficult seasons. This doesn’t mean dumping your problems on others, but rather sharing your journey with people who understand the difference between positivity and performance. These relationships provide perspective and remind you that you’re not alone.

Service to others often restores perspective faster than self-focused solutions. Volunteering, helping neighbors, or simply listening to a friend’s struggles reminds you that everyone faces challenges. This broader view often makes your own problems feel more manageable while connecting you to purpose beyond yourself.

The Art of Positive Reframing Without Denial

Learning to reframe situations positively without denying their difficulty is perhaps the most valuable skill for maintaining long-term optimism. This isn’t about pretending problems don’t exist or that everything happens for a reason. It’s about finding growth opportunities within genuine challenges.

When facing job loss, the positive reframe isn’t “everything happens for a reason” or “this is actually good news.” Instead, it might be “this is genuinely difficult, and I’m capable of navigating this transition while discovering new opportunities.” This acknowledges reality while maintaining agency and hope.

Relationship conflicts provide excellent opportunities for positive reframing. Instead of “we’re incompatible and doomed,” try “we’re both struggling to communicate our needs effectively, and this challenge can teach us both how to love better.” This shifts focus from blame to growth potential.

Health challenges require particularly careful reframing. Rather than toxic positivity like “your illness is a gift,” authentic positive reframing might sound like “this diagnosis is scary and unwelcome, and I’m going to face it with all the courage and resources I can gather.” This honors the difficulty while empowering action.

Financial struggles benefit from reframes that acknowledge stress while focusing on possibility. “We’re in a tight spot financially, and this is teaching us what we truly value while motivating us to explore new income opportunities.” This validates the stress while maintaining forward momentum.

The key to effective reframing is timing. Don’t rush to find the positive angle when you’re in acute emotional pain. Allow yourself to feel the full impact of difficult situations before searching for growth opportunities or silver linings.

Navigating Relationships When You’re Positive But Not Happy

Maintaining relationships while practicing authentic positivity requires clear communication about your emotional complexity. People often misunderstand when you say you’re not always happy but always positive. Some assume you’re being fake, while others expect you to fix their emotional states.

Setting boundaries becomes essential when people expect your positivity to solve their problems or brighten their moods. Your positive outlook is a personal practice, not a service you provide to others. You can offer support and encouragement without taking responsibility for others’ emotional experiences.

Explaining your philosophy helps close relationships understand your approach to life. Share that your positivity isn’t about denying problems or avoiding difficult emotions. Instead, it’s about choosing to look for possibilities and growth opportunities even during challenging times.

Some friendships may struggle when you stop performing constant happiness. People who were drawn to your entertainer energy might feel confused by your more authentic approach. This isn’t a loss; it’s a clarification of which relationships are based on genuine connection versus surface-level interaction.

Modeling authentic positivity teaches others that they don’t need to perform emotions around you. When you show that you can be sad and optimistic simultaneously, you give others permission to be complex emotional beings too. This deepens relationships and creates safer spaces for everyone.

Professional relationships also benefit from this approach. Colleagues appreciate working with someone who acknowledges challenges while maintaining solution-focused thinking. You become known as realistic but resilient, which is valuable in workplace dynamics.

The Science Behind Choosing Positivity Over Happiness

Research consistently shows that people who focus on meaning and growth rather than happiness alone report higher life satisfaction over time. The pursuit of happiness often leads to hedonic adaptation, where you need increasing levels of pleasure to maintain the same emotional high.

Positive psychology studies reveal that optimistic thinking patterns can be learned and strengthened like muscles. When you consistently choose to look for possibilities in difficult situations, you literally rewire your brain to notice opportunities more readily. This isn’t toxic positivity; it’s neuroplasticity in action.

The stress response system functions more effectively when you maintain positive expectations about your ability to handle challenges. This doesn’t mean pretending challenges aren’t stressful, but rather trusting your capacity to navigate stress successfully. This confidence reduces the harmful effects of chronic stress on your body.

Resilience research shows that people who bounce back from adversity fastest aren’t those who avoid negative emotions, but those who experience them fully while maintaining faith in their ability to recover. This combination of emotional authenticity and optimistic expectation creates psychological flexibility.

Studies on post-traumatic growth demonstrate that many people develop increased appreciation for life, deeper relationships, and stronger sense of personal strength after facing significant challenges. This growth happens when people process difficulties honestly while remaining open to positive change.

The placebo effect illustrates how positive expectations can create real physiological changes. While you shouldn’t ignore medical advice in favor of positive thinking, maintaining hopeful outlooks about treatment outcomes often improves actual results through mind-body connections.

Creating Your Personal Positivity Mission Statement

Developing a clear personal mission statement about your approach to positivity helps you stay consistent during difficult times. This isn’t about creating unrealistic standards, but rather clarifying your values and intentions around emotional wellness and life perspective.

Your mission statement might include commitments like “I will acknowledge all my emotions while choosing actions aligned with growth and possibility” or “I will support others without sacrificing my own emotional health.” These guidelines help you navigate complex situations with clarity.

Include specific practices that support your positive outlook. Perhaps you commit to daily gratitude reflection, weekly time in nature, or monthly check-ins with a therapist or trusted friend. These concrete actions make your positivity practice sustainable rather than dependent on willpower alone.

Address how you want to handle setbacks and difficult periods. Your mission statement might acknowledge that some days maintaining positivity will be harder than others, and that’s perfectly acceptable. This self-compassion prevents the guilt that comes when you struggle to live up to your own expectations.

Consider how your positivity practice serves others and contributes to your community. Maybe you want to model emotional authenticity for your children or create safe spaces for friends to share their struggles. This broader purpose makes your personal practice feel meaningful beyond self-improvement.

Review and update your mission statement regularly as you grow and learn. What feels authentic and sustainable will evolve as you face new challenges and develop new insights about yourself and life.

Living the Philosophy: Integration and Daily Application

The ultimate goal of choosing positivity over happiness is creating a sustainable way of living that honors your full humanity while maintaining hope and forward momentum. This philosophy becomes most powerful when integrated into everyday decisions and responses rather than reserved for major life events.

Practice choosing positive interpretations in small daily situations. When someone cuts you off in traffic, experiment with assuming they’re dealing with an emergency rather than being inconsiderate. When a project at work faces obstacles, focus on problem-solving opportunities rather than dwelling on frustrations.

Use challenging situations as practice grounds for your positivity skills. Each difficulty becomes a chance to strengthen your ability to maintain optimism while taking appropriate action. This reframe turns problems into training sessions rather than just obstacles to endure.

Celebrate the small victories in choosing positivity overreaction. Notice when you respond to disappointment with curiosity instead of despair. Acknowledge moments when you offer encouragement to others while dealing with your own struggles. These recognitions reinforce positive patterns.

Share your journey with others who might benefit from this approach. Your example of authentic positivity combined with emotional honesty can inspire others to stop performing happiness and start practicing genuine optimism. This creates ripple effects that extend far beyond your personal experience.

Remember that mastery takes time and patience. Some days choosing positivity will feel natural and effortless. Other days it will require significant conscious effort. Both experiences are part of the journey toward sustainable emotional wellness and authentic living.

The Ongoing Journey of Authentic Positivity

Choosing to be positive rather than constantly happy is a daily practice, not a destination. It’s about showing up authentically to your life while maintaining faith in your ability to handle whatever comes. This approach creates freedom from emotional performance while building genuine resilience.

Your commitment to positivity doesn’t require you to be perfect or never struggle. Instead, it asks you to face struggles with curiosity, courage, and hope. This combination creates a life of meaning and growth that doesn’t depend on external circumstances for fulfillment.

The ripple effects of this philosophy extend far beyond your personal experience. When you model authentic positivity, you contribute to a culture where people can be real about their challenges while maintaining optimism about solutions. This influence makes the world a little bit safer for everyone’s humanity.

Remember that your positivity is a gift to yourself first. It’s not about serving others or maintaining an image. It’s about creating an internal environment where you can thrive regardless of external conditions. This self-care makes you more capable of genuinely supporting others when they need it.

The journey of authentic positivity is ongoing and ever-evolving. Each challenge teaches new lessons about resilience, growth, and hope. Each day offers fresh opportunities to choose optimism while honoring your complete emotional experience.

You don’t have to be happy all the time to live a positive, meaningful, and fulfilling life. In fact, your willingness to face unhappiness with a positive spirit makes your optimism more valuable and authentic than any forced cheerfulness ever could.

#AuthenticPositivity #DailyPractices #EmotionalWellness #LifeBalance #MentalHealthPractices #MentalWellness #MindfulPositivity #MindsetTraining #PersonalGrowth #PositiveHabits #PositiveLiving #PositiveMindset #positivethinking #positivity #ResilienceBuilding #SelfDevelopment #ZsoltZsemba

Africa: WRI Study Finds Climate Adaptation Investments Yield Massive Returns - Over $10 for Every $1 Spent: [WRI] Washington, D.C. -- As climate hazards like floods and wildfires intensify - and global financial resources grow tighter - a new study by World Resources Institute (WRI) presents powerful evidence that bolstering funding for adaptation and resilience is not only urgent but… http://newsfeed.facilit8.network/TL8p6Q #ClimateAdaptation #SustainableDevelopment #ClimateInvestments #ResilienceBuilding #WRI

Finding Your Anchor Through Life Chaotic Phases

When life throws us into chaos through major transitions, how do we find our way back to ourselves? That’s the question at the heart of this deeply personal episode where I open up about my recent experiences navigating multiple upheavals – moving from Kentucky to San Antonio and then immediately jumping into a temporary duty assignment.

Through this whirlwind of change, I discovered something profound about stability: it’s not about trying to recreate your old normal in new circumstances. It’s about identifying the sacred habits that anchor your identity regardless of where you are or what’s happening around you. For me, this meant stripping everything back to just three core practices: physical exercise for mental clarity, writing for creative nourishment, and reading as my escape hatch from stress.

The journey wasn’t straightforward. It required intentional self-reflection, kindness toward myself, and consistently quieting that counterproductive inner voice that wanted me to give up. I share the uncomfortable truth of how it took a full week of feeling low before I could motivate myself to restart these habits, and how I had to be both gentle and firm with myself to maintain them.

Whether you’re in military life facing PCS moves, or navigating any major life transition, this episode offers practical wisdom for rebuilding your sense of self one sacred habit at a time. Stability isn’t a fixed destination we reach once and for all – it’s something we actively cultivate day by day, especially during seasons of change. What habits anchor you when everything else is in flux?

#CreativeHealing #DailyRituals #EmotionalReset #GroundingPractices #HaveACupOfJohanny #IdentityAndChange #IntentionalLiving #mentalClarity #MilitaryLifeTransitions #MindfulRoutines #NavigatingUpheaval #PCSLife #PersonalGrowth #RebuildingYou #ResilienceBuilding #SacredHabits #selfReflection #StabilityInChaos #WellnessThroughTransition