How do you practice mindfulness? Each of us, motivated by personal reasons, has our own methods that help us become more present and attuned to our surroundings. As a medical student, I’ve discovered that embracing mindfulness has allowed me to deeply contemplate and cherish the path I’ve chosen, despite its challenges. Over the past eight years, beekeeping has been my avenue for mindfulness. Initially drawn to it by my fascination with bees, I never anticipated its profound impact on my mindfulness journey. Realizing the connection between mindfulness and beekeeping has been a gift that I di ..read more

Every year the upcoming medical graduates go through an application process in order to match to their future residency program, also known as CaRMS. This process has been going on for many years and still, year after year, many of us feel the same things. Feelings of excitement, of anxiety, of uncertainty, of insecurity, of fear, and many more. Needless to say, these are all normal, if not completely expected.  I thought it would be different for me. That having strategies under my belt I could be immune to the challenges of comparison and insecurity this process brings and yet here I a ..read more

Last Friday marked the culmination of a gruelling month on my surgical rotation. The week of embracing responsibilities, managing patient care with empathy and respect, meeting team demands, and learning new concepts had taken a toll, leaving me drained. I felt the kind of exhaustion that could only be cured by a hug and a proper night’s rest. Nestled in the couch, my body begged for respite, but my mind refused to rest. I found myself stewing in an unproductive mindset, entangled in worry and self-criticism. Sensing the need for a mental reset, I got up and went for a walk.  As I ventur ..read more

It’s official, spooky season is around the corner and so is CaRMS. I went through this process not too long ago myself, and as stressful and challenging it is, you WILL get through it in one piece! I wanted to share a few thoughts I had along the way. It’s draining… but it is temporary Between covering the multiple financial costs incurred by the match process, the emotional and mental costs of the whole affair, it’s safe to say you’ll be tired. Please remember to take care of your body and your mind by continuing to do all those good-for-the-soul-things you do to keep yourself sane. It’s n ..read more

Source: The Great Realization, Tomos Roberts In April 2020, Tomos Roberts, a 26-year film maker, released a poem called “The Great Realization”. It has now been viewed millions of times and is available in multiple languages. Through it, he provokes reflection about the resilience of communities the world over during the COVID-19 pandemic – about the potential good that came of it – which he frames as the great realization of 2020. As we gradually return to a life that resembles “normalcy” following the pandemic, and consider the challenges that were faced and, in many cases, continue to be fa ..read more

 © Zoe O’Neill Imagine you’ve just come out of an observed clinical encounter with a patient. You are eager to hear the positive feedback and constructive criticism from a supervisor. You sit down with your staff and they say: “You did a great job, but -” How would you feel? Let’s imagine instead they say: “You did a great job, and -” How would you feel now? On paper, the difference between “and” or “but” seems insignificant. They’re both 3 letters, one syllable, and are used to connect thoughts together. However, when used in conversation, the difference can be substantial. In the first ..read more

On our most recent podcast episode (to be released soon) with Dr. Justin Sanders, he told us that his best wellness tip for trainees in medicine was simple: to prioritize sleep. Even when there are tasks left on your to do list, or you feel like you haven’t been studying enough, prioritizing sleep can potentially transform your experience as a learner in medicine. What is the point of that extra hour of study when your brain is in no position to absorb or retain information? Dr. Matt Walker, a professor of Neuroscience at the University of California, Berkley, has published over one hundred ar ..read more

This guided meditation works with allowing for ongoing invitation of change. Change is a constant, so being comfortable with it and the emotions it can incite is important. Whether you are working through a change in season, or change in parts of your professional or personal lives, it is valuable to take a moment to recognize how transition is impacting us ..read more

© Zoe O’Neill In a podcast published in March of last year from “The science of happiness”, guest Chris Duffy goes through a practice that helps people tap into a sense of awe. Awe is an emotion often described as a combination of fear and surprise, with a component of wonder or amazement. Awe is often conjured by being surrounded by something vast that one doesn’t immediately understand (1). Creating space for a sense of awe can allow you to connect with feelings of gratitude and ultimately contribute to a greater sense of happiness (2). Scheduling time free of distractions to connect with a ..read more

For as long as illicit substances have been around, psychedelic drug users have reported transcendental, mystical-type experiences. According to researcher Roland Griffiths, these deeply meaningful events can result in profound personal transformations. Quantum change experiences, as Griffiths calls them, result in fundamental changes to a person’s prosocial attitudes and psychological well-being. Different from behavioural changes, which take time and effort to implement, Quantum change experiences occur rapidly and are long-lasting. But few research studies with psychedelics have recorded l ..read more