COPE Creative Outlet Positive Energy

08/28/2026

07/29/2026

What helps you cope?

We all face challenges, transitions, loss, and everyday stress. The question isn't whether life will be difficult—it's how we choose to move through it.

Join me for a one-day COPE retreat as we explore simple, creative ways to support well-being through education, reflection, and hands-on art-making. Together we'll discover that creativity isn't reserved for artists—it's an innate part of being human.

I hope you'll join me. Details are below. 🌿

Learn more - https://creativeoutletpositiveenergy.com/
Register - https://artfusion19464.org/shop/classes-for-adults/cope-1-day-retreat-adults-ages-18-with-dawnita-smith-september-12/

07/20/2026

Recently I had the pleasure of spending time with the wonderful collaborators at The Nest exploring The Basics of Burnout through conversation, reflection, and a shared creative experience.

When we think about burnout, we often focus on exhaustion after we've already reached our limit. Instead, we explored a more proactive approach—how small, everyday choices can help us care for ourselves before we become depleted.

Together we reflected on four simple reminders:

🌿 Balance – creating balance between what we give and what we receive.

🌿 Boundaries – protecting our time and energy so we can give from a place of abundance rather than exhaustion.

🌿 Beauty – noticing the good, appreciating the small moments, and making space for gratitude and creativity.

🌿 Becoming – continuing to grow with purpose and intention, allowing ourselves to evolve rather than simply getting through each day.

One of the most meaningful parts of the afternoon was remembering that those who spend their days supporting others also deserve moments to pause, reflect, and care for themselves.

Thank you to The Nest for the opportunity to share COPE and to everyone who participated with such openness and creativity. It was a beautiful reminder that self-care isn't something we do only when life feels overwhelming—it's something we practice every day.

Which of the four B's—Balance, Boundaries, Beauty, or Becoming—would you like to give more attention to this week?

💚COPE believes creativity is not simply something we do—it is part of who we are. By making time to create, reflect, connect, and care for ourselves, we begin to remember the strengths we've carried within us all along.

07/13/2026

06/08/2026

Many people have heard of the nervous system, but online spaces are often filled with simplified concepts and surface-level explanations that can create a distorted or incomplete picture of how it actually works.

The nervous system is not a set of fixed states or quick fixes. It is a dynamic, relational system shaped by experience, context, and perceived safety.

The Invisible Lion was written to make these more complex ideas accessible and grounded in real human experience. It explores how nervous system responses show up in everyday life, explained through human and animal responses as well as stories and lived experience that help bring these concepts to life in a practical, relatable way.

Find out more here: https://bit.ly/4gf3fPY

05/06/2026

We are often taught that progress should feel light and peaceful, but true recovery can be incredibly intense.

This intensity isn't a sign that you are failing or moving backwards. Instead, it is your nervous system finally feeling safe enough to "thaw" and process a backlog of survival energy that has been stuck on pause for years. When the body stops merely surviving, it begins the loud work of completing old fight-or-flight cycles.

What feels like a setback is often just a deeper layer of healing finally being reached. It is the body’s way of clearing the past to make room for a different kind of future.

The Invisible Lion explains this, and more in detail, exploring how trauma can impact our lives and relationships in ways you might not have realised.

https://bit.ly/4gf3fPY

04/13/2026

One thing nobody ever tells you is how hard life can be. We all face difficulties and traumas at various points, regardless of age, status, or gender.
In these moments, it’s natural to wonder if we’ll ever emerge stronger on the other side. We must learn to cope with disappointment and accept the harshness of fate. However, through these struggles, we gain profound wisdom and evolve from within.
Our experiences shape the colours of our character, turning us into a prism that reflects diverse hues, illuminating even the darkest corners of the world.
The challenges we endure don’t break us; instead, they forge us into resilient souls. We brave the storms and discover a strength we never knew we had, allowing us to wear our scars with pride.
Ultimately, we realize that what doesn’t kill us truly makes us stronger, transforming us into the best versions of ourselves ...

🖋️C.E. Coombes
🎨zm call painting via Instagram

Serendipity Corner ✨

03/14/2026

It’s not what’s wrong with you, it’s we’re not supposed to live like this. If you resonate, you’ll love my book. It’s written for you. Comment “BOOK” then check your DM. I’ll send you a link to pre-order

03/09/2026

Setting boundaries takes courage; it’s saying yes to your own deepest needs, even when it might mean disappointing someone else.

It’s not selfish. It’s self-respect. It’s safety.

Every boundary you set teaches your nervous system: you are allowed to have needs that might be inconvenient to others. You are allowed to feel safe. You are allowed to exist fully.
Look at it as practice, a new skill like driving is developed over time. At first, it seems scary and overwhelming; it would be easier to just be driven by someone else. But each time you do it, the brain learns you are safe in control, and that you don’t need to preempt others' disappointment.

The truth is, it’s not possible to avoid disappointing people all the time, and dismissing your own needs reinforces the same pattern that is keeping you disconnected from yourself.
Learning to hold your ground safely is how presence, security and resilience emerge.
Explore more practical strategies for understanding your nervous system and reclaiming safety in The Invisible Lion: https://bit.ly/4gf3fPY