I created a short music/video clip with a bit of humour related to the social distancing of COVID-19. Aside from the humour angle, I am sending this to you as a practical example of resilient practice – things that I do during this season to stay on track.

Engaging in almost anything creative has generally been a good practice for me. I think the obvious reasons are distraction and fulfilment arriving in the finished product – but I think a more subliminal reason it works is that it subconsciously reminds me that I am not only my vocation. I have been through seasons before — vocational transitions — where I felt lost, or maybe more accurately, I lost some of my identity. If I wasn’t CEO of XYZ Corp, and/or if people weren’t calling me for advice, then what value did I have to offer the world? Viktor Frankl called this unemployment neurosis – psychologically speaking: an existential crisis. (Note: I highly recommend reading his book “Man’s Search for Meaning”)

I would guess that many of you are facing uncertainty in your vocation. Please, remember that you have many other roles in life. There are many reasons for you to exist and values for you to fulfill. If you would like a free workbook to explore some of these concepts, just email me and I would be happy to send one your way!

Throughout history, there are many examples of seasons where people have experienced existential crisis/vacuums. The good news is that we have many great examples of overcomers – people who left a trail of principles to help us navigate this challenge.

Now – for some creative humour. I wrote and recorded the music over 20 years ago, and created new lyrics to relate to today.

Hope you enjoy!

D

Some of you email me from time to time to thank me for something that I have written – something that has encouraged you in your journey. The interesting thing about the practice of encouragement is that it pays dividends in both directions at the time of transaction.

Think of someone that has encouraged you in some way. How did you feel?

Think of someone you encouraged recently. How did you feel?

Challenge: Think of someone you could write a short note of appreciation to. Write them a note.

What difference might it make…today?

Can you think of more than one?

If you have been following this blog, or heard me speak at an event, you have likely heard me say that resilience theory can be boiled down to 3 key pillars: Internal, External, and Process.

So – here are a few questions to help you calibrate and navigate the challenge of COVID-19: Please Continue Reading …

At times like these, it is critical that we have access to supportive community, and that we work to ensure that our internal self-talk is nurturing a healthy perspective for our self, and for those who walk with us.

I have made a few time slots available for those subscribed to the Davidewhite blog list, in the event that you are wrestling with resilience and could benefit from coaching. You are a leader or your self, and many within your circle of influence. We all need you to lead through the chaos – the community feels the impact of leadership lost.

NOTE: There will be no charge for these time slots – but I ask that you make a donation to your local food bank in lieu.
(on the honour system)

We can work through phone call, facetime or zoom – whatever is most convenient.

You can access the appointment scheduler here:

Coaching

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning

This column, and those that follow for the next year, will illustrate the key principle practices of the Personal Resilience Credo, which was created through my experience working with a Top 100 company to help to bolster the resilience of the employee group. (See previous posts, or my column in issue 264 of SaskBusiness for a full description of the Credo).

Principle Practice: RESPONSE – “I choose to humbly and purpose-fully exercise my freedom to respond, to be aligned in principle, word and behaviour — expanding my capacity in life and mission”.

To set the context for this practice, I define “response” to be the opposite of “react”. Reacting is a type of response, but it lacks a pause; it is immediate, without thought. By contrast, response is attached to a space; a pause. This pause allows time for a choice. Once we understand the relationship between response and choice,  Please Continue Reading …

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…these are all fruit of a spirit that we would benefit from more of in our life.

One thing that all of these have in common, is that we must be present to experience them. We must also be present for others to experience these in us – and we must be present in these for people to experience the best of us.

The antonym of presence is absence. We can be absent when we are away, but we can also be absent when we are near, such as when we are distracted, numbed, depressed or fearful. Selfishness, depression, animosity, agitation, indifference, arrogance, indulgence…all serve to rob us of a fuller experience in life, and the key to transformation is  Please Continue Reading …

“The beginning of knowledge is the discovery of something we do not understand.” Frank Herbert

Have you ever wondered if this is all there is? Is who you are all that you will ever be? Is there hope to overcome your weakness, fear and insecurities – your reactiveness, impatience and defensiveness?

If, like me, you find yourself longing for a deeper sense of self-mastery (truly: peace within), the practice of curiosity may be a key to what you desire.

Principle Practice: Curiosity
“I choose curiosity  Please Continue Reading …

“Of all the virtues we can learn no trait is more useful, more essential for survival, and more likely to improve the quality of life than the ability to transform adversity into an enjoyable challenge.”
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Flow: The Psychology of Happiness

Mental health is a growing concern for our society. As the stats for mental health continue to reveal erosion, happiness seems to be moving further beyond the reach of many. We turn to medical health providers for help – but here we find another problem: Physician health and wellness is a growing concern within the medical profession as well. The data (above) was collected in 2017 through an online survey of nearly 3,000 residents and physicians (Canadian Medical Association).

Is there anything we can do to turn the tide?

I recently had the privilege of working with a Saskatchewan Top 100 (SaskBusiness annual list) organization, and the experience was noteworthy enough that I’ve asked permission to share their story here anonymously.  Please Continue Reading …

I was just reading a post by W. Brett Wilson in the Calgary Herald, We need more than thoughts and prayers for mental health, related to the recent suicide of a business colleague and friend. Someone that no one would have suspected of being depressed or suicidal – someone who looked to have it all together.

In the article, Wilson suggests that we need people, “who will openly share their stories of healing so that others can find hope.”

I’ll share – vulnerably, for you.

Just a few years ago, I was in the home stretch of a master’s degree, with only 1-year remaining. As I started the first week of a new class, I began to realize that I could not retain any of the information I was reading in the course material. I’d go back and try again, but always with the same result. This was happening during a time in my life where business had been drying up, and I had a few bad accounts (contracts that did not pay) which compounded the financial pressure. I was depressed, and depression had turned to despair.  Please Continue Reading …