Four Pillars of a Good Life
/in Articles by David Irvine, Authentic Leadership, Authenticity, Character, Connection, DavidIrvine, Gratitude, Inspiration, Leadership/by David IrvineLindsay Kimmett was an athlete, leader, learner, and aspiring doctor with the skills and ambition to leave a big mark on the world. After her tragic passing on February 17th, 2008, her family and friends, committed to carrying on her legacy and passion for hockey, organized a 3-on-3 pond hockey tournament in Lindsay’s hometown of […]
Why “being nice” and avoiding hard conversations isn’t really “nice” at all
/in Articles by David Irvine, Authenticity, Connection, DavidIrvine, Honesty, Kindness, Leadership/by David IrvineHave you ever met a “nice” person who is polite, but hard to connect with? There’s a difference between being nice and being kind. The chart illustrates an extreme dichotomy between the two. Nice comes from insecurity, a lack of confidence Kind comes from high self-worth and respect Nice is polite aloofness Kind is genuine […]
Don’t Get Stuck In The Pursuit Of Perfection: The Power of Small, Continuous Improvement
/in Articles by David Irvine, Authenticity, DavidIrvine, Leadership/by David IrvineI’ve always had a hard time enjoying an activity because of my unrealistic expectations of perfection. Years ago I took piano lessons and I recall how much I practiced Für Elise focusing on perfection. I became hyper-aware of each barely noticeable flaw and when a finger slipped and shattered any illusion I had of perfection, […]
You Can’t Leave Belonging To Chance
/in Articles by David Irvine, Belonging, Community, Connecting, DavidIrvine, Leadership, Team Work/by David IrvineIf you think about the time you have spent in your family, at school, and organizations you’ve worked in, you know what it feels like to belong or not belong, and why it matters. It’s the difference between feeling isolated, detached, and irrelevant, and feeling connected, valued, and engaged. Belonging makes all the difference. We […]
4 Ways To Lead With Initiative
/in Articles by David Irvine, Authenticity, DavidIrvine, Initiative, Leadership, Vision/by David IrvineAfter lunch today, I was in a hurry to get back to the office, and just placed my dishes on the counter rather than taking an extra few seconds to put them in the dishwasher. When others pick up the slack and do too much for us, we lose what my parents called good old-fashioned […]
Is it well-loved?
/in Articles by David Irvine, Authenticity, DavidIrvine, Leadership, Love/by David IrvineFor the past several weeks while looking at houses, our realtor introduced an expression, “This house has been well loved.” Now at some showings, I find myself saying, “This is not a well-loved house.” Some people truly turn a house into a home that is worth loving, while some only take from their surroundings. This […]
Simple Living in a Complex World: Transitions, Aristotle, and Coming Home
/in Articles by David Irvine, Authentic Leadership, Authenticity, DavidIrvine, Downsizing, Inspiration, Simple Living, Values/by David IrvineSelling a house can be an emotional undertaking, a journey of self-discovery. It is a bittersweet experience as we downsize to simplify our lives. Our peaceful home and the soothing nature reserve alongside it has been a haven to me and our family for almost two decades. It’s a place where I connected with my […]
Building a Case For Working Less and Producing More
/in Authenticity, DavidIrvine, Leadership, peace, Productivity/by David IrvineCal Newport’s recent book, Slow Productivity, builds a great case for showing how working less can lead to greater productivity and accomplishment. However, it isn’t about just working less and or discarding your work ethic. It’s about working with greater focus and deliberate action. In short: Focus on fewer things at once. By reducing the […]
The Torment of Letting Go and The Journey To Authenticity
/in Authenticity, DavidIrvine/by David IrvineSelling a house is an emotional experience. It is a bittersweet experience as we downsize to simplify our lives. When I was on my walk this morning I could feel the profound loss of this sanctuary. Letting go of our beloved home is an invitation to reconnect with my deepest self. Although leaving this precious […]
Calgary Fire Department Pensioners Association
/in Community, DavidIrvine, Leadership, mental health/by David IrvineWe had a great time at the Calgary Fire Department Pensioners Association golf tournament at Valley Ridge Golf Club. Wayfinders Wellness Society is grateful to have worked together with the Calgary Fire Department peer support team in support of mental health and wellness in the critical work of fire fighting.