Last week I had one of those weeks. One thing after another went awry and instead of taking it all in stride, I allowed each incident to wash away my sense of worthiness. I slowly sunk into a puddle of self-reproach grumbling to myself, Ugh, this old story – again?

But then, something happened that demonstrated to me I need never question my own worthiness again.

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Flash back to last year whe...

Every year when we near back-to-school time, I reflect upon my experience as a youth. I was one of the relative few who actually thrived in a conventional school setting. I enjoyed the structured space for learning. However, having said that, when I look back as an adult, I do wish there had been more opportunities to be exposed to more unconventional types of work. It might have saved me a lot of...

I believe in humanity. Yes, we are currently acting out some of the darkest aspects of our being. Some of it is ugly. Some is diabolical. Some is loathsome. Much of it discouraging. Yet, I still believe in humanity.

Any which way you look, wars are being waged. Whether the battles are happening on the ground or in the political arena, violence continues to be used as a tool to dominate and oppres...

Decades after his burial, I stood at my dad’s grave reading the words etched into the simple gravestone: Service to others before self. I thought, “Yeah, and we buried him in the ground way before what should have been his time.”

My dad died from a brain tumour at the untimely age of 46. Although it was complications from cancer that ended his life, I contend he had lost his will to live long bef...

As a teenager, my friends nicknamed me “Dr. Kiley”. Whenever they were confused or depressed, or struggling with relationships, I was the one they sought out for advice. I think it was because I was willing to listen with curiosity and without judgement. Also, I didn’t say much back then, which was helpful because mostly they just wanted to feel seen and heard. Nowadays, people still seek me out f...

Many people who come to work with me identify as being “unconventional”. Regular-type jobs make them feel trapped. Old structures and systems stifle their adventurous spirit. They like to take the status quo, scrunch it up into a ball and throw it into the fire. They’ve spent much of their lives trying to reconcile the way they perceive the world with the way others proclaim it to be.

The unendin...

“They need to learn the value of money, but they don’t want to get a job.”

Because of what I do for work, some of my friends who are parents of teenagers vent to me about their “lazy” children. “I lined up a well-paying summer job for them and they refused to take it.”

My response is, “Good.” Usually followed by an awkward silence.

I ask, “What is it your children actually want to do?”

My frie...

I am genuinely surprised at how often people express guilt and shame around doing self-discovery work. I just welcomed a new cohort into the Vision Program and already this has come up in conversation. Some perceive themselves as being self-indulgent – irresponsible, even.

They question: Who am I to be sitting around figuring out what inspires me, especially when there is so much suffering in t...

Every time I have occasion to visit my family doctor, I think about how much it would suck to have the job of a GP. All day, every day, they see humanity at their lowest. We go to them when we are sick, injured, or broken – literally. The primary tools they have available to help us include either referring us to another doctor or prescribing drugs. It must feel helpless. When my doctor enters the...

If you’ve been with me for awhile, you already know I have a slightly different perspective of work than is conventional. Most people see work as an application of effort. While it is true that work does involve action, it does not require effort. In fact, if you find yourself efforting, it is an indicator you are not doing your “real” work.

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Earlier this summer, I stepped away from my office...

I suppose it’s somewhat apropos that as I attempt to write an article about burnout, I find myself propping my head up with my hands, barely able to stifle a yawn. My energy is spent. I am still recovering from being exposed to a diabolical strain of the flu. It was the first time I’ve been sick in almost four years so it seemed to ravage my immune system with extra oomph.

Of course, as the gods ...