If you have hiked or climbed, you might be familiar with the “ten essentials” – a list of things to pack along to keep you safe and to use in case of accident or emergency (like water, map and compass, extra clothing, and a first aid kit). I was lucky to visit the Canadian Rockies [...]
“Mental hygiene” is an old-fashioned term that I like because it refers to the things that are in our control to keep ourselves healthy and well. It’s our daily mental maintenance. And, one of the areas in which we need to do ongoing mental maintenance involves keeping a positive mood. “Like a fly on an [...]
In this post, I want to introduce and briefly describe a somewhat challenging concept: The idea that “cultivating a globally sustainable self” is an important yet often overlooked part of creating stronger, more resilient human systems. Where does this “Globally Sustainable Self” concept come from? In working with colleagues across academic disciplines, geographic areas [...]
Source: Thomas Doherty works at the Intersection of Psychology and Environmental Science Delia O'Hara | June 7, 2018 For APA Fellow Thomas Doherty, sustainability, and the psychology of climate change, have become a big part of his focus. Clinical psychologist Thomas Doherty has coined a term — "climate hostages" — to describe people who feel the [...]
In this post, I am speaking from the perspective of industrial and organizational psychology (i.e., I/O psychology, or how people think and perform in professional groups and work place settings). At times, I formally wear an I/O hat, such as when doing talks or team building. But, work place issues also come up quite often [...]
Why do you love the Earth? With the 48th anniversary of “Earth Day” coming up Sunday, April 22, this is a timely question. Some people feel very much a part of the Earth as they experience an interconnectedness with nature. Others are more neutral on the subject, while some even have negative views of nature. [...]
Nature-based stress reduction is a term I coined a number of years ago. It brings together two separate but very complementary strands of thought about (1) the benefits of mindfulness and (2) the experience of nature and the natural world. There is a well-established school of thought around the benefits of mindfulness that includes the [...]
Building on my post about “psychological operating systems,” I want to discuss the related concept of “code debt” as a metaphor for old patterns and mindsets that can hold us back. In the computing and technology world, “code debt” (and the related concept of technical debt) refers to a buildup of old programs, patches and [...]
This article was originally posted by Dr. Thomas Doherty in 2017. "Ground Hog Day" is always on February 2. The forecast is cloudy for the Pacific Northwest tomorrow, so likely to be challenging for people or other mammals to see their shadow! Think about the time around Groundhog Day as opportunity to celebrate that you made it [...]
May 1st, “May Day” is a world-wide holiday celebrating events in history and culture. It is a marker of the seasons, and a touchstone for many political traditions including the International labor movement, the old Soviet Union, and Cold War-era US patriotic observances. In the context of your personal health and sustainability, the beginning of May [...]
