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Photo by Ron Lach : https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-typing-on-computer-which-is-tied-with-a-tape-9830809/When I was asked to teach the Psychology of Prejudice, I wondered how to create a course tha…
Photo by Ron Lach : …
Photo by Ron Lach : https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-typing-on-computer-which-is-tied-with-a-tape-9830809/When I was asked to teach the Psychology of Prejudice, I wondered how to create a course that could talk about bias in a way everyone could understand. The search didn’t take long. I looked to myself. And ageism.The Right Side of 40 is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.We are all ageists. We are unconsciously and consciously biased against older adults, who are our future selves. Let that sink i…
Deborah Heiser, PhD
July 23, 2024 
The saying "actions speak louder than words" is particularly relevant when examining societal attitudes toward aging. There is often a disconnect between what people say and do, revealing an underlyin…
The saying "actions …
The saying "actions speak louder than words" is particularly relevant when examining societal attitudes toward aging. There is often a disconnect between what people say and do, revealing an underlying ambivalence with their beliefs. This inconsistency is evident in everyday behaviors, like health and wellness commitments. Many people talk about the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, emphasizing the need for regular exercise and a balanced diet while skipping workouts and eating unhealthy food. This inconsistency between advocating for health and failing to practice healthy habits …
Deborah Heiser, PhD
July 10, 2024 I’ve been working for years on learning about the theory behind what makes us want to mentor. The journey began a couple of decades ago, before anyone was talking about mentorship. My book, The Ment…
I’ve been working …
I’ve been working for years on learning about the theory behind what makes us want to mentor. The journey began a couple of decades ago, before anyone was talking about mentorship. My book, The Mentorship Edge, helps readers understand how to get maximum impact from mentorship - hierarchical and lateral.Subscribe now“For years, I'd worked with older adults in psychiatric hospitals, nursing homes, and home health care. Pathology was the norm in what I was researching and seeing daily. I had to wrench myself away from that focus and return to my developmental psychology roots, which lo…
Deborah Heiser, PhD
June 22, 2024 
I’ve been working for years on learning about the theory behind what makes us want to mentor. The journey began a couple of decades ago, before anyone was talking about mentorship. My book, The …
I’ve been work…
I’ve been working for years on learning about the theory behind what makes us want to mentor. The journey began a couple of decades ago, before anyone was talking about mentorship. My book, The Mentorship Edge, helps readers understand how to get maximum impact from mentorship - hierarchical and lateral.Subscribe now“For years, I'd worked with older adults in psychiatric hospitals, nursing homes, and home health care. Pathology was the norm in what I was researching and seeing daily. I had to wrench myself away from that focus and return to my developmental psychology roots, …
Deborah Heiser, PhD
June 22, 2024 
Here is a riddle:What do we absorb in childhood, learn through experience in adulthood, and master in late life?Answer: GuardianshipPhoto by Quang Nguyen Vinh: https://www.pexels.com/photo/statue-…
Here is a riddle:Wha…
Here is a riddle:What do we absorb in childhood, learn through experience in adulthood, and master in late life?Answer: GuardianshipPhoto by Quang Nguyen Vinh: https://www.pexels.com/photo/statue-of-chinese-guardian-lion-10615829/We Are Built to Be GuardiansImagine if you didn’t have a guardian. Would you be the person you are today? Likely not. Guardians don't just secure our physical well-being and support us emotionally—they provide the wisdom passed down from generations. We all had someone who shaped our journey, and in turn, we all become that guiding light for others.S…
Deborah Heiser, PhD
May 27, 2024 
Subscribe nowDo you dread Retirement? Many people view Retirement as the end of their careers and a loss of identity. Despite looking forward to it from a young age, it is often perceived as "jumpin…
Subscribe nowDo yo…
Subscribe nowDo you dread Retirement? Many people view Retirement as the end of their careers and a loss of identity. Despite looking forward to it from a young age, it is often perceived as "jumping off a cliff," inducing panic or a sense of loss. However, Retirement doesn't have to be daunting. It is a significant opportunity for growth and fulfillment.Research shows that by our 50s, 60s, and 70s, we are at our happiest (AARP, 2018). At this developmental stage, we are inclined to care for others without expecting anything in return (Ehlman, 2012). This means we have a wealth of experien…
Deborah Heiser, PhD
May 21, 2024 
Will you be accompanying your child to college this summer? Or perhaps your child is graduating from college this summer and you are officially becoming an empty nester. What conversations will…
Will you be accompan…
Will you be accompanying your child to college this summer? Or perhaps your child is graduating from college this summer and you are officially becoming an empty nester. What conversations will you and your spouse have while sitting around the dining table, just you two alone or you by yourself? How do you perceive your life evolving? The Right Side of 40 is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.First and foremost, congratulations on guiding your child to the milestone of college age. You have proba…
Deborah Heiser, PhD
May 14, 2024 
Photo by dabatepatfotos: https://www.pexels.com/photo/empty-nest-on-tree-7581966/As the last chick leaves the nest, the transition into Empty Nest hood brings a myriad of emotions and adjustments. W…
Photo by dabatepatfo…
Photo by dabatepatfotos: https://www.pexels.com/photo/empty-nest-on-tree-7581966/As the last chick leaves the nest, the transition into Empty Nest hood brings a myriad of emotions and adjustments. While it's natural to continue supporting your children financially, this stage also presents a prime opportunity to reassess and prioritize your own financial future. Embracing this new chapter involves striking a delicate balance between nurturing your children's financial needs and securing your own long-term stability and prosperity.The Right Side of 40 is a reader-supported publication. To r…
Deborah Heiser, PhD
April 8, 2024 What do you know about Menopause? Join this discussion with Melissa Ashley to learn how there is much more to it than hot flashes! Get the facts and the fiction about Menopause and what women can expe…
What do you know abo…
What do you know about Menopause? Join this discussion with Melissa Ashley to learn how there is much more to it than hot flashes! Get the facts and the fiction about Menopause and what women can expect as they hit 50.Read more
Deborah Heiser, PhD
April 7, 2024 
Have you ever wondered whether mentors have mentors themselves? And if they do, who guides them? Does aging mean we're left without mentors?The answer is no!Even those at the top of their game req…
Have you ever wonder…
Have you ever wondered whether mentors have mentors themselves? And if they do, who guides them? Does aging mean we're left without mentors?The answer is no!Even those at the top of their game require guidance.Mentors can also be learners.Being a mentor doesn't preclude one from being mentored. Mentorship isn't a straightforward, top-down affair. It's a multifaceted network of connections. We seek guidance from others when needed and, likewise, extend support when sought by others. Mentorship is more than a hierarchical structure; it's a dynamic exchange. Rather than a rigid hierarchy,…
Deborah Heiser, PhD
March 11, 2024 
Dr. Joel Weinberger, a professor of psychology and author of The Unconscious, discusses what makes us make decisions and what drives our reactions.Why are we biased against the elderly when we hope…
Dr. Joel Weinberger,…
Dr. Joel Weinberger, a professor of psychology and author of The Unconscious, discusses what makes us make decisions and what drives our reactions.Why are we biased against the elderly when we hope to become older adults? Dr. Joel Weinberger addresses this question and tips on how we can be aware of our unconscious and how it works in our everyday lives.The Right Side of 40 is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.ShareThe Right Side of 40 is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support…
Deborah Heiser, PhD
March 7, 2024 Deborah Heiser, PhD
March 2, 2024 
Are you apprehensive about Retirement? For many, Retirement signifies departing from a career—a perceived loss. Though anticipated since youth, Retirement’s arrival often evokes feelings o…
Are you apprehensive…
Are you apprehensive about Retirement? For many, Retirement signifies departing from a career—a perceived loss. Though anticipated since youth, Retirement’s arrival often evokes feelings of "jumping off a cliff," "panic," or "loss of identity." However, Retirement need not be synonymous with these anxieties. Instead, it presents an opportunity. Research indicates that by our 50s, 60s, and 70s, we're at our happiest (AARP, 2018). At this stage, we're poised to care for others selflessly (Ehlman, 2012), harboring a wealth of experience and an eagerness to share it. Having honed our s…
Deborah Heiser, PhD
February 25, 2024 
Don’t just plant to grow older with your partner. Plan to grow closer. Meaningful projects with your partner are powerful bonding experiences.Giving back is great. Giving back together …
Don’t just pla…
Don’t just plant to grow older with your partner. Plan to grow closer. Meaningful projects with your partner are powerful bonding experiences.Giving back is great. Giving back together is better.Subscribe nowWhen you think of giving back, what comes to mind? For most, it is a personal endeavor involving volunteering, mentoring, or Philanthropy. If this is what you imagine for yourself, this is great! If this is what you are already doing, keep going.But don't stop there. Research shows that paired generativity (giving back to a significant other) may be one of the most be…
Deborah Heiser, PhD
February 19, 2024 I had the pleasure of meeting with Shawn Perry, host of The Senior Zone radio show. He’s been connecting seniors in the Washington, DC, area with services for over a decade. His story is particula…
I had the pleasure o…
I had the pleasure of meeting with Shawn Perry, host of The Senior Zone radio show. He’s been connecting seniors in the Washington, DC, area with services for over a decade. His story is particularly interesting because he had a career in the Air Force, and when he retired, was influenced by his grandmother to pivot to the field of aging. Because of Shawn’s work, countless people are connected with financial and mental health resources. I love hearing stories like his because it just takes one person with a passion to impact the world positively.You can check out my interview with S…
Deborah Heiser, PhD
February 3, 2024 
Photo by cottonbro studio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/monochrome-photo-of-couple-laughing-3692738/As the calendar turns to February and the aisles of stores don shades of red and pink, Valentine's D…
Photo by cottonbro s…
Photo by cottonbro studio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/monochrome-photo-of-couple-laughing-3692738/As the calendar turns to February and the aisles of stores don shades of red and pink, Valentine's Day beckons us to celebrate love in its many forms. For empty nesters, this annual occasion may evoke a spectrum of emotions, from nostalgia for the days of homemade valentines and family celebrations to the excitement of rediscovering oneself in an Empty Nest. This Valentine's Day, let us embark on a journey of self-love and exploration, embracing the unique chapters that unfold beyond the hustle …
Deborah Heiser, PhD
February 1, 2024 
Photo by cottonbro studio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/food-and-drinks-inside-the-carton-box-6590920/What brings you the most joy? Think of those activities that you willingly engage in without nee…
Photo by cottonbro s…
Photo by cottonbro studio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/food-and-drinks-inside-the-carton-box-6590920/What brings you the most joy? Think of those activities that you willingly engage in without needing reminders or external pushes. Whether it's reading, solving crossword puzzles, gardening, cooking, or playing a sport, these activities hold a special place in our hearts. However, have you ever wondered what would happen if you were paid to do something you love? The dynamics change – your intrinsic motivation, the internal desire to engage in the activity, might shift to extrinsic mot…
Deborah Heiser, PhD
January 22, 2024 
Deborah Heiser, PhD
January 17, 2024 
