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What If Your Greatest Impact Is the One You Don’t Remember Making? | Dr. Deborah Heiser
Description
What does it really mean to live a meaningful life?
In this episode of Thought Atlas, I sit down with Dr. Deborah Heiser, an applied developmental psychologist and aging specialist whose work focuses on what can go right as we move through life.
We explore why humans are naturally drawn to mentorship, and why giving back can become an increasingly important part of our development as we enter midlife and beyond. Deborah introduces the concept of “generativity”—the stage where we begin asking how we matter and how we can pass our knowledge, values, and experiences on to others.
We also challenge the way we think about aging. While physical abilities may decline, Deborah explains why emotional development can continue to grow, bringing greater contentment, perspective, and an ability to navigate difficult situations.
The conversation then turns to success, legacy, and what ultimately matters. Deborah shares why meaningful relationships and connections can become more important than material achievements, particularly when people look back on their lives.
Finally, we explore “impact amnesia”—the tendency to forget the positive things we do—and why keeping track of our contributions can help us recognize the difference we are already making.
As Deborah puts it: “Look to your left and look to your right and you’re looking at a mentor or someone that you can mentor.”
ABOUT DEBORAH’S WORK
Deborah is the author of The Mentorship Edge, which is available in print, Kindle, and audiobook formats.
She writes The Right Side of 40 on Psychology Today and Substack, exploring midlife, aging, mentorship, purpose, connection, and impact.
CONNECT WITH DEBORAH
Psychology Today — The Right Side of 40:https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-right-side-of-40
Substack — The Right Side of 40:https://deborahheiserphd.substack.com/
Mental Mapping:https://mentalmapping.flute.app/
Deborah also mentioned My Legacy Tree, an impact-tracking project she is developing.
Learn more about Thought Atlas:https://joinpodmatch.com/thoughtatlas