Urgency and Opportunity: Preparing a Generation of Solutionaries 

(A Call to Action by Steve Cochrane, Executive Director of the Institute for Humane Education) Over the past two years, life as we know it has changed. We have seen the entire world impacted by disease. We are watching the atrocities of war through our daily news feeds. We are facing a climate crisis, a crisis…

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Be a Solutionary, Make a Difference, and Find Meaning in Your Life

When I observe our dogs, I often envy their seeming ease in the world. Sure, Pippin gets anxious when we leave the house (and the couch cover gets a wee bit more torn up as a result); Poppy cringes when treats are tossed her way (perhaps because she was abused before we rescued her); and Hershel has a pillow…

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solutionary

Five Ways to Nourish Your Soul and Make a Difference

Zoe Weil is a blogger for Psychology Today (PT), and twice a month we share her blog posts here. Enjoy! We tend to protect and care for who and what we love. Ask any parent if they would be willing to sacrifice themselves to save their child, and they’ll likely answer yes. I had the…

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solutionary

Why the “Starfish Story” Needs an Update

Zoe Weil is a blogger for Psychology Today (PT), and twice a month we share her blog posts here. Enjoy! There’s an oft-told parable about a child rescuing beached starfish by throwing them back into the sea. A pragmatic adult walks by and tells the child that given the hundreds of starfish on the shore,…

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Mindfulness and Solutionary Efforts Create a Meaningful Life and Healthy Future

Zoe Weil is a blogger for Psychology Today (PT), and twice a month we share her blog posts here. Enjoy! We live in a globalized world. We eat foods produced across the planet; buy clothes that circle the Earth through the many aspects of their production; and use electronics whose components are mined and assembled…

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Why Embracing Responsibility is Liberating, Joyful, and World-changing

Zoe Weil is a blogger for Psychology Today (PT), and twice a month we share her blog posts here. Enjoy! Take responsibility. When you read this command, how does it make you feel? If you’re like many people, your shoulders may slump. You may feel triggered by childhood memories of parents and teachers admonishing you with those…

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To Create Positive Change, Be a Campfire not a Forest Fire

Zoe Weil is a blogger for Psychology Today (PT), and twice a month we share her blog posts here. Enjoy! There’s a metaphor I like to use when talking to fellow activists and solutionaries. I ask them to imagine two fires. The first is a campfire. The fire is warm and bright, and people are drawn…

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blog post

How Greta Thunberg’s Unique Qualities Are Galvanizing the Climate Movement

Zoe Weil is a blogger for Psychology Today (PT), and twice a month we share her blog posts here. Enjoy! I have been teaching young people about climate change for 32 years. In 1987, I taught week-long summer courses to middle school students at the University of Pennsylvania. One of those courses was on environmental…

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eco-friendly

21 Children’s Picture Books for Exploring Eco-Friendly Actions

by Marsha Rakestraw Earth Day may be every day, but our relationship to the natural world often gets a little extra attention in April. Children are hungry to connect with their world and learn what they can do to make a positive difference. Check out these 21 children’s books that help inspire a desire to…

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