Research & Writing
Ideas grounded in research, experience, and practical application
This work sits at the intersection of psychology, management, and lived experience—grounded in research on psychological capital, human development, and performance, and anchored in the realities of everyday life.
The goal is simple: translate complex ideas into something usable—without losing their depth.
Areas of Focus
Psychological Capital (hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism)
Personal growth and transformation
Meaning, identity, and human development
Applied psychology in organizational and everyday life
Bridging research and real-world practice
Current Work
Ongoing writing and research efforts include:
Articles and essays on psychological capital and personal change
Continued work connected to Everyone Has Their Own Pile of S#!t!
Exploration of the intersection of High IQ ADHD, Imposter Phenomenon, and Psychological Capital
Work in Progress
Articles and longer-form writing are published regularly on Medium under Gary L. Keck | The Pile. New pieces are added here as they are published
The Pile Series (cont.)
(6) - The Cost of Carrying Things Nobody Sees
What Chronic Emotional Weight Actually Costs — and Why High-Functioning People Pay the Most
Published May 2026 | Read on Medium →
The Pile Series (cont.)
(5) - Real Hope Has Dirt Underneath Its Fingernails
On the Unglamorous, Ordinary, Surprisingly Powerful Act of Moving Anyway
Published May 2026 | Read on Medium →
The Pile Series (cont.)
(4) - Paralysis With a Graduate Vocabulary: What Happens When High-IQ ADHD and Imposter Phenomenon Meet — and What Actually Helps
A scholar-practitioner's honest account of living the gap between knowing and doing.
Published May 2026 | Read on Medium →
The Pile Series (cont.)
(3) - The Gap Nobody Talks About: Why Knowing Better Isn’t Enough
Why insight is a trap, and how to move from understanding to action, finally
Published May 2026 | Read on Medium →
The Pile Series (cont.)
(2) - Why Nothing Changes Until You Change
Psychological Capital, Behavioral Inertia, and the Myth of “Trying Harder”
Published April 2026 | Read on Medium →
The Pile Series
(1) - Everyone Has Their Own Pile of S#!t — And That's Not the Problem
The problem is what you do — or don't do — with it.
Published April 2026 | Read on Medium →
**Footnote** - This article is a combined representation of the Pile series you can find in my IDEAS section.