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Dr Dan Fitzpatrick | The Cognitive Gorilla: Master Your Mind & Mental Health
Can we change the way we think, manage our emotions and build greater mental resilience?
In this powerful episode of Inspirational People, Inspirational Stories, Doug D Gordon speaks with Dr Dan Fitzpatrick, PhD, a former Irish Defence Forces veteran, mental health researcher, author and founder of The Cognitive Gorilla.
Drawing on 22 years of military service, doctoral research at Trinity College Dublin and extensive experience supporting mental wellbeing, Dan shares practical insights into how our thoughts shape our emotions, behaviour, relationships and performance.
THE COGNITIVE GORILLA
Dan is the author of The Cognitive Gorilla: Reclaiming Authorship Over the Mind, a book exploring how we can develop greater awareness of our thoughts and emotions instead of being driven by automatic reactions.
His approach examines thought appraisal and emotional regulation: learning to recognise the meaning we attach to experiences, question unhelpful assumptions and respond more consciously to emotional triggers. It's a conversation about understanding the mind, not simply trying to think positively.
ABOUT DR DAN FITZPATRICK
Dan served for 22 years in the Irish Defence Forces, including the Irish Air Corps, working in roles spanning emergency response, employee assistance and support for military personnel. He later earned a PhD from Trinity College Dublin, researching mental health and help-seeking in the Defence Forces.
Today, through The Cognitive Gorilla, he combines military experience, academic research and education to explore psychological wellbeing, self-awareness, resilience and healthier ways of navigating life's challenges.
IN THIS EPISODE
• Mental health and the importance of seeking support
• The story and ideas behind The Cognitive Gorilla book
• Thought appraisal: how interpretation shapes our experience
• Emotional regulation and managing automatic reactions
• Overthinking, stress and psychological resilience
• Self-awareness, emotional intelligence and personal growth
• Lessons from military service and mental health research
• How healthier thinking can improve work, leadership and relationships
Whether you're interested in mental health, personal development, emotional intelligence or high performance without unnecessary stress, this conversation offers fresh perspectives and practical ideas.
CONNECT WITH DR DAN FITZPATRICK
The Cognitive Gorilla and book:
https://thecognitivegorilla.ie/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-dan-fitzpatrick-58963430a/
Articles:
https://drdanfitzpatrick.substack.com/
ABOUT INSPIRATIONAL PEOPLE, INSPIRATIONAL STORIES
Hosted by Doug D Gordon, international bestselling author of Charge Yourself Up for Success, motivational keynote speaker, performance optimisation specialist and executive coach.
After a 21-year career in international asset management, Doug moved into helping people and organisations improve communication, leadership, confidence, resilience and performance. His speaking and coaching work has included leading organisations such as Dell, Samsung, Airbus, Aviva and JP Morgan.
Across more than 350 interviews, Doug has shared inspiring stories and life lessons from exceptional people in business, sport, health, leadership and personal development.
Doug's website:
https://dougdgordon.com/
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What insight about your own thoughts or emotions resonated with you most?
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