For Episode 78 of the Metta Hour Podcast, Sharon speaks with Dr. Jenny Taitz.
Dr. Jenny Taitz is a board-certified cognitive-behavioral clinical psychologist, a certified dialectical behavioral therapist, and the author of two books: End Emotional Eating and How to be Single and Happy. Dr. Taitz is passionate about helping people move past habits that interfere with their capacity for joy. In this episode, Sharon and Dr. Taitz talk about how to integrate tools of mindfulness into the world of relationships and dating for increased happiness, regardless of your relationship status.
Learn more at drjennytaitz.com.
Show Notes
How to Be Single and Happy (Opening) – Jenny Taitz shares her inspirations for writing her newest book, How to Be Single and Happy: Science-Based Strategies for Keeping Your Sanity While Looking for a Soul Mate. She and Sharon talk about loneliness and the self-destructive stories that many single people tell themselves when they are unsuccessful at finding romantic love.
“I want people to know that there is a lot of happiness within their hands, regardless of who is sitting next to them at the table.” – Dr. Jenny Taitz
Ram Dass reflects on the intersection between romantic relationships and our spiritual path on Ep. 78 of the Here and Now Podcast.
Making the Effort to Connect (9:35) – Sharon and Jenny talk more about loneliness and the effort needed to put ourselves out there and make connections with others. Jenny shares how the values of self-worth that she teaches her children have affected their ability to connect with others and how they value themselves.
“It is certainly ok to be on your own, that is sort of a big message I want people to feel from reading my book. You are enough and you don’t need to surround yourself with people, but also we are social beings and we do sort of need communities. Feeling connected and having a sense of social support is actually more linked to wellness than if you had the choice of giving up smoking cigarettes.” – Dr. Jenny Taitz
Exercising Your Ability To Love (24:55) – Jenny speaks with Sharon about our innate ability to love that cannot be granted to us or taken away by anyone. She and Sharon talk about shyness cultivating the courage to exercise our ability to love.
Reexamining Our Success (35:15) – We look at how measuring our success by our values, instead of our goals, can reshape our sense of worth.
“We have this circular, unhelpful, narrative. What if instead we just focused on trying to be kind both to others and ourselves. That seems so much more peaceful and strategic than trying to be perfect.” – Dr. Jenny Taitz
Tools for Transforming our Thoughts (44:45) – Jenny shares the therapeutic tools that she gives her clients to reframe their self-destructive patterns of thought.
