Embracing the single life: a conversation with Instagram influencer, Michal Leman

Heather discusses how she discovered the #1 Rule to a Healthy, Successful Relationship, how she uses that rule to achieve personal fulfillment, and how you can use that rule to achieve personal fulfillment.

Heather discusses what it means to have a boundary, the two main types of boundaries, how boundaries are violated, and how to establish healthy boundaries. UPDATE: It is also important to take responsibility for your emotions...I forgot to mention that.

Heather describes the narcissistic boyfriend who changed her perspective on dating from naïveté to discernment.

Heather defines ‘roadmap’ and applies the concept as a personal success strategy for psychology-based healing. Heather also explains ‘roadmap’ in terms of her own journey. ........Ideas to Research: Erik Erickson - Psychosocial Stages of Development; William Glasser - Choice Theory; Abraham Maslow - Hierarchy of Needs Pyramid; and Stoicism

Guest-host, Michal Lehman, and me, Heather Blackwell, discuss a.) why people feel pressured to get married b.) the benefits of single life c.) what it means to “self-date“. If you would like to join the conversation, check out Michal’s IG @mblwrites *HEADS-UP: This episode has a couple of five second pauses.

Heather discusses how people who desire positive life change can overcome common obstacles related to fear, anxiety, and alienation as it relates to change. Heather also discusses how to choose the right mental health counselor fit for you.

Heather discusses her first dating encounter after a two-year hiatus from dating. Key points of this segment are narcissistic behavioral red flags, progression from codependent to independent, and do/don't dating behaviors. (Please share with your network or leave a 5 Star Review!). Correction: Natasha Sattler’s book “Shit Adults Never ‘Taught’ Us” is available now!

Special Thanks to Paul Simard, IG Compatriot and Men’s Mental Health Advocate, for inspiring me to speak on this topic. Check out Paul’s IG @paul_sim17 ..... Heather explores the ideas of psychological brokenness, the effects of child abuse and cortisol on the brain and body, behavioral modification, and factors for psychological healing. Also, the psych-based therapeutic modalities cited are CBT, REBT, DBT, and MBTI. Links to read are: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3548359/ ....... Lara Boyd and Neural Plasticity ...... https://youtu.be/LNHBMFCzznE ...... https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-is-cortisol ...... http://howtopreventalzheimers.com/chronically-elevated-cortisol-kills-brain-cells/ ........ https://www.livescience.com/18453-child-abuse-brain.html ..... https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3548359/

Heather discusses the definition and origin of Psychological Trauma-related Hypervigilance PTrH (a key factor in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)), emotions related to PTrH, behaviors related to PTrH, and therapeutic PTrH-reduction techniques. Also, special thanks to my Instagram Compatriot, Cesca, for suggesting this podcast topic. Check out Cesca’s motivational IG @beauty_and_the_dark ......... If you find value in this podcast, please consider leaving a Thousand First Dates review at Apple podcast, and please consider sharing my Thousand First Dates content with your social network. Thank you for your support.

Heather and guest-host, Jeff Meltzer, discuss the origin of and distinction between personality disorders, as well as the idea of codependency. Correction: In the podcast, I say “Episode 12”, but it’s actually episode 14. And the end part got cut-off, but Saturday will be an episode about covert narcissism.