Dr. Hanson and Forrest begin a new strength, Intimacy, with a discussion focused on how to balance two seemingly conflicting goals: intimacy and autonomy.

During this episode, we cover:

• How intimacy and autonomy work together to improve our important relationships.
• How people who struggle with autonomy can work to build healthy boundaries with others.
• Why there’s both a biological and social basis for person-to-person variation in desires for intimacy and autonomy.
• The role of internalized oppressors in our interpersonal styles.
• The critical role of freedom and choice in our relationships.

Timestamps:

• 1:40: How does intimacy support autonomy?
• 3:50: What does appropriate autonomy look like?
• 5:30: How does autonomy support intimacy?
• 8:50: The importance of choice.
• 10:25: Is there a biological basis for preferences for intimacy or autonomy?
• 12:35: The ways we inhibit ourselves.
• 16:10: Where do our inhibitions come from?
• 19:15: How issues with autonomy can disguise themselves as problems with intimacy.
• 21:55: The oppression of the internalized audience.
• 24:45: Focusing on your own experience.
• 26:20: How to build healthy emotional boundaries.
• 29:00: Remembering when things went well.
• 30:30: Asserting your autonomy inside your own mind.
• 34:15: The importance of balance.
• 35:20: Recap

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Each practice is grounded in modern neuroscience and ancient wisdom, and Rick’s background in the very real world of business and raising a family.

Practices include a 1-2 minute video explaining the importance of the practice and how to do it, a recap, reflection, and suggestion for integrating it into your daily life, weekly emails with inspiration, support, and encouragement, an audio download, transcription, and printable handout.

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