How to Make the Most of Your 20s with Dr. Meg Jay

04.08.2024 - By Rick Hanson, Ph.D., Forrest Hanson Play

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Twentysomethings are bombarded with misinformation, hype, and contradictory messages that pull them in many different directions. Dr. Meg Jay, a specialist on what she calls the “defining decade,” joins Forrest to explore how we can navigate this transformative and often anxiety-provoking time in our lives. They discuss the biggest misunderstandings about our 20s, balancing having fun with setting yourself up for the future, and common mental health issues. Topics include the pitfalls of self-diagnosis, creating a strong self-concept and building identity capital, dealing with burnout, strengthening our relationships, and more.

About our Guest: Dr. Meg Jay is a developmental clinical psychologist who specializes in twentysomethings. She is on faculty at the University of Virginia, and is the author of a number of wonderful books, including The Defining Decade and her new book The Twentysomething Treatment: A Revolutionary Remedy for an Uncertain Age.

You can watch this episode on YouTube.

Key Topics:

0:00: Introduction

1:20: The biggest misunderstanding about life in your 20s

4:55: Uncertainty, and becoming confident in our abilities

8:30: Nihilism about the current state of the world

14:50: Self-diagnosis, social media, and over medication

23:25: The “strength of weak ties”

27:20: Self-concept and identity capital

30:30: What helps people take action

34:15: Navigating avoidance and anxiety

41:55: Finding evidence that you’re capable of being loved

46:35: What to do you when you feel stuck

49:20: How to choose purpose

58:55: Advice to people who feel like they messed up their 20s

1:04:45: Recap

Offer from Dr. Rick: If you'd like to improve your self-worth, check out Rick's new 4-hour, live online workshop. You'll learn methods and practices that can actually change your brain and your habits, so you start nurturing your sense of worth and belonging. Our listeners can get 20% off with coupon code BeingWell20: https://selfworthworkshop.com/

Forrest is now writing on Substack, check out his work there.

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