A Better Love with Dr. Greg Matos

Join Dr. Matos and our guest Hayley Almeida to discuss dating in nature, sizing up our potential match, and safety tips for first dates.

There are a few things you want to consider:

1. Set a pace you're comfortable with when you're dating and on the trail.
2. Choose a trail or location that's busy with other nature enthusiasts.
3. Control your mode of transportation.

Listen to the episode to hear Hayley's take on nature as a mirror and other insights before you schedule your next nature date.

Connect with Hayley and some nature photography on Instagram @HayleyAlmeida and as always, for daily relationship advice, we’ll see you @abetterloveproject on TikTok and Instagram.

Stay tuned for part three of our conversation with Hayley next week, we're talking long-term relationships and navigating difficult emotions on the trail.

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Join Dr. Greg to explore intrusive thoughts about past betrayals and what you could be trying this week to love more fiercely. 

Today's episode is all about identifying what might be going on with an intrusive thought. If you've experienced infidelity you may be experiencing post-traumatic symptoms. We'll discuss this in a future episode, but today we'll focus on 1) reflection and 2) communication.

If you're not already subscribed to our weekly podcast, subscribe now and then follow us on TikTok and Instagram @abetterloveproject.

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Join Dr. Greg and Hayley Almeida, our first guest, in a 3-part podcast series on the power of nature in our romantic relationships. If you’re into hiking, climbing, or doing anything in the fresh air, you don’t want to miss today’s episode. 

A big day for this podcast, joining us from San Diego, Hayley has a background in the environmental sustainability space and has lived in some beautiful spots from the coast of RI to the mountains of Colorado.  

We'll dive into hiking dates and navigating challenges in a long-term relationship while in nature, next. Stay tuned.

Folks, if you want to connect with Hayley and some nature photography, you can find her on Instagram @HayleyAlmeida and as always, for daily relationship advice, we’ll see you @abetterloveproject on TikTok and Instagram. 

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Join Dr. Greg, a board-certified couple psychologist, to talk about breakups and the idea of taking a break, whatever that means, and at the end of today’s episode, we’ll share actionable advice on how to navigate the first few weeks after a breakup.

"We must be willing to let go of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us." – Joseph Campbell

Attachment makes breakups hurt. No one should take a break from their commitment unless they want to stop trying. And no matter how hard it is, don’t lead anyone on with false hope or a lingering, unfinished romance.

Call to action: If you have a question like this about dating, relationships, or sex, record a voice message with your question and we’ll answer it in an upcoming episode, just click the link in today’s show notes.

Follow us @abetterloveproject on TikTok and Instagram for daily advice. 

Music
Opening: Happy Life by Fredji
Transitions: Autumn 2011 by Loxbeats

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Join Dr. Greg, a board-certified couples psychologist, to discuss how to foster greater emotional connection and shared vulnerability in your long-term relationship.

We’re talking about core beliefs about vulnerability, emotional expression, and connection on today’s episode. Stick around for a specific tip on how to start addressing this if it’s an area you want to grow in.

Ask us your relationship question on TikTok or Instagram @abetterloveproject.

✨ Subscribe to hear more science-based relationship advice on other timely issues facing you and your relationship today.

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Join Dr. Greg, a board-certified couple psychologist, as he answers audience relationship questions. This week we're talking about dating again and what vulnerability might look like in that context.

Anyone who is in a relationship started it by meeting each other first : ) If you want a fierce, lasting love then you have to be open to opportunities to meet your kind of people.

Bottom line: Date when you want, when you feel a desire to, and think you're in a good spot to create something healthy. 

Listen to today's podcast for the rest. And come follow us on TikTok and Instagram @abetterloveproject.

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Join Dr. Greg for a look at a version of a Stress Reducing Conversation and see if you're doing something like this already. Couples who have rituals of touching base about their day and life outside of the relationship are able to strengthen their emotional connection. This is especially important for military families and veterans who are often adjusting to new duty locations, deployment or training mobilizations, etc. 

This month we're focused on the resilience of veterans and their families, exploring topics particularly important to them. After many years in the military and many working closely with veterans of all kinds, I'm diving into how we can strengthen our relationships in all sorts of ways. Thank you to everyone who serves, no matter how long or in what area of the world, each one of you matters. 

If you have a relationship issue that you'd like to hear about, email: [email protected] or visit us on TikTok and Instagram @abetterloveproject. You can also submit an anonymous question on our website: https://abetterloveproject.org/.

Subscribe to this podcast today for weekly relationship advice.

Interested in guest co-hosting this podcast, A Better Love Project is currently seeking volunteers. Check it out: https://www.abetterloveproject.org/volunteer/

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We're answering one of our TikTok viewer's questions on today's podcast: what to do about attentional issues getting in the way of remembering and understanding.

Let's start with this, our TikTok videos are 9-seconds on average. Yet, to get 9-seconds of our attention these days is a challenge. What does that mean for our long-term relationships?

There are tons of changes that we can make in our life that will nourish healthier attention. In this episode, we dive into one strategy we can use when in conversation with our partner. Tomorrow we'll talk more about the Stress-Reducing Conversation within Gottman's conceptualization.

Tip: Consult with a psychiatric nurse practitioner, physician, or psychiatrist about addressing chronic, long-standing inattention and/or hyperactivity. You can always start a conversation about this with your primary care doctor. 

There is consensus in the field that a stimulant like Adderall or Ritalin can be an effective tool in addressing attentional issues that begin in childhood. In adulthood and in long-term relationships, options continue to exist and all are encouraged to consult with local mental health professionals about those options.

Subscribe and share with a friend: https://abetterlove.buzzsprout.com/

Follow us @abetterloveproject on TikTok and Instagram for daily science-based relationship advice.

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Join Dr. Greg, a board-certified couples psychologist, to discuss how to love less conditionally in our romantic relationships and with our kids.

We want to distinguish between self-worth and the availability of our love and affection. Kids who have parents who are emotionally validating regardless of their progress toward goals (i.e. academic, extracurricular) fare easier in romantic relationships.

Marriage, for instance, has us showing up as ourselves every day with a partner for decades at a time. We want to feel loved as we are, regardless of transient moods or any given day in a 10+ year relationship.

The same goes for kids, who soak up critical or contemptuous messages that hurt their self-esteem, efficacy, and sense of self-worth. When talking to their kids, it’s helpful for parents to stay focused on their life-affirming values and less on what a child may not be doing particularly well at that moment. 

When a child develops strong self-worth through positive reinforcement versus criticism, they can thrive. And when they start their own relationships, they’ll do so with greater self-esteem and relational skills.

✨ Subscribe to hear next week’s episode on another great couples and family topic: https://abetterlove.buzzsprout.com/

Follow @abetterloveproject on TikTok and Instagram for daily science-based relationship advice.

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Join Dr. Greg, a board-certified couples psychologist, to discuss respect, friendship, and the antidote to contempt.

True or false: My partner really respects me. If the answer is False or "not as much as they used to" or "not as much as I'd like", listen to this week's episode.

✨ Subscribe to hear next week’s episode on another great couples and family topic: https://abetterlove.buzzsprout.com/

Follow @abetterloveproject on TikTok and Instagram for daily science-based relationship advice.

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