Thriving on your own: Embracing single living with Peter McGraw

In this episode of Most Self-Improved, behavioral economist Peter McGraw discusses the benefits of embracing singledom as someone whose identity is independent of their relationship status. He calls it living as a Solo. Peter says being single is often “viewed as temporary, viewed as less than. It's like, ‘Oh, I'm sure you'll find your person,’ kind of dinner conversation.” But Peter wanted to alter that perception and examine “what are the opportunities that come from being single and to celebrate this time in life, whether it be for now or forever.”Drawing from his book released in January, “Solo: Building a Remarkable Life of Your Own,” his podcast, Solo, and personal experiences, Peter outlines the differences between being a traditional single and being a wholehearted, self-reliant Solo. He specifies the four types of singles and offers insights on how to thrive, regardless of your relationship status. Tune in to discover how you can live a fulfilled life as a solo individual.“The world tends to tell you that there's one way to live,” Peter says. “But really there's not one remarkable life. There are remarkable lives.”  In this episode:3:16 Meet Peter McGraw: Origins of his interest in single living5:20 Peter’s experience being single: “I always just felt like a misfit” 7:10 The difference between being single and Solo living8:40 The three characteristics of Solos: wholeheartedness, self-reliance, unconventional thinking 18:22 Designing a meaningful life: The sailboat metaphor for wellbeing23:27 The four types of singles defined: Some Day, Just May, No Way, and New Way Singles More:For more information on Peter and his work, visit his website. Follow Most Self-Improved on Instagram and YouTube.