Overcoming Guilt & Building Tenacity in Kids & Adults | Dr. Becky Kennedy

Andrew Huberman

Jan 13, 2025

Episode description

In this episode, my guest is Dr. Becky Kennedy, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and renowned expert on parent-child relationships and emotional processing. Dr. Kennedy is also the founder of Good Inside, an educational platform for parents and parents-to-be. We discuss how to learn, embody, and teach better emotional processing, leading to healthier relationships—not just in the context of parent-child dynamics but also in the workplace, romantic partnerships and friendships.

Dr. Kennedy shares practical strategies for managing guilt, building frustration tolerance, nurturing emotional intelligence, and being a sturdy parent or person in general. We also explore the impact of technology on emotional processing in both kids and adults and discuss ways to foster greater feelings of capability and confidence. This conversation applies broadly to all types of social connections and aims to empower listeners to cultivate more resilient, loving and supportive relationships.

Read the episode show notes: https://go.hubermanlab.com/kUnUiTb

*Thank you to our sponsors*
AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman
Wealthfront**: https://wealthfront.com/huberman
Our Place: https://fromourplace.com/huberman
Joovv: https://joovv.com/huberman
LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman
Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman

_**This experience may not be representative of the experience of other clients of Wealthfront, and there is no guarantee that all clients will have similar experiences. Cash Account is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC. The Annual Percentage Yield (“APY”) on cash deposits as of December 27,‬ 2024, is representative, subject to change, and requires no minimum. Funds in the Cash Account are swept to partner banks where they earn the variable‭ APY. Promo terms and FDIC coverage conditions apply. Same-day withdrawal or instant payment transfers may be limited by destination institutions, daily transaction caps, and by participating entities such as Wells Fargo, the RTP® Network, and FedNow® Service. New Cash Account deposits are subject to a 2-4 day holding period before becoming available for transfer._

*Follow Huberman Lab*
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Threads: https://www.threads.net/@hubermanlab
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Website: https://www.hubermanlab.com

*Dr. Becky Kennedy*
Good Inside: https://www.goodinside.com/huberman
Good Inside (book): https://amzlink.to/az0DW0DDbMGGB
Podcast: https://www.goodinside.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://www.goodinside.com/newsletter
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbeckyatgoodinside

*Timestamps*
00:00:00 Dr. Becky Kennedy; LA Fires
00:03:13 Emotions, Parents & Kids, Information, Tools: Story; “Right to Notice”
00:11:24 Sponsors: Wealthfront & Our Place
00:14:25 Empathy, Kids & Parents
00:18:33 Sturdiness, Pilot Analogy, Tool: Parental Self-Care
00:26:34 Emotions, Rigidity, Moody vs Steady Kids, Siblings
00:32:51 Emotion Talk, Crying; Eye Rolls, Tools: Not Taking Bait; Discuss Struggle
00:39:26 Parent-Child Power Dynamics, Tools: Requests for Parent; Repair
00:48:50 Sponsors: AG1 & Joovv
00:51:39 Power & Authority, Tools: Learning More; Parent Primary Job & Safety
00:59:16 Statements of Stance, Actions vs Emotions; Values, Behaviors & Rigidity
01:05:59 Guilt, Women; Tools: “Not Guilt”, Tennis Court Analogy & Empathy
01:15:46 Sponsors: LMNT & Eight Sleep
01:18:41 Guilt, Relationships, Tool: Naming Values Directly
01:26:06 Locate Others & Values; Sturdy Leadership; Parenting & Shame
01:31:36 Egg Analogy & Boundaries; Tools: Frame Separation; Pilot & Turbulence; Safety
01:39:30 Projection, “Porous”; Tools: Gazing In vs Out, Most Generous Interpretation
01:45:51 Tools: “Soften”; Do Nothing & Difficult Situations; Proving Parenting
01:51:05 Gazing In vs Out, Scales; Self-Needs & Inconvenience
02:00:05 Stress & Story, Nervous; Relationships vs Efficiency
02:08:46 Technology, Relationships, Frustration Tolerance, Gratification
02:15:18 Slowing Down, Phones, Frustration, Capability
02:21:42 Immediate Gratification, Effort & Struggle, Dopamine
02:29:25 Confidence, Board Games, Parental Modeling
02:34:04 Ultra-Performers & Pressure, Emptiness
02:41:29 Trying Things, Unlived Dreams, Frustration Tolerance, Tool: Learning Space
02:51:08 Learning & Building Frustration Tolerance, Tantrums; Feelings & Story
03:03:00 Tool: Using Story; Shame, Punishment
03:12:55 Leadership & Storytelling, Tools: Asking Questions; Songs & Learning
03:23:21 Miss Edson, Momentum, Tool: Small First Steps
03:30:15 Tools: Parents & Starting Point
03:36:29 Good Inside, Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Follow & Reviews, YouTube Feedback, Sponsors, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

#HubermanLab #Psychology #Relationships

Disclaimer & Disclosures: https://www.hubermanlab.com/disclaimer

Episode description

In this episode, my guest is Dr. Becky Kennedy, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and renowned expert on parent-child relationships and emotional processing. Dr. Kennedy is also the founder of Good Inside, an educational platform for parents and parents-to-be. We discuss how to learn, embody, and teach better emotional processing, leading to healthier relationships—not just in the context of parent-child dynamics but also in the workplace, romantic partnerships and friendships.

Dr. Kennedy shares practical strategies for managing guilt, building frustration tolerance, nurturing emotional intelligence, and being a sturdy parent or person in general. We also explore the impact of technology on emotional processing in both kids and adults and discuss ways to foster greater feelings of capability and confidence. This conversation applies broadly to all types of social connections and aims to empower listeners to cultivate more resilient, loving and supportive relationships.

Read the episode show notes: https://go.hubermanlab.com/kUnUiTb

*Thank you to our sponsors*
AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman
Wealthfront**: https://wealthfront.com/huberman
Our Place: https://fromourplace.com/huberman
Joovv: https://joovv.com/huberman
LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman
Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman

_**This experience may not be representative of the experience of other clients of Wealthfront, and there is no guarantee that all clients will have similar experiences. Cash Account is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC. The Annual Percentage Yield (“APY”) on cash deposits as of December 27,‬ 2024, is representative, subject to change, and requires no minimum. Funds in the Cash Account are swept to partner banks where they earn the variable‭ APY. Promo terms and FDIC coverage conditions apply. Same-day withdrawal or instant payment transfers may be limited by destination institutions, daily transaction caps, and by participating entities such as Wells Fargo, the RTP® Network, and FedNow® Service. New Cash Account deposits are subject to a 2-4 day holding period before becoming available for transfer._

*Follow Huberman Lab*
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hubermanlab
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@hubermanlab
X: https://x/hubermanlab
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hubermanlab
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hubermanlab
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-huberman
Website: https://www.hubermanlab.com

*Dr. Becky Kennedy*
Good Inside: https://www.goodinside.com/huberman
Good Inside (book): https://amzlink.to/az0DW0DDbMGGB
Podcast: https://www.goodinside.com/podcast
Newsletter: https://www.goodinside.com/newsletter
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbeckyatgoodinside

*Timestamps*
00:00:00 Dr. Becky Kennedy; LA Fires
00:03:13 Emotions, Parents & Kids, Information, Tools: Story; “Right to Notice”
00:11:24 Sponsors: Wealthfront & Our Place
00:14:25 Empathy, Kids & Parents
00:18:33 Sturdiness, Pilot Analogy, Tool: Parental Self-Care
00:26:34 Emotions, Rigidity, Moody vs Steady Kids, Siblings
00:32:51 Emotion Talk, Crying; Eye Rolls, Tools: Not Taking Bait; Discuss Struggle
00:39:26 Parent-Child Power Dynamics, Tools: Requests for Parent; Repair
00:48:50 Sponsors: AG1 & Joovv
00:51:39 Power & Authority, Tools: Learning More; Parent Primary Job & Safety
00:59:16 Statements of Stance, Actions vs Emotions; Values, Behaviors & Rigidity
01:05:59 Guilt, Women; Tools: “Not Guilt”, Tennis Court Analogy & Empathy
01:15:46 Sponsors: LMNT & Eight Sleep
01:18:41 Guilt, Relationships, Tool: Naming Values Directly
01:26:06 Locate Others & Values; Sturdy Leadership; Parenting & Shame
01:31:36 Egg Analogy & Boundaries; Tools: Frame Separation; Pilot & Turbulence; Safety
01:39:30 Projection, “Porous”; Tools: Gazing In vs Out, Most Generous Interpretation
01:45:51 Tools: “Soften”; Do Nothing & Difficult Situations; Proving Parenting
01:51:05 Gazing In vs Out, Scales; Self-Needs & Inconvenience
02:00:05 Stress & Story, Nervous; Relationships vs Efficiency
02:08:46 Technology, Relationships, Frustration Tolerance, Gratification
02:15:18 Slowing Down, Phones, Frustration, Capability
02:21:42 Immediate Gratification, Effort & Struggle, Dopamine
02:29:25 Confidence, Board Games, Parental Modeling
02:34:04 Ultra-Performers & Pressure, Emptiness
02:41:29 Trying Things, Unlived Dreams, Frustration Tolerance, Tool: Learning Space
02:51:08 Learning & Building Frustration Tolerance, Tantrums; Feelings & Story
03:03:00 Tool: Using Story; Shame, Punishment
03:12:55 Leadership & Storytelling, Tools: Asking Questions; Songs & Learning
03:23:21 Miss Edson, Momentum, Tool: Small First Steps
03:30:15 Tools: Parents & Starting Point
03:36:29 Good Inside, Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Follow & Reviews, YouTube Feedback, Sponsors, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

#HubermanLab #Psychology #Relationships

Disclaimer & Disclosures: https://www.hubermanlab.com/disclaimer

Mindsip insights from this episode:

Distinguish true guilt from false guilt for personal alignment

True guilt is when you act out of alignment with your values, whereas what we often call guilt is just taking on someone else's feelings of disappointment at your expense.

Request specific actions to improve relationships instead of general feedback

Instead of asking for general feedback which can be negative, ask for a specific, manageable "request" for something you could do to be a better partner, parent, or boss.

Embrace mistakes to master repair in relationships

Repair is the most important relationship strategy, and to get good at it, you must first mess up, which reframes failure as a necessary step one in the process.

Prioritize self-care to lead effectively as a parent

A parent's first and foremost job is self-care and self-establishment, not so they can be selfish, but so they can be a sturdy leader who doesn't burden their children with their emotional needs.

Provide honest information to stabilize children

The absence of information and a coherent story is often more scary and destabilizing for a child than hearing a hard truth from a trusted adult.

Break tasks into smallest steps to initiate action

If a task feels too hard to start, it simply means the first step isn't small enough, so you should break it down until it's a step you can take, even if it's just writing one word.

Embrace frustration as a catalyst for learning

The mental space between not knowing how to do something and knowing how is the "learning space," which is supposed to be characterized by the feeling of frustration.

Reframe slowing down as essential for connection and well-being

In a world of immediate gratification, we must re-learn that slowing down is not "low" (depressing or boring) but is instead essential for deep connection and well-being.

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