
Overcoming Guilt & Building Tenacity in Kids & Adults | Dr. Becky Kennedy
Andrew Huberman
Jan 13, 2025
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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