Welcome to the Daily Dad podcast, where we provide one lesson every single day to help you with your most important job, being a parent.

I'm Ryan Holiday, and I draw these lessons from ancient philosophy, modern psychology, practical wisdom, and insights from

parents just like you all over the world. Thank you for listening, and we hope this helps.

A wonderful way to think about it. It's sort of crazy as an institution. We all know this on some level, to pick

one person and to be with them for the rest of your life. To do that in some cases, as they did for

generations at an age when you barely understand yourself. Oh yeah, and then kids, that's a truly

mind-blowing part of partnership where two people literally replicate each other in the form of a baby.

So how do you make it work? How does a marriage survive the insane pressures of life and

career and kids? What's the secret for surviving and enduring and hopefully thriving?

My friend Brent has a theory about marriage, Morgan Housel writes, in his wonderful book,

same as ever. I think we may still

have some signed copies at the painted porch. It only works when both people want to help their

spouse while expecting nothing in return. If you both do that, you'll both be pleasantly surprised.

That's not easy, but it's a wonderful way to think about it. It's also not a bad strategy for raising kids, as we've talked about.

We're the giving tree.

That's what love is to give, to provide, to be there for someone.

Does it give a lot back in return?

Absolutely.

But you'll be a lot happier, a lot less prone to conflict, the less you ask for in return.

Lose yourself in the giving and the doing and the helping.

Hey, you're listening to the Daily Dad podcast.

One meditation a day inspired to help you do your most important job, which is be a great

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