I'm Gretchen Rubin and this is a little happier. This many episode is brought to you by

better than before. The book that I wrote about how to make or break your habits.

It turns out it's not that hard to make or break a habit if you know what to do.

To learn more about the book, go to GretchenRubin.com.

I love aphorisms, epigrams, co-ins, paradoxes, any kind of teaching story. And I really

enjoy this teaching story, which I read about in a book by Wendy Mogel called The Blessings of

a Skinned Knee, using Jewish teachings to raise self-reliant children. She also wrote a book called

The Blessings of a B-minus. And actually, Elizabeth Herterspeak at Jack's School.

Wendy Mogel quotes from Rabbi Menahem Mendel, who said,

If you truly wish your child to study Torah, study it yourself in their presence,

they will follow your example. Otherwise, they will not themselves study Torah,

but will simply instruct their children to do so. And I think that's really true. And I wrote

about that in my book better than before in the chapter about the strategy of other people.

People really tend to pick up the habits of other people. And the way that I think about that in

my own life is that example is more persuasive than admonition. If I want my kids to read more,

I should read more. If I want my family to go to sleep on time, I need to go to sleep on time.

If I want my family to eat more healthfully, I should eat more healthfully. Because a good example

is more compelling than good advice. If you want to see a link to Wendy Mogel's book, The Blessing

of a Skinned Knee, I will put it in the show notes for this episode. I'm Gretchen Rubin,

and I hope this makes your week a little happier.