This show is sponsored by Better Help.

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. You already blew up your life. Yes, it's not good to be late. Yes, you have places to go. You've got emails to respond to. You were hoping to get in a workout today. You were hoping to have a few minutes to relax on the couch. So, yeah, when your kid is dragging their feet getting ready, when they ask for another drink of water, another story, when they sneak out of their bedroom after you've already tucked them in,

when you have to go back to the house because they forgot something, it's frustrating.

But here's what you have to remind yourself. You already blew up your life. You're already a mess.

You're already tired. You've already been laid a million times. You're so far behind on email that you'll never catch up. So stop stressing

and give your kids what they need. Slow down. Don't rush them. Don't neglect them. If they need an

extra hug, if they want you to stay with them until they fall asleep, you can afford it. Just put it

on your tab. In the end, you'll remember the times you stuck around to make sure school drop-off went

well, not that you were the first

one to arrive at the meeting. Your relationship will be built solidly around the fact that you

always made the necessary time for them, not that you conquered your daily to-do list. You chose to

have kids, which means you accepted things being a mess. What you don't have to accept is putting them second to

things that don't matter. Sometimes we feel uncertain. Sometimes I've certainly felt that way

or I felt like I was struggling with something I didn't know the way out of it or through it.

And obviously stoicism is there, but this is also what therapy is there for it.

It's something that's been there for me, for sure, over the years.

And when I do it regularly, my life is better.

When I use it as spot treatment, it's also better, right?

If you're thinking of starting therapy, you should give better help a try.

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