Are you torn between protecting your kids’ mental health and preparing them for real-world stress?
Most parents feel this tension—and many swing too far toward pressure or protection.
In this video, Greg & Rachel share a better path: don’t inflict pressure—be the anchor while your kids face it. You’ll learn how to build grit through trust, identity, and modeling, so challenge actually strengthens your bond instead of breaking it.
What we cover:
Identity over willpower: why saying “I’m not a smoker” beats “I’m trying to quit.”
Anchor, don’t apply pressure: your job is safety + modeling, not manufactured hardship.
Results don’t lie: how your life becomes the proof your kids can’t ignore.
Trust first, then stretch: push to the “next rock,” then keep your promise and carry them.
Adjust your strategy: when you “get punched in the face,” learn, adapt, iterate.
Do hard things yourself: kids spot hypocrisy—lead from the front.
Make discomfort enjoyable: turn tough conversations, workouts, and cold plunges into shared wins.
Big Idea: Grit grows in connection. When kids know you’ll both challenge and carry them, they lean in, try again, and adopt a new identity that sustains lifelong habits.
Key Takeaways
✅ Be the anchor, not the pressure. Safety + example > force.
✅ Model hard things. If you don’t, they won’t.
✅ Identity drives habits. Become the family who does the hard, good things.
✅ Keep promises. Stretch to the “next rock,” then carry—that’s how trust is built.
✅ Iterate, don’t implode. When it’s not working, change your approach, not your ideals.
Chapters
00:00 New Beginnings and Reflections
03:18 Goal Setting and Identity Transformation
03:31 Preparing Kids for Life's Challenges
05:02 The Balance of Comfort and Growth
05:30 Building Resilience Through Experience
08:44 Adapting to Life's Punches
09:59 The Journey of Parenting and Education
12:19 Embracing Failure in Business and Parenting
13:59 The Importance of Adaptability and Learning
17:21 Influence Through Results and Personal Example
19:32 Living an Extraordinary Life as a Family
22:34 Teaching Resilience Through Real-Life Challenges
24:58 Iterative Learning and Effective Communication
28:39 The Power of Persistence in Parenting
Memorable Quotes
🗣 “Be the anchor—don’t be the pressure.”
🗣 “Results don’t lie. Pass the silent film test.”
🗣 “Identity changes behavior more than willpower.”
🗣 “Stretch, then carry. That’s how trust grows.”
Want help implementing this at home? Our new parenting course gives you the step-by-step systems to build trust, invite buy-in, and raise resilient kids—without yelling, punishment, or power struggles. Join the Extraordinary Parent Mentoring Method class here.
RESOURCES:
Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
How We Raised 7 Well-Adjusted Kids - Without Yelling, Tantrums, Punishments or Power Struggles (+ get THE CHECKLIST: Things We Do Every Day to Raise Well-Adjusted Kids)
Rachel’s Must-Read Booklist for Well-Read Moms
Follow us on Instagram: @worldschoolfamily or @greg.denning
Don’t miss out on the Extraordinary Parent Mentoring Method class!
Get Rachel's Family Systems & Charts
Get Rachel’s Extraordinary Family Life Planner
JOIN GREG'S 90-DAY HEALTH & FITNESS CHALLENGE!
Gather with us at the World School Family (Beach & Farm) Resort in Portugal