The Mel Robbins Podcast

How to Become a Better Human: Lessons on Kindness, Love, and Happiness (From a 10-Year-Old)

Order your copy of The Let Them Theory 👉 https://melrob.co/let-them-theory 👈 The #1 Best Selling Book of 2025 🔥 Discover how much power you truly have. It all begins with two simple words. Let Them. — In today’s episode, you’ll reframe your perspective on happiness, kindness, and friendship through a fresh lens—all thanks to a surprising source: Mel’s 10-year-old guest, Elton. Mel is sitting down with this wise beyond his years kid for an impactful, profound conversation that will challenge you (and encourage you!) to be a better human. Elton’s simple but profound insights on everything from friendships and feelings to screen time and self-kindness are exactly what you need—no matter your age. Forget the idea that wisdom only comes with age. This episode is an invitation to embrace the wisdom and curiosity of those younger than you. It’s a reminder that sometimes the most powerful lessons come from the most unexpected voices. This episode is your call to get curious and excited about life again. This is the kind of advice that everyone —no matter your age—needs to hear, and you’ll leave this episode feeling empowered to be a kinder, more intentional friend, parent, sibling, and person. You’ll also rethink how much time you spend on your phone, feel encouraged to reconnect with what brings you joy, and learn how to be gentler with yourself. This is also a great episode to share with your kids or with anyone who is a parent. For more resources related to today’s episode, click here for the podcast episode page: http://www.melrobbins.com/podcasts/episode-214 Follow The Mel Robbins Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themelrobbinspodcast I’m just your friend. I am not a licensed therapist, and this podcast is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional. Got it? Good. I’ll see you in the next episode. In this episode: 0:00 Introduction 3:30 Meet Mel’s 10-year-old guest who’s wise beyond his years. 5:15 The power of compliments, how small words lead to big rewards. 7:00 Why kindness is the key to a meaningful life. 7:55 What 'safe keeps' are and how they can help you overcome sadness. 9:21 Want to be happier? Here's what Elton recommends. 10:01: How therapy freed Elton from bottled-up emotions and why it can do the same for you. 16:05 Elton’s personal experience with dysgraphia and dyslexia and how it shaped him 20:10 The biggest childhood secret you’ve forgotten. 23:05 How to embrace life’s ups and downs and let go of what you cannot control. 24:01 Unfairness is inevitable; how you handle it determines everything. 27:09 The perspective shift you need that fuels dedication and commitment to what you love. 29:34 How to approach someone who's struggling. 31:34 What really matters in life? Fun is more important than you think. 32:34 Common mistakes parents make with their kids and how to avoid them. 34:02 A simple technique to stop gossiping in its tracks. 35:52 How to make new friends and build community through shared interests. 38:28 Stuck in a rut? This advice will get you moving. 40:19 How simple acts of kindness can change everything. — Follow Mel: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melrobbins/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@melrobbins Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melrobbins LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melrobbins Website: http://melrobbins.com — Sign up for Mel’s newsletter: https://melrob.co/sign-up-newsletter A note from Mel to you, twice a week, sharing simple, practical ways to build the life you want. — Subscribe to Mel’s channel here: https://www.youtube.com/melrobbins?sub_confirmation=1 — Listen to The Mel Robbins Podcast 🎧 New episodes drop every Monday & Thursday! https://melrob.co/spotify https://melrob.co/applepodcasts https://melrob.co/amazonmusic — Looking for Mel’s books on Amazon? Find them here: The Let Them Theory: https://amzn.to/3IQ21Oe The Let Them Theory Audiobook: https://amzn.to/413SObp The High 5 Habit: https://amzn.to/3fMvfPQ The 5 Second Rule: https://amzn.to/4l54fah

EltonguestMel Robbinshost

Sep 18, 202442mWatch on YouTube ↗

WHAT IT’S REALLY ABOUT

Ten-Year-Old Shares Powerful Life Lessons On Kindness And Resilience

Mel Robbins interviews 10-year-old Elton, who offers strikingly clear insights on kindness, friendship, mental health, and dealing with life's ups and downs. Elton talks about how therapy helped him navigate bullying and loneliness, and uses simple analogies to explain emotional bottling, realistic goal-setting, and learning differences like dysgraphia. He emphasizes that kindness and genuine fun are essential for both kids and adults, and that everyone has a role and passion to discover over time. The conversation is framed as a family-friendly episode designed to help both children and adults reflect on how they treat themselves and others.

IDEAS WORTH REMEMBERING

5 ideas

Kindness is a core life strategy, not just good manners.

Elton frames kindness as the foundation of relationships, mental health, and opportunities—being a “jerk” leads to isolation and sadness, while being kind attracts friends, invitations, and a better life.

Talking about your feelings is essential; therapy is a useful tool.

After being bullied and feeling unhappy, Elton chose to go to therapy, which he says improved his mental state and made him a better person; he recommends therapy-like conversations with trusted adults for both kids and grownups.

Don’t bottle up emotions; release them in manageable amounts.

Using analogies like too many grapes or dirty shirts, Elton explains that holding in too many feelings eventually hurts you, whereas regularly “taking some out” with a safe person keeps you emotionally healthier.

Aim for “good enough” and keep trying, instead of aiming unrealistically high and quitting.

He argues that when goals are set too high (like trying to be Steph Curry immediately), most people give up; focusing on achievable progress sustains motivation and builds the belief, “I can do this.”

Learning differences require different methods, not less intelligence or effort.

Elton describes being misjudged as a ‘bad kid’ before being diagnosed with dysgraphia and emphasizes the crucial difference between “can’t learn this way” and “don’t want to learn,” advocating for adaptive teaching methods like typing or voice typing.

WORDS WORTH SAVING

5 quotes

If you have an up and then you have a down, you know that you can do ups, because if you've done it before, you can do it again.

— Elton

Because, like, if you just decide to be a jerk all your life, then, like, what have you really accomplished?

— Elton

There’s a huge difference between 'I can’t learn' and 'I don’t wanna learn.'

— Elton

I try never to not try. I always try to try.

— Elton

You can’t just be kind; you have to actually feel kind.

— Elton

The importance of kindness and how it shapes friendships and happinessTherapy, mental health, and talking about feelings (for kids and adults)Dealing with bullying, loneliness, and emotional “bottling up”Learning differences (dysgraphia, dyslexia) and being misjudged at schoolRealistic goal-setting, resilience, and handling life’s ups and downsParenting mistakes: control vs. encouragement and letting kids choose their pathFriendship skills: making new friends, handling gossip, and the “pizza strategy”

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