How to Become a Better Human: Lessons on Kindness, Love, and Happiness (From a 10-Year-Old)
Elton (guest), Mel Robbins (host)
In this episode of The Mel Robbins Podcast, featuring Elton and Mel Robbins, How to Become a Better Human: Lessons on Kindness, Love, and Happiness (From a 10-Year-Old) explores 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.
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.
Key Takeaways
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.”
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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.
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Parents should encourage, not control, and still prioritize their own joy.
He notes that kids often complain about parents being too controlling and pushing preset paths; instead, adults should support children’s chosen interests and also remember to have fun themselves, as unhappy parents often make unhappy kids.
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Use subtle strategies to reduce gossip and build healthier friendships.
Elton’s “pizza strategy” redirects negative group chats or gossip by changing the topic (e. ...
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Notable 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
Questions Answered in This Episode
How can adults practically create spaces where kids feel safe admitting they’re sad or struggling, without embarrassing them in front of peers?
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. ...
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What are some specific ways schools and teachers could better distinguish between a ‘can’t learn’ and a ‘won’t learn’ situation, especially with learning differences?
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How might adults adopt Elton’s “good enough” philosophy without losing ambition or settling for less than they’re capable of?
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In your own life, where could you apply the “pizza strategy” to interrupt gossip or negativity without directly confronting people?
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What would it look like for you (or your family) to prioritize kindness as a daily practice, not just a value you talk about?
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Transcript Preview
And we are on the Mel Robbins Podcast.
(laughs) So, Elton, how old are you?
10 years old.
What have you learned recently that you wish everyone would know?
If you have an up and then you have a down, you know that you can do ups, because, like, if you've done it before, you can do it again.
What do you think people should do in order to be happier?
Actively go to therapy. Maybe that therapist is, like, your mom. Maybe that therapist is, like, your aunt. Maybe it's your uncle. Maybe it's, like, your grandpa. But, like, you have to usually talk to somebody about your feelings to make you feel better. I was, like, getting a little picked on and, like, bullied.
Mm.
And I just decided to go to therapy, and it really helped in my mental state and really helped me be a better person.
Wow. Do you think adults sometimes forget the important things in life?
Oh, totally. Just because you have kids and just because, like, you need to take care of them all the time doesn't mean you can't have fun yourself. You've done so much for them. They gotta do something for you, or you gotta do something for yourself. Gotta have more fun, like, as an adult. Having, having fun is part of life.
What's the big mistake that you see parents make with kids that then kids complain to their friends about?
Uh, well...
Welcome. It's your friend Mel. I'm so happy you're here. Whether you've been listening for a while or someone that you love sent you this episode and you're brand new to the Mel Robbins Podcast family, welcome. You are going to absolutely love listening to this episode today, and I'm particularly excited because I know so many of you listen to the Mel Robbins Podcast while you've got your families around or you're driving in the car with kids. And this episode, in particular, is absolutely perfect for you to listen to with the kids in your life, whether they're in elementary school or middle school. And I cannot wait for you to meet our guest today. His name is Elton. He is one of my most favorite people on the planet, and the reason why I love him is because he just has this simple wisdom. You ask him his perspective about any situation or anything going on in the world, and it's like, boom, that was exactly what I needed to hear. And as I mentioned, this conversation has been over a year in the making because first, Elton had to finish the fourth grade, and second, I had to get him out here. And so he came out to visit his grandparents, and I was like, "Elton, let's make this a twofer." And so here he is. I have known Elton his entire life. I've been wanting him to be on the podcast. I cannot wait for you to hear the simple wisdom and the fact that he has all these little sayings that are actually tools, and you're gonna wanna steal them. The way he describes things in particular that kids struggle with, it's gonna help your kids, and it will definitely help you. So here's how this is gonna work. I'm gonna ask Elton a few questions, and as I ask Elton questions, I invite you and the people that you love who are listening along with you to answer these questions for yourself, too, because I guarantee you what pops into your mind is gonna surprise you. So without further ado, please help me welcome Elton to the Mel Robbins Podcast.
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