58. Decode Your Kids’ Mental Health with 1 Simple Question
We need to talk to our kids--and our spouse, friends, and colleagues--about their feelings. Here's an easy way to do it.
Hello, and welcome back. In the previous issue, I shared excerpts from my next book 12 Daily Habits to Lose 12 Pounds in 12 Weeks, and in this edition, I share:
The simple question I ask my kids to check on their mental health
The powerful follow-up questions that inevitably get them to reflect and open up about their life and feelings
By the way, I’m Kevin Kruse, founder and CEO of LEADx and NY Times bestselling author of 15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management and 11 Secrets Successful People Know About Goal Setting. Welcome to Success & Significance - my take on health, wealth, and relationships (my “3 to Thrive”, read more here). Hit the Subscribe button below to join over 20,000 members who get weekly practical advice and wisdom from the world’s most successful people.
I frequently ask my kids one direct question to check their mental health.
(My kids are now older and “adulting,” but you can adjust this question to use with younger kids, too.)
Mental health continues to be a big topic as people are experiencing record-high levels of depression and anxiety.
Yet many people aren’t comfortable talking about their emotions—especially negative emotions. My guess is discomfort talking about our emotions is stronger in men, in older generations, and between coworkers.
Unfortunately, traditional questions like “How are you?” or “How’s it going?” are usually answered on autopilot with “Fine.”
So, how can you really easily check on the health of your kids, spouse, friends, and colleagues?
Simply ask them. But with a scale.
I’m not suggesting this is a psychologist’s approved approach to evaluating mental health. Rather, it’s a starting point to normalize conversations about how we’re feeling. And if we need help.
So here’s the simple question I ask and some follow-ups.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Success & Significance | Kevin Kruse to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.