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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
Raising Good Humans summary
Hunter Clarke-Fields
A Mindful Guide to Breaking the Cycle of Reactive Parenting and Raising Kind, Confident Kids
18 mins
Brief summary
"Raising Good Humans" by Hunter Clarke-Fields is a hands-on guide for parents to transform their relationship with their children and teach them healthy emotional regulation. It provides practical exercises and tools based on mindfulness and compassion to build a stronger and more joyful family dynamic.
Table of Contents
Raising Good Humans
Summary of 8 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 8
You can’t control this.
There you are, looking your five-year-old dead in the eye. For the third time you say, “Don’t you dare touch that vase.”
Time slows down. Silence fills the room. Maybe you hear the distant rustle of a tumbleweed rolling by as the standoff intensifies. Your little angel smiles devilishly, stares at you without flinching, and pokes the vase – knocking it to the floor with a crash.
What are you supposed to do? We’ll start with what you can’t control. Whatever feelings come up – possibly a rush of rage and indescribable frustration – are beyond your control. Your stress response is natural and automatic. It comes from a part of your brain called the amygdala.
Here’s the bad news: when you’re in a state of high stress and your amygdala is activated, you are not capable of responding in a logical, controlled way. The part of your brain that thinks and considers is called the prefrontal cortex – and it’s completely paralyzed when you’re in a state of fight, flight, or freeze.
So is that it? You’re just doomed to yell at your kids until they stop pushing all your buttons?
Of course not. Here’s the good news: the answer to the problem of reactions that are out of your – and your kids’ – control is mindfulness.
Yes, we’ve all heard the term. Frankly, it has been used to death in everything from Instagram stories to parenting podcasts. But here’s the deal. Research using MRI scans has shown that after only eight weeks of some kind of consistent mindfulness practice – whether it’s meditation or yoga or something else – the amygdala actually shrinks. Even better, the connections between your prefrontal cortex and the rest of your brain grow stronger.
So as much as we’re becoming jaded to the concept of mindfulness, it’s truly the best and only practice that can help us break the generational cycles of yelling, punishing, and raging at our kids.
To get a good grasp of what mindfulness means in the context of this Blink, here’s an exercise you can do. Pick an activity. It can be washing the dishes, going for a walk, taking a bath, or anything else really.
Let’s say you choose washing the dishes. To practice mindfulness, you’re going to slow down your mind. Instead of rushing through the dishes to get it done, begin inhaling and exhaling deeply and intentionally. Listen to the sound of the water. Take note of how it feels running over your hands. Give names to any feelings that arise.
Be mindful of each moment in the process.
And that’s it. You’ve begun training your brain, teaching it to take control of its perceptions. Keep in mind that this is a practice – meaning it is ongoing and requires consistency. This is also the foundation you’re going to build your new, amazing parenting skills on.
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What is Raising Good Humans about?
Raising Good Humans (2019) is a mindful parenting guide that teaches you how to stop yelling and get grounded. It features healthy practices that can help you break generational cycles and be a better parent.
Raising Good Humans Review
Raising Good Humans (2020) is a valuable read for parents and caregivers who want to raise emotionally intelligent children. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- Practical advice: It provides actionable strategies to help navigate difficult parenting situations and foster strong relationships with children.
- Scientifically informed: With evidence-based research and expert insights, the book offers a balanced approach to understanding child development and behavior.
- Engaging and relatable: Through relatable anecdotes and real-life examples, it keeps readers engaged and ensures that the content is relatable and applicable to their lives.
Who should read Raising Good Humans?
- Parents who want to stop yelling
- Teachers and parents who need better conflict management strategies
- Caregivers interested in personal development
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Raising Good Humans FAQs
What is the main message of Raising Good Humans?
The main message of Raising Good Humans is how to raise emotionally intelligent children.
How long does it take to read Raising Good Humans?
The reading time for Raising Good Humans varies depending on the reader's speed. The Blinkist summary can be read in 15 minutes.
Is Raising Good Humans a good book? Is it worth reading?
Raising Good Humans is worth reading as it provides practical strategies for nurturing empathy and self-awareness in children.
Who is the author of Raising Good Humans?
Hunter Clarke-Fields is the author of Raising Good Humans.
What to read after Raising Good Humans?
If you're wondering what to read next after Raising Good Humans, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Good Inside by Becky Kennedy
- The Parenting Map by Dr. Shefali
- The Emotional Lives of Teenagers by Lisa Damour
- The Montessori Toddler by Simone Davies
- Potty Training in 3 Days by Brandi Brucks
- Tiny Humans, Big Emotions by Alyssa Gloria Campbell & Lauren Stauble
- The Whole-Brain Child by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
- No-Drama Discipline by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
- Hold on to Your Kids by Gordon Neufeld & Gabor Maté
- Raising Critical Thinkers by Julie Bogart