Formidable Family Men with Greg Denning
#318 How to Have More Joy in Family Life—Even During the Hard and Messy Moments
Are you constantly feeling overwhelmed, irritated, or like you’re just going through the motions of family life?
Do you wish you could feel more joy, peace, and connection—but don’t know how to actually get there in the midst of chores, tantrums, and to-do lists?
In this episode, we share how to actually enjoy family life—even when it’s hard, boring, or chaotic. We explore how being present—truly present—can radically transform your parenting and your emotional state. You’ll learn how to stop “trying” to be calm or patient... and instead become calm and patient from the inside out—so you can raise happier, more resilient kids (https://welladjusted.extraordinaryfamilylife.com/) who feel safe, seen, and emotionally supported every day.
We unpack how your emotional baseline affects your family culture, why pretending to be peaceful isn’t enough, and how small daily habits like mindfulness, gratitude, and intentional action can raise your emotional thermostat.
You’ll also discover how to remove hidden emotional blocks and process negative feelings—so you can genuinely enjoy family life, even in the messy, mundane, or tough moments.
This conversation is packed with practical strategies to help you shift from reactive and exhausted... to grounded, connected, and joyful.
If you’ve been craving more daily joy and emotional peace, this episode is your roadmap.
Key Takeaways:
✅ Trying to be calm isn’t the same as being calm—true peace comes from internal emotional regulation.
✅ You can’t fake joy, patience, or love—emotional authenticity is essential in parenting.
✅ Your emotional baseline determines the overall tone of your family culture.
✅ Unprocessed emotions run in the background and drain your energy—clearing them frees you to parent with joy.
✅ Small habits like mindfulness, breathwork, and gratitude rewire your brain and raise your emotional thermostat.
Chapters:
00:00 The Essence of Happiness in Family Life
02:24 The Struggle Between Doing and Being
05:22 Modeling Joy for Children
08:29 The Role of Triggers in Parenting
11:13 Choosing Emotions in Daily Life
13:59 Finding Joy in Everyday Chores
17:09 The Impact of Environment on Happiness
20:00 Teaching Children Through Example
22:48 The Importance of Self-Control in Parenting
26:03 Creating a Positive Family Dynamic
30:31 Choosing Happiness: The Process of Emotional Management
32:47 Understanding Neuroticism and Its Impact on Emotions
35:27 The Power of Focus: Shifting Perspectives
39:26 Transforming Daily Chores into Joyful Experiences
43:11 Morning Routines: Setting the Tone for Positivity
47:15 Processing Emotions: The Key to Emotional Freedom
51:25 Authenticity in Parenting: The Importance of Genuine Emotions
Memorable Quotes:
🗣 "Trying to be calm is not the same as actually being calm."
🗣 "You can’t pretend your way to peace—it has to be real."
🗣 "Our kids don’t need perfect parents—they need emotionally present ones."
🗣 "Negative emotions are like apps running in the background—they drain your energy until you clear them."
🗣 *"There is no way to happiness—happiness is the way."
RESOURCES:
Let us help you in your extraordinary family life journey.
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How We Raised 7 Well-Adjusted Kids (https://welladjusted.extraordinaryfamilylife.com/) - Without Yelling, Tantrums, Punishments or Power Struggles (+ get THE CHECKLIST: Things We Do Every Day to Raise Well-Adjusted Kids)
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Rachel’s Must-Read Booklist for Well-Read Moms (https://courses.extraordinaryfamilylife.com/courses/ambitious-well-read-mom-booklist)
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Greg's Recommended Reading List for Parents & Youth (https://courses.extraordinaryfamilylife.com/courses/greg-denning-booklist)
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Follow us on Instagram: @worldschoolfamily (https://instagram.com/worldschoolfamily) or @greg.denning (https://instagram.com/greg.denning)
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Get Rachel's Family Systems & Charts (https://courses.extraordinaryfamilylife.com/courses/family-systems-charts)
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Join the Do More With Less Stress Workshop Series (https://www.extraordinaryfamilylife.com/pages/do-more-with-less-stress-workshop-series-for-busy-overwhelmed-moms) for busy moms
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Become a Founding Member of our Extraordinary Parent Mentoring Method (https://extraordinaryfl.samcart.com/products/extraordinary-parent-mentoring-method-founding-member)
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Join Greg’s 7-Day Challenge (https://extraordinaryfl.samcart.com/products/be-the-family-man-challenge-men)
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JOIN GREG'S 90-DAY HEALTH & FITNESS CHALLENGE (https://extraordinaryfl.samcart.com/products/90-day-health--fitness-challenge/) !
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Join the Formidable Family Man Masterclass and Tribe (https://formidablefamilyman.com/)
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Gather with us at the World School Family (Bea...
