The pressure to be endlessly happy is leaving the next generation more anxious and isolated than ever. In his new book, The Happiness Crisis: How Adversity Can Build a Resilient and Joyful Next Generation, Dr. Jonathan Eckert calls for a culture shift that we can begin at home.

How do we embrace adversity and see the value of challenges, instead of becoming parents who make everything too easy? Dr. Eckert explains the biblical connection between joy and struggle, and why removing adversity — "snowplow parenting" — prevents kids from developing resilience.

Arlene and Jon work through real-life scenarios, including a child facing bullying and a teen caught using AI to cheat on a school assignment. The conversation closes with practical steps for helping kids rediscover purpose and joy through community and faith.

Dr. Jonathan Eckert is a former middle school teacher and basketball coach who worked in the Bush and Obama Department of Education. He has a PhD from Vanderbilt, and currently serves as the Executive Director of the Baylor Center for School Leadership.

02:35 Why the pursuit of happiness backfires

03:29 How phones and comparison fuel kids' unhappiness

04:57 Snowplow parents vs. building "muscles around the backbone"

09:15 Roleplay: what to say when a kid is bullied at school

14:40 Roleplay: when a teen gets caught using AI to cheat

21:18 My teacher story: destructive vs. productive struggle

28:17 The "man in the arena" quote and the ABCs of joy

Connect with Dr. Jonathan Eckert at jonathaneckert.org or on Linkedin.

Grab a copy of Dr. Eckert's book The Happiness Crisis.

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