The Dog and the Rabbit

Nikhyl Singhal grew up going to greyhound dog tracks. The dogs would chase fake rabbits around the track, running as fast as they could. But here's the thing: if a dog ever caught the rabbit - if the machine broke and they touched it - that dog would never run again.

'There was like, "Well, what's next? I've achieved what I was looking for."'

This is exactly what happens to kids (and adults) who fixate on a single goal. When I make the team. When I get the grade. When I get that toy. Their entire identity becomes about catching that one rabbit.

And if they catch it? Emptiness. If they don't? Devastation.

Nikhyl sees this constantly: 'Your listeners are spending time focused on like, "Well, one day I will be X." But they don't think about what happens next.'

Help your children have multiple things worth running toward. Curiosity about the world. Relationships that matter. Skills they're building. Adventures they're having. The goal isn't catching one rabbit. The goal is loving the running.

Otherwise, even when they win, they lose.