Growing an Emotional Portfolio

May the Fourth be with your emotions today. Whether they’re calm like a Jedi or wild like a Wookiee, every feeling has its place.

This month, we’re diving into one of the most important—and underrated—skills kids need: emotional regulation.

And if you're anything like me, when you hear “regulation,” your mind might go straight to financial markets. (Old habits die hard, right?)

But lately, I've been thinking... what if emotions worked a lot like investments? 🤔

The more variety you have — the more "emodiversity" — the stronger and more resilient you get. It's not just about feeling happy all the time (just like it's not about only buying stocks that are "winning" today). It's about learning to weather the storms and enjoy the sunny days, too.

Turns out, researchers agree: kids who experience and understand a wide range of emotions grow up more flexible, adaptable, and mentally strong. It's like building a really solid emotional portfolio that pays off for life.

This month, we’re exploring how to help your kids build emotional wealth—without lectures, complicated systems, or boring worksheets. Just real, practical ideas to help them (and you!) roll with the ups and downs a little better every day.

Ready to start investing where it matters most? Let's go!

You’ve probably seen those "Investor Emotion Charts" — the ones that show people getting overly excited when markets go up ("This is amazing!") and panicking when they drop ("Sell everything!").

Turns out... kids (and adults) go through the same emotional roller coasters in everyday life.

The goal isn’t to flatten the ride — it’s to teach them how to stay steady through it.

Here’s how to bring this idea home.

1. Teach Them to "Ride the Waves"

Emotions are like the stock market—there will always be ups and downs. That’s normal, not a problem to fix! This gives kids permission to feel without panicking or labeling emotions as "bad."

👉 Tip: When your child feels upset, tell them: "Feelings rise and fall, just like waves. You don’t have to fight them—just ride them out. It will pass."

2. Focus on "Risk Management"

Strong emotions can feel risky—like an uncertain investment. But the goal isn’t to avoid risk; it’s to learn how to manage it wisely.

The more kids practice hitting "pause" before reacting, the more they build emotional intelligence like an expert investor making smart moves instead of impulsive ones.

👉 Tip: Teach a simple 3-step pause: "Breathe deep. Name the feeling. Choose your next move."

3. Think "Long-Term Growth"

Just like smart investors don’t get discouraged by a single bad day, resilient kids don’t define themselves by one tough moment. This helps kids see every experience—even hard ones—as an investment in who they’re becoming over time.

👉 Tip: Celebrate emotional wins like this: "Today was hard, but you stayed kind. That’s real strength."

And if you want to leave your kids with a message they'll never forget, share this:

Even legends like Kobe Bryant didn’t get there by staying happy all the time. He faced fear, failure, and frustration—and he used those emotions as fuel. 🏀

In one of his final interviews with Jay Shetty, Kobe Bryant shared what truly separates the greats: emotional resilience. Watch it here. It’s one of those lessons your child will carry forever—straight from one of the greatest minds in sports and life.

Explorer Your Three Voices

Ever wish your child had a “cheat sheet” for understanding their emotions?

This Emotions Tracker is just that—a simple, powerful printable to help kids recognize, name, and talk about their feelings with confidence. Because when kids understand what they’re feeling, they can start learning how to handle it too.

Created to be kid-friendly and parent-approved, this printable tracker isn’t just for tough days—it’s for everyday moments that build emotional strength over time.

Stick it on the fridge, keep it near your calm-down corner, or use it as a daily check-in tool. However you use it, you’re giving your child a lifelong skill: emotional awareness.

Download it today and start growing your child’s emotional toolkit—one feeling at a time. 💛

In investing—and in parenting—the real growth doesn’t just come from wins.
It comes from learning how to handle the ups and the downs without losing heart.

The same is true for emotions.

Celebrate all of your child's emotions—not just the "happy" ones—because every feeling they face and work through strengthens their emotional intelligence portfolio for life.

And speaking of building futures... don’t forget: there’s still time for your child to enter our Dear Harmony Video Challenge! 🎥✨

It’s a total win-win: your child gets to reflect on what lights them up and you get a chance to win a seat to Camp Supernova! 🚀 (Perfect for growing real-world skills this summer.)

In a world where economies are shifting faster than ever, helping your kids build an emotionally diversified portfolio might just be one of the most powerful investments you ever make.

And it starts right now—with small, everyday moments.

You’ve got this! 🙌