Jet Li says he had to stop acting like the ‘general’ to become a better dad

Jet Li said he learned to better connect with his daughter by listening instead of immediately offering advice.

Amy Sussman/Getty Images Jet Li said his daughter's mental health struggles made him rethink what it meant to be a good father.

Li said he learned to listen and changed how he interacted with her.

"Become their buddy, become their roommate, become their friend.

Then talk to them," he said.

Jet Li said he had to learn to be a better listener to be a better father.

Speaking on the " Daily Stoic " podcast hosted by Ryan Holiday, the martial artist and actor said his daughter's mental health struggles prompted him to rethink his approach to parenting.

Li said he had no father figure to model himself after, since his own father died when he was 2.

Having grown up in a traditional household, Li said he believed a parent's role was mainly to provide for a child's practical needs .

"You work hard, make a lot of money, then give them a good education," he said.

"That's good enough." But over time, Li said he came to realize that while money could solve some problems, it could not solve them all.

He said that it became clear when one of his daughters, Jada, began struggling with her mental health , and he didn't know "how to help." Li has four daughters: two from his first marriage and two from his second.

He said that despite spending years studying Buddhism and mental training, he did not know how to reach his daughter when she withdrew.

That was when Li said he realized he "needed to learn" how to show up for her differently.