Life inevitably puts us in places of overwhelm. While we can't avoid this entirely, there are ways we can face these times with maturity.

Discover how five "R's" make a crucial difference.

• Remember
• Record
• Re-orient
• Release
• Re-energize

With both practical application and principles from the example of David in 1 Samuel, you'll be empowered to not run away from overwhelm but face it courageously.

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#emotionallyhealthy

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#lifeskey3

#smartrelationships

#parenting

#raisinggodlykids

#raisingadults

#bible

#faith

#truth

#biblestudy

#christianfaith

#christianwomen

#christianity

#stress

#overwhelm

Sometimes the mirror of self-awareness doesn't make us look beautiful. What it reveals is ugly. That's what I experienced recently when tiny sprouts of envy kept popping up in my heart.

The solution began by choosing curiosity over shame. Rather than trying to spray these weeds with a quick prayer of repentance and then zipping on, I stopped to ask why they were growing in the first place. The answer?

My imagination had become too small. Huh?

Yep, there's a correlation between the activity of a holy imagination and the presence of envy. This examination also revealed the connection between pain and cynicism and how to be attuned to the suffering in the world without being consumed by it.

Visit Stephanie Presents for resources, to book speaking engagements, and get the weekly newsletter, Hi(Impact)!

Click here to order your copy of The Great Brain Remodel of Adolescence or purchase from Amazon

#spirituallystrong

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#relationships

#lifeskey3

#smartrelationships

#parenting

#raisinggodlykids

#raisingadults

#bible

#faith

#truth

#biblestudy

#christianfaith

#christianwomen

#christianity

#envy

#imagination

#suffering

#self-awareness

What's one element every relationship depends on for success?

Jesus told a story illustrating this with not just one but two plot twists. The first part of his story is as delightful for us today as it was for the original audience. The second and third parts? They take some swallowing!

Grace and forgiveness received but not given leads to God's judgment and will harm or destroy every relationship. It's not a matter of if, but only when and how much.

The parable of the unforgiving servant demonstrates with clarity that acquisition of knowledge is not equal to application of truth. We are not called to be information collectors but grace givers.

See why grace and forgiveness is a must-have in every happy and successful relationship.

Visit Stephanie Presents for resources, to book speaking engagements, and get the weekly newsletter, Hi(Impact)!

Click here to order your copy of The Great Brain Remodel of Adolescence or purchase from Amazon

#spirituallystrong

#emotionallyhealthy

#relationships

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#smartrelationships

#parenting

#raisinggodlykids

#raisingadults

#bible

#faith

#truth

#biblestudy

#christianfaith

#christianwomen

#christianity

#forgiveness

#grace

#relationships

BFF's (Best Friends Forever) are awesome -- and rare. We can miss great friendships in pursuit of the elusive one BFF. Instead, a new mindset about friends will open the door to building a rich and diverse community of friends. Who knows? Maybe even a BFF will come out of these relationships!

Get practical help on how to move from acquaintances to situational friends towards the inner circle of friends who you entrust with your heart.

Visit Stephanie Presents for resources, to book speaking engagements, and get the weekly newsletter, Hi(Impact)!

Click here to order your copy of The Great Brain Remodel of Adolescence or purchase from Amazon

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#raisingadults

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#faith

#truth

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#christianfaith

#christianwomen

#christianity

#friendships

#buildingclosefriends

#bff

If a relationship doesn't have a higher purpose than itself, it won't be sustainable. If pleasure is the measurement of a successful relationship, by default that nurtures selfish people. Instead, when a relationship serves a higher purpose, fulfillment of duty becomes the measurement. Paradoxically, duty becomes a pleasure.

From King Solomon to Victor Frankl to John F. Kennedy, the importance of a mindset focused on responsibilities rather than pleasure is what sustains individuals and relationships.

Be strengthened to appreciate endurance is its form of achievement and understand why pleasure won't sustain a relationship but purpose will.

Visit Stephanie Presents for resources, to book speaking engagements, and get the weekly newsletter, Hi(Impact)!

Click here to order your copy of The Great Brain Remodel of Adolescence or purchase from Amazon

#spirituallystrong

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#smartrelationships

#parenting

#raisinggodlykids

#raisingadults

#bible

#faith

#truth

#biblestudy

#christianfaith

#christianwomen

#christianity

#duty

#grit

#endurance

#relationalhealth

#relationshipsthatlast

One of the unintended consequences of the concepts of "boundaries" and "toxic people" becoming mainstream is it's reinforced our default tendency to focus on other people's behavior instead of our own. Yet owning our choices is the most fundamental of all relational principles.

Victor Frankl's sobering statement summarizes the truth: "Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”

When we own our ability to choose how we're going to show up in every situation, regardless of how anyone else does, we will experience profound freedom.

Discover the most powerful key to being relationally smart as we unpack moving our focus from others onto ourselves.

Visit Stephanie Presents for resources, to book speaking engagements, and get the weekly newsletter, Hi(Impact)!

Click here to order your copy of The Great Brain Remodel of Adolescence or purchase from Amazon

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#smartrelationships

#parenting

#raisinggodlykids

#raisingadults

#bible

#faith

#truth

#biblestudy

#christianfaith

#christianwomen

#christianity

What seems intuitive turns out to be wrong.

Successful long-term relationships have as many, perhaps even more, differences than those who fail or survive but never thrive. How can this be?

People who learn to de-personalize differences succeed. Those who don't, well, they don't succeed.

Differences are inevitable. Letting them destroy your relationships isn't. Learn how to navigate them successfully. In today's episode, we discuss:

• Identifying the difference between style and substance
• Getting curious about why a difference bugs you
• Treating differences like a photo rather than a magnet
• The danger of projecting
• Staying solution-oriented and refusing stereotypes
• Going back to relationship bedrock -- expectations

Visit Stephanie Presents for resources, to book speaking engagements, and get the weekly newsletter, Hi(Impact)!

Click here to order your copy of The Great Brain Remodel of Adolescence or purchase from Amazon

#spirituallystrong

#emotionallyhealthy

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#smartrelationships

#parenting

#raisinggodlykids

#raisingadults

#bible

#faith

#truth

#biblestudy

#christianfaith

#christianwomen

#christianity

#relationshipsthatsucceed

#longtermrelationships

#differences

What's one trait all children share naturally? It both delights parents and can wear them out. Ready?

Curiosity.

By cultivating this trait in adulthood, we can significantly minimize conflict.

As we continue the mini-series on being relationally smart, we see:

1. The difference between matters of trust and assumptions
2. The connection between assumptions and expectations
3. The power of investigating, not interrogating, your assumptions about yourself and others
4. How fewer assumptions leads to fewer conflicts

Becoming curious rather than defensive can make all the difference in your relationships, whether family, work, friends, or neighbors.

Visit Stephanie Presents for resources, to book speaking engagements, and get the weekly newsletter, Hi(Impact)!

Click here to order your copy of The Great Brain Remodel of Adolescence or purchase from Amazon

#spirituallystrong

#emotionallyhealthy

#relationships

#lifeskey3

#smartrelationships

#parenting

#raisinggodlykids

#raisingadults

#bible

#faith

#truth

#biblestudy

#christianfaith

#christianwomen

#christianity

#assumptions

#curiosity