Personal Growth | Grit and Grace Life

For Everything There Is a Season: Reflections on Turning 40

By Caroline Beidler / Purpose, Audio Articles

(Listen to the audio version of this article here.) Almost to the day of me turning 40, I began receiving emails from my dermatologist with deals for $10 shots of Botox. Along with some other strange things like: silver hair appearing around my temples, thinning skin on my forearms, random jutting veins like tributaries on an old map on skin only visible when I wear shorts (which is rarely), under eyes like crinkle paper, new ridges etching into my forehead (what my daughter calls: “squigglies”), groaning when I bend down to pick something up, creaking when I wake up the morning after a workout, calling college students “kids,” and needing that overhead light to do the dishes… I also started recognizing a […]

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Change: How to Keep Calm and Carry On

By Marlys Johnson Lawry / Faith, Audio Articles

(Listen to the audio version of this article here.) The crocuses and daffodils are stretching upward to show off their color after a long winter’s nap, and our trees are budding and leafing. It’s mid-April as I write this. With temperatures in the high 70s last week, we stored the snow-blower in the shop, uncovered the deck furniture, and set the Adirondack chairs around the firepit. During this change-of-season ritual, I commented to my husband, “You know this means it will snow again, right?” Yep. We woke up to three inches of the fluffy white stuff this morning. Of course. (Did I mention it’s mid-April?) Here at the base of central Oregon’s Cascade Mountains, seasons shift and change every which way. Now,

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How Do I Begin to Heal from Past Emotional Hurt? with Elizabeth Bristol -186

By Smart Living with Grit and Grace / Podcast, Relationships

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | TuneIn | RSS | MorePart of growing older—and being human—is learning how to recognize and manage our emotions in a healthy way. Our emotions have the power to help us grow, but they can also hold us back, especially when we’ve been hurt by others in the past. Elizabeth Bristol joins Darlene Brock and Julie Bender on this week’s podcast episode to share how she overcame her past emotional hurt. Elizabeth dealt with heartache and traumatic situations, including rape and drug use. After years of feeling stagnant in her pain, God prompted her to write down her story. It was only after she faced the pain of her past head-on and

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Are the Ghosts of Your Past Still Living With You?

By Allison McCormick / Faith, Audio Articles

(Listen to the audio version of this article here.) The small, blue house trimmed in bright white sits at the end of a dead-end street. Built in the late 1940s, it was taken down to the studs and thoughtfully reimagined. White tree roses line the walkway and embrace the foundation. Raised garden beds are carefully placed throughout the backyard, angled just right to catch the morning and mid-day sun. Large ceramic bowls, filled with water, and wooden feeders provide refuge for the local birds and a source of exasperation for the resident squirrels. Have You Found Freedom from Your Past, or Do You Live With It? A heart-shaped wreath invites you through the front door. Artwork and handmade quilts grace the walls.

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What Are the 6 Characteristics of a Strong Woman? with Leadership Expert Jenni Catron – 183

By Smart Living with Grit and Grace / Podcast, Life & Culture

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | TuneIn | RSS | MoreWhat does it mean to be a strong woman? Beyond the literal definition, a strong woman exemplifies leadership qualities in every area of her life—namely, in the way she influences those around her. Leadership expert and CEO Jenni Catron joined Darlene Brock and Julie Bender to share the six characteristics you may not even know you have that make you strong. You’ll be surprised to learn that often, the biggest obstacle standing in the way of our potential for growth and impact is ourselves. One of the most critical traits of a strong woman is self-awareness; only when we take a personal temperature check can we clearly

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Challenges to conquer? All you need is a growth mindset.

How Brain Science Restored My Hope for Change

By Katie Cress / Life & Culture

Ever find inspiration in the most unexpected places? A TV show? A friendly cashier at the supermarket? A good book? I love when that happens, when fate just seems to throw you a signal, grabbing the attention of your heart just when you need it most. Well as fate would have it, I was in desperate need of some encouragement, and I found it when I was least expecting it. Just When I Was Starting to Lose Hope, Something Told Me to Hold On I was going through the growing pains of real adulthood in my mid-20s. In conversations with friends, I described this stage of life as a domino effect where, whether in my personal life or the lives of my

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This Is What We Want for You In 2022! – 174

By Smart Living with Grit and Grace / Podcast, Life & Culture

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | TuneIn | RSS | MoreWe finally made it to 2022! It seems like a feat, especially after the events of the last two years. So you might be a little apprehensive about what’s in store for the next 12 months. In this podcast episode, Darlene Brock and Julie Bender chat about what they’ve learned since the start of 2021, as well as 5 ways that we can intentionally shape our thoughts and actions to pave the path for a more peaceful, satisfying year. We hope you walk away from this episode with a feeling of control and anticipation for the experiences and interactions that await you—especially the good ones. Quote of

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Ask Dr. Zoe – I Need a Change, How Can I Find Myself Again?

By Dr. Zoe / Ask Dr. Zoe, Purpose

‘Jill’ Asked: I have recently quit a job that I was very good at but I was working 90+ hours per week and living away from my husband. I have always wanted to start a business, so I figured now is the time. I am 53 years old and time is ticking. But, I don’t know where to begin to figure out what business I should start. After working so many hours, I barely know myself and feel a bit lost. How can I find myself again and hopefully a new path? Thank you! Jill Dr. Zoe Answered: You are in good company. You and so many other women are struggling to find themselves in this season of life. And this is

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You’ll Find More Freedom When You Learn to Say No

By Marlys Johnson Lawry / Purpose

When I was first widowed, I adopted the attitude of saying “yes” to as many opportunities as possible. “I’d love to travel with you to Israel.” “Of course, I’ll join you and the kids in Disney World.” And not only yes to new adventures, but also yes to interruptions, volunteer respite care, and visiting the dying. Saying yes can be challenging after a major setback that drives us to our couches with stacks of books and pots of tea. When we’ve lost something of significant value—our health, rewarding work, a loved one—we want the comfort of the familiar. But getting off the couch and speaking yes means we trust God with the unexpected events we wouldn’t have written into our stories. It

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Ask Dr. Zoe – How Can I Discover My Purpose?

By Dr. Zoe / Ask Dr. Zoe

‘Paige’ Asked: Hi Dr. Zoe! I wanted to ask you as I’ve been pondering for years and it’s a deep desire of mine to be able to find and understand how to navigate the road to discover my purpose. Do you have any tips to bring to light individual purpose? And perhaps to clarify by purpose, I mean how I can utilize my tools in my tools belt and my story to feel fulfilled with a career, although I haven’t pinpointed exactly what I will feel fulfilled doing? Need advice on how to start the journey to discovering what will create a fulfilling life with a career path. My current one is empty and I’m disengaged by what I actually do. I

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We’re Back! – 163

By Smart Living with Grit and Grace / Podcast

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | TuneIn | RSS | MoreWe’re back! After what co-host Julie Bender calls “the shortest summer ever,” her and Darlene Brock catch up on life and give a preview of the great things in store as they return with new episodes of This Grit and Grace Life podcast. But the summer hiatus wasn’t all road-tripping and mountain-hiking. The team at Grit and Grace Life spruced up the website and revamped the podcast to better meet you where you are. We’ve realized that the world continues to spin out of control, but we know answers can be found. The podcast takes on a new format, where Darlene and Julie pose the questions you’re

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Feeling Knocked Down? Lessons Learned When Bears Attacked My Trees

By Darlene Brock / Life & Culture

Several years ago, my husband and I built a home in the mountains of North Carolina. We made every effort to fit into the landscape with materials native to the terrain and kept other crucial vegetation from being knocked down. Maple and sweetgum trees fill the front yard, turning a magnificent red in the cool temperatures of autumn; oaks and chinquapins with tall branches where the squirrels do their daily dance. The back of our home sits atop a mountain cliff, having placed it as close to the edge as safety would allow. We Found Black Bears in Our Yard, and They Made a Statement We didn’t know when we chose the land and laid out the building site that we had

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Trapped in a Past Relationship? Here’s the Best Way to Move On

By Ashley Vancil / Relationships

Treading the waters of the “single” world and learning to move on from a past relationship can be tough. I never imagined that I would be in my mid-30s, divorced and single. Let us throw in dating as a single mama of three. It seemed like such a daunting, impossible task. Until one day it wasn’t. I’ve spent the majority of the past few years focusing on my health, mental healing, and doing some deep soul work in order to grow. I realized that it’s hard to break away from a relationship because humans, by nature, are not meant to be alone. The pain we feel coming out of a relationship is often the result of looking to someone else to feel

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Ask Dr. Zoe – How Do I Heal From Past Trauma That Left Me Detached and Unemotional?

By Dr. Zoe / Ask Dr. Zoe

‘Talenkynic Dromdfrevc’ Asked: Hi there, I don’t think I react to crises the same way as others; I become detached and unemotional. I think I may have suffered multiple traumas before I was able to process. I now pastorally care for many people and think I need to work through it but don’t know how to start. Any suggestions? Dr. Zoe Answered: You think you may have suffered multiple traumas… People who haven’t been traumatized don’t often wonder if they have—especially “multiple times.” This tells me that you need to figure out what happened to you—or acknowledge what you already know. Yes, your reaction may be a trauma response. It may not be, but it isn’t the healthiest response, and you already

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Unexpected Situations Come with Blessings, You Just Need to Look!

By Joyell Nevins / Life & Culture

There are few guarantees in life. It is not guaranteed that life will be simple, or easy, or go according to plan. In fact, it’s usually the opposite of that. But, I have found that with God, we can learn to embrace unexpected situations—they can become an adventure and a joy. You just gotta laugh and roll with it! I had that choice to laugh and roll or scream and cry when a special lunch turned into something else. I had two tutoring jobs in the same part of town, with a small lunch break in between. The plan was to meet a lovely friend for lunch. We hadn’t spent time together in a while, so it was going to be a

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the loss of my son is changing how i teach my children healthy emotions

Losing My Son Has Changed How I Teach My Children Healthy Emotions

By Cara Martinisi / Motherhood

I’m a mom of three boys, and while I know from experience that prepubescent girls have their own struggles, I am beginning to learn about the struggles of prepubescent boys. My ten-year-old middle son had one of those days today. It was one of those days where it feels like everything is going wrong. He got his first zit, didn’t sleep well last night, and everything just feels “icky” as he stated it. It makes me feel terrible to see him this way. My initial emotional reaction is always the same, “Quick, make him feel better!” Just as quickly as that thought appears, it fades and my reasoning takes over. In my head, I know that I am robbing him of integral

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Wise Words for Women in Our Grit and Grace Life – 162

By Smart Living with Grit and Grace / Podcast

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | TuneIn | RSS | MoreWith life traveling faster than we can keep up, many of us are facing storms that threaten to take our joy, sanity, and peace. What we all need right now are wise words for women to handle this grit and grace life. We don’t need a quippy cliché or a half-hearted platitude but real practical truths to apply as needed. To offer that, co-hosts Darlene Brock and Julie Bender take to the mic to share six insights on life that benefit every woman. Since they are taking a recording break for a few months, they wanted to leave you with these hard-won words of wisdom. After listening

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