Smart Living with Grit and Grace

Are you dating someone or looking to date? Regardless of where you might be in those two categories, it’s never too late to evaluate whether your potential life partner is a keeper.

In this podcast episode of This Grit and Grace Life, Darlene Brock and Julie Bender outline what characteristics you need to look out for—both the red flags and the green flags—so you can quickly identify whether your man is a keeper, or someone who should see the door.

Quote of the episode:

“If we want to be a keeper, we need to have the same attributes we’re looking for in them.” —Darlene Brock

Mentions:
—Why Hasn’t Your Boyfriend Proposed or Set a Date? With Dr. Zoe Shaw – 140
—”Is Your Man a Never-Fiancé, Forever-Fiancé, or The One?”
—View Caroline’s Instagram reel: “I Have a Broken Picker”

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We’re witnessing radical changes in our culture. Topics ranging from gender identity and sexual boundaries to living “your truth” are making both headlines and appearances in our daily life. And many times, these issues run counter to what we believe as women of faith. So how do we adapt to a shifting culture and still pursue what we know to be true?

In this episode of This Grit and Grace Life, Darlene Brock and Julie Bender discuss the ways that traditional values and the understanding of what’s right or wrong have changed over the years, touching on topics like casual sex and family dynamics. They also share how we as women of faith can embrace truth and navigate these new waters through grace and compassion, rather than judgment through measuring sin. Are you willing to sit and talk with someone whose beliefs or decisions differ greatly from your own?

God designed a perfect life for us to live. Our job is to pursue His truth—which includes loving others the way He would.

“Truth, couched in mercy and grace, is the only thing we can find hope in.” —Darlene Brock

Mentions:
—Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr—“Are Women Being Marginalized—Again?”

Related:
—How Do I Raise My Kids when the Culture and Bible Collide? with Dr. Jim Denison – 177
—“So, We Disagree—Can We Still Talk?”

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Would you say you’re confident? Or would it be more accurate to say that you experience flickers of self-doubt now and again? If you said the latter, you’re not alone.

This week, Darlene Brock and Julie Bender discuss the plague of self-doubt and shame we face as women, and how we get caught in the trap of comparison. They break down the most common areas we struggle with, including feeling too old; feeling too young; wondering if we’re good enough; feeling burdened by our pasts; and more, and share ways to identify your strengths (rather than focus on your perceived weaknesses).

If you’re looking to break free of self-doubt, embarrassment and shame, this is the right place to find hope.

Quote of the episode:

“We love to tell other people they’re equal and valuable, but what about us?” —Darlene Brock

Mentions:

—Ask Dr. Zoe – 6 Steps to Transform Your Self-Talk
—From Living on the Streets to Finding Redemption with Laila Schell – 218
—My Parents’ Murder-Suicide and the Road to Forgiveness with Tracy Brandt – 208

Related Content:

—This Is What I Would Say to the Man Who Raped Me
—How Do I Know What Defines Me?
—Advice for the Woman Who’s Not Happy in Front of the Mirror
—To the Mom Lacking Self-Confidence: Do This

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Do you mindlessly “like” quotes on Facebook or Instagram? We realized that we do. We post them a lot too! What if we actually took a moment to ponder the intention behind the quote? Finding ways could we grow, or shoot, just relax. What if we actually applied them to our lives? In this episode Darlene and Julie talk about several quotes they really love, some are serious, thoughtful, others are just plain funny. We are taking a little bit of time to discover how each quote can teach us a lesson worth learning, not one made just for double-tapping.

Here are a few we discussed:

“Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself.” Coco Chanel

“Follow your heart, but take your brain with you.” Unknown

“Both of us can’t look good at the same time. It’s either me or the house” Unknown

“If I’m being honest” or “To be perfectly honest” or “honestly...”

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me’.” Erma Bombeck

“Storms make trees take deeper roots” Dolly Parton

“If you feel the wind blowing through your hair, it’s time to shave your legs.” Unknown

“YOLO”

In the app? To see full show notes, click on the Episode Webpage link below.

Quote of the episode:

“To be honest, I’m winging it. Life, motherhood, my eyeliner. Everything.”

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Do you have a purpose in your life? Or avoid the subject because you feel that you don’t? Women who are living this #gritandgracelife can accomplish so many things, but we are often set back by fear or worry, or we compare ourselves to others. In this episode, Julie explores Darlene’s life journey. Sharing five life tips that she followed to get where she is now: having several successful careers, a rich multi-decade marriage, as well as launching two grown daughters into fulfilling lives of their own. If you’re at a crossroads, struggling with your next step, or seeking to discover a passion that is uniquely for you this episode will deliver.

Viewing in an app? Full show notes here.

Quote of the episode:

“Success is most often achieved by those who don’t know that failure is inevitable” Coco Chanel

“I have found my ability to complete my many endeavors by just not giving up. It’s the determination to move forward in the midst of the most difficult challenges that has enabled me to weather many of life’s storms” Darlene Brock

Once you’re done with this episode, you’ll want to go back and listen to How to Face the Impossible with Grit and Grace – 035.

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