Life is better with friends. There’s just something remarkably special about finding a person (or a few) out of billions in the world who can belly laugh with you over a meal or willingly be at your side in a time of grief. Friendships are mostly easy, but healthy ones still require some work!

In this Smart Living with Grit and Grace podcast episode, Darlene Brock and Julie Bender dive into two important discussions on this topic: building strong friendships and navigating ones that are fizzling out. For the former, you’ll discover five ways to set your friendship up for success (hint: it takes selflessness and being generous with your time), fun activities that allow for quality time together, and how to apply the principles of friendship to your marriage. For the latter, Darlene and Julie chat through the seasons of life that can unwittingly end a friendship and how to approach it with grace.

Whether you have the same group of gals in your circle or are grieving the end of a friendship, this is a must-listen-to episode.

“A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity.” —Proverbs 17:17

Related

Mentioned

Be sure to follow us on social media!

The sibling that got away with everything. The coworker that scored your promotion. The “friend” who stopped including you in group conversations.

We’re all familiar with resentment, and the mutated ball of anger, hurt, disgust and annoyance it leaves in the pit of our stomachs. Whether someone outright betrayed you or you were inadvertently treated unfairly, resentment can slowly creep into your heart and rob you of joy and gratitude. It’s a human response, but a dangerous one if left to fester.

In today’s episode of Smart Living with Grit and Grace, Darlene Brock and Julie Bender discuss how resentment can erode our relationships and our ability to trust. They also unpack an 8-step checklist designed to help us assess the situation fairly and avoid resentment’s slippery slope:

You may not be able to restore a healthy relationship with the person who wronged you, but you can arrive at a place where bitterness no longer has a hold on you. All the tools you need to do that are in this episode!

“Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.” —Saint Augustine

Related

Mentioned

Be sure to follow us on social media!

“You’ll never know unless you try” is sound advice to soothe our doubts. But doubt doesn’t always come with ulterior motives; sometimes, it’s merely a cautionary measure meant to protect us.

So how do you decipher the root of your doubt? Smart Living with Grit and Grace co-hosts Darlene Brock and Julie Bender answer that question with several actionable steps to help you work through your doubt and determine its purpose. Whether you’re struggling with self-doubt, doubting others, or even doubting God’s promises, rushing into the next season or next step to move past it could result in missed opportunities or even dangers if not properly considered.

Let your doubt inform you, but don’t let it control you.

“Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.” —Suzy Kassem

Related

Mentioned

Be sure to follow us on social media!

It’s usually early- to mid-fall when we hear others expressing a desire to fast forward through the season and jump right into the holidays. The year has been too long, too hard, too unforgiving. Wouldn’t it be better to skip right to the Thanksgiving and Christmas festivities and brush all our complications behind us (at least until the New Year)?

The fast forward button isn’t a thing—at least not yet—so you’re better off focusing on the good in each day. In fact, studies show that just a few minutes of practicing gratitude each day reaps numerous health benefits—stress relief, reduced depression, and better sleep among them.

In this episode of Smart Living with Grit and Grace, Darlene Brock and Julie Bender offer hope for the woman looking for a reason to be thankful. Darlene vulnerably reveals the small but bright moments that carried her through her young daughter’s hospitalization years ago, and together, the duo shares the benefits of committing to daily gratitude practices, such as journaling or vocally expressing your appreciation for big and small joys alike, even in seasons of hardship.

It may feel forced initially, but over time, you’ll find your perspective shifting to see the highlight of each day, rather than the lows. And those will cultivate a heart that rests in gratitude.

“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.” —Psalm 95:1-2

Related

Mentioned

Be sure to follow us on social media!

We don’t need research studies to tell us we’re stressed (although they do, and frequently—a 2021 Gallup poll found that 41% of adults worldwide experience a lot of stress). We feel it everywhere: demanding hours and clients at work; raising kids; the news; the ever-ending list of things to do—the list goes on. Are you ready to leave stress behind? We’ve got you covered!

In this podcast episode, co-hosts Darlene Brock and Julie Bender rip off the band-aid: We can’t get rid of stress entirely. But we can get a better handle on it by dealing with it in healthier ways. Part of the trick is recognizing when you’re stressed; what responses and behaviors you default to when overwhelm takes a hold. Then, when you feel it coming on, implement one or more of these six practical tips for mitigating stress:

As Darlene and Julie chat through each of these tips and their application, you’ll find specific combinations and variations that work best with your schedule and emotions to deal with stress head-on.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.” —James 14:27

Related

Mentioned

Be sure to follow us on social media!

Are you feeling a little aimless at the moment? Perhaps you’re in a season of life that has you questioning your purpose. If that sounds frighteningly familiar, don’t fret—even the seasons that feel purposeless have a purpose!

In this episode of Smart Living with Grit and Grace, Darlene Brock and Julie Bender discuss how to find confidence when you’re transitioning into a new stage of life. Starting retirement, getting married, entering motherhood, searching for your next job can all leave you with a fuzzy vision of your purpose and the value you offer. To get you back on track, the duo shares the importance of detaching yourself from your role and learning how to embrace change as an opportunity for a blank slate. You’ll also discover how to find meaning in the slow, quiet seasons in between.

“For I am about to do something new. See? I’ve already begun. Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness; I will create rivers in a dry wasteland.” —Isaiah 43:19

Related

Mentioned

Be sure to follow us on social media!

Do you have a tendency to repeat reminders to those closest to you? Perhaps you feel like you’re constantly asking your husband to get off the couch or urging your kids to clean their rooms. While your intentions are good, your delivery may be perceived as nagging.

In this episode of Smart Living with Grit and Grace, Darlene Brock and Julie Bender dive into the prickly topic of nagging. It’s something many of us would like to think we don’t do, but we often innocently fall into the habit. They share the tell-tale signs of nagging, how to uncover the root cause of our repeated requests, and the way we can more clearly and kindly communicate them to those we care about.

“It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.” —Proverbs 21:19

Related

Be sure to follow us on social media!

Are you tired of waiting? Maybe you’re waiting on a future spouse to walk into your life, sitting in fast food lines that feel anything but, or pining for that dream job opportunity to fall into our laps. We’re all excitedly—and usually impatiently—waiting for something. Why do all the good things in life take so long?

One could argue those things wouldn’t be very good to begin with if they didn’t require at some patience, but we think there’s more to it. In this episode of Smart Living with Grit and Grace, Darlene Brock and Julie Bender discuss why waiting actually serves us more than immediately getting what we want and how you can purposefully fill the time in between.

“Everything that is worth waiting for is not always on your timeline.” —Darlene Brock

Mentioned

Related

Be sure to follow us on social media!

The moment we’ve all been waiting for has finally arrived—the Smart Living in Small Bites book series is officially live and available for purchase now on Amazon!

If you have experienced (or are still walking through) a challenging life circumstance and wish you could talk with a friend who has been there and understands, look no further. Each book in the series is written by a woman who has experienced that same challenge. These authors detail the difficulties they encountered, the wisdom they gained, and the practical steps they took to find hope and healing so that you might do the same.

In this special podcast episode, Darlene Brock and Julie Bender share an inside look at the structure of the books, the first four subjects in the series, and some exciting additional features that are available to you with your purchase, right now.

Author Julie Bender walks you through her difficult first marriage, applying the lessons learned in her current marriage. She offers an honest picture of common marital challenges and the beauty of committing to working toward their resolutions. This book will help you uncover the steps to face your trials head-on to repair your relationship and rebuild a healthy, resilient marriage for a lifetime.   

Click here to buy now!

Click here to buy now!

Click here to buy now!

Click here to buy now!

Mentioned

Be sure to follow us on social media!

Exciting changes are in store for This Grit and Grace Life podcast!

If you’ve been with us for a while, you know we launched a new endeavor called Smart Living with Grit and Grace last year and will be releasing an eponymous book series this month (keep your eye on your inbox over the next few days!). Now, we’re rebranding the podcast with a new look and feel—and a new name!

In this episode, Darlene and Julie share what’s in store for the new Smart Living with Grit and Grace podcast: fresh content, shorter episodes, increased frequency and more! You’ll learn how they landed on the new name and what topics you can expect in the next few weeks. It’s an exciting season for Grit and Grace Life, and we’re thrilled to have you along for the ride!

“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1

Mentioned

Be sure to follow us on social media!