Godly Impact

What you tell yourself about your spouse, children, family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors will make or break your relationships. These stories carry the most emotional weight and, often, have the most at stake.One of the most important reminders in this episode is intensity of emotion is not an accurate measurement of how true or false a story is. We tend to be far more emotionally invested in — and defensive about — our up-close personal stories than our impersonal ones. This applies to both the negative and the positive stories we tell. And it’s especially true when it comes to our children.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

Where does racism, sexism, and classism begin? With a story. The habits we build at the micro-story level directly shape how we think at the macro level.Macro stories tend to come in two varieties:Up close and personal — Stories about people and groups we interact with directly.Far away and impersonal — Stories about people and groups we’ve never met. Paradoxically, we can be more emotionally attached to these stories, precisely because they’re harder for anyone to challenge.The micro-stories we’ve been tracking don’t just exist in isolation. They accumulate. Over time, they reveal and reshape our character, our mindset, and our expectations of others and ourselves. And many macro stories — the big ones — begin as a single micro story that grew.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

We can cling to our stories like we keep clothes in the closet we haven't worn in six years. Why? In Part 2 of the "It's All In Your Head" series, we move beyond the labels of “positive” and “negative” and introduce a more useful framework: true, untrue, and unknown.Paying attention to our stories is work. But like exercise, it gets easier with consistency. Once you experience the benefits, you’ll want to keep at it. And remember: we’re not only looking for negative stories that are costing us. We’re also looking for positive ones worth preserving and protecting.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

Every day we tell ourselves hundreds — maybe thousands — of stories. Some are fleeting micro-stories that last only seconds; others stretch into full narratives. This episode explores why those stories matter so deeply: because they quietly shape our beliefs, drive our actions, define our character, and ultimately determine the impact we have on the world around us.This Week’s ChallengeBegin paying attention to the stories you’re telling yourself — especially the micro-stories that play out in seconds. Here are some ways to track them:Keep a journal and write down the stories you notice throughout the day.Jot quick notes on index cards when a story surfaces.Record voice memos on your phone in the moment.Get curious about what you find. You might be surprised — some stories will be more judgmental or negative than you expected, and others will be more positive. Either way, don’t shame your stories back into hiding. You can’t change what you’re not willing to see.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

Stars have been guiding people for generations, from the wise men who followed it to the birth of Christ to mariners searching for land. Yet without the fixed north star, Polaris, navigation by stars wouldn't be possible. In the final installment of the Core Compass of Truth series, we look at the "North Star" which serves as the guide for all people today--Scripture. While the other points on the compass are necessary, the Bible remains as the fixed point. See why this matters and learn a fascinating bonus fact about our solar system's north star!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#northstar#polaris

Discover a powerful, life-long lesson I learned one Christmas that began with a poem about a pig. 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 #spiritually strong#emotionally healthy#relationally smart#christmas

People. They can be hard to live with. They’re impossible to live without. God has created us to need people for many reasons, one of which is they can help guide us towards truth. Sometimes it’s the truth we need to see about ourselves. Sometimes it’s the truth someone else needs to see. Always it’s to know the truth about who God is and how we are made in His image.In this replay of Part 3 of the Core Compass of Truth series, see how people are crucial to your knowing and living aligned with truth — and how necessary you are to others! 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

Have you ever played peek-a-boo with a child who thought if they covered up their eyes that you couldn’t see them? Sometimes that’s how we are with God and all He created. If we just close our eyes to the evidence of His existence, power, and goodness all around us, He won’t see us. But God is evident in Creation. In Part 2 of the Core Compass of Truth replay, discover how the physical world and universe help point us towards truth.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

What GPS system does your life depend on? I don't mean the kind in your vehicle but the one in your heart signaling what's right/wrong, smart/dumb, and good/bad. Gratefully, God has given us a core compass of truth that has four parts just like the four cardinal directions of north, south, east, and west. Common sense is one point that helps to keep us on track. Listen and discover how common sense is one expression of God's amazing grace and why we won't navigate life wisely without 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#emotionallyhealthy#relationships#lifeskey3#smartrelationships#parenting#raisinggodlykids#raisingadults#bible#faith#truth#biblestudy#christianfaith#christianwomen#christianity#grace#commonsense

Gratitude. A virtue we love and sometimes wonder how to make tangible.Don't let gratitude get buried in the closet of good intentions -- in your life or in your family. Instead, choose a culture of great impact by adopting one or more of the buffet of practices you can choose from. Toss out "fake it until you make it" thinking. That mindset has a short shelf life. Rather, find creative ways that move gratitude from a nice idea to a lived habit.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#gratitude#thanksgiving

Ready or not, change comes!How do you keep from drowning when life hits you unexpectedly with great loss?How do you keep from spinning out of control when something positive comes your way?I unpack five A's to keep you on course, whether you're adjusting to painful or positive circumstances that caught you by surprise. You'll see how to:Act, not react.Accelerate goals, modify them, or let them go.Adjust your priorities, but not your principles.Avoid the temptation to package a Tiffany gift in a Target box.Ask for help and be aware of who to avoid.Share this episode with someone you know who's facing unexpected change in their life.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#change#grief#loss#surprise#celebrate

"You can't change someone else" is true.So is "You can influence someone else to change."How do we not try to take ownership of someone else's life while owning the power of our influence? In this episode you'll learn seven ways you can help or hinder change in someone else -- and maybe even yourself in the process!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#influence#impact#change

The idea that enough pain motivates change is dangerous. While sufficient pain might prompt a person to change, it might also keep them from changing. Why?Because pain can migrate from being an experience to becoming an identity. Young women today are especially wrestling with this because significant and ongoing anxiety has become the "norm." While we want to bring empathy and compassion to this issue, are we promoting the very problem we want to solve by failing to bring truth? I explore change and a specific application to the issue of anxiety in today's episode.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#anxiety#empathy

Change is typically hard, especially when it's significant and has been tried before. While practices and techniques matter, the biggest obstacle is our mindset. Believing change isn't possible, for us or someone else, is the #1 obstacle to growth. Whether subtle or loud, this belief packs incredible power. Today we unpack how:Changed minds will result in changed words and behaviors. The difference between destructive people and difficult peopleThe danger of treating changeable character traits like permanent attributesBelieving change is possible in others requires vulnerabilityWe'll examine how big of a Gospel we have by applying it to what we really believe about the possibility of change -- in ourselves and others.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#change#growth

Change is inevitable. It occurs by default or intention, and when it's by default, it seldom produces the benefits we hope. Yet how does sustainable and positive change happen? In the first episode of the mini-series on Change, I unpack three common yet harmful ideas that keep people from changing:The information fallacyThe rock-bottom mythThe shame motivatorThese ideas can not only limit people's ability to change but can contribute to destructive patterns in ourselves or others.Share this podcast with two friends, and you'll always have something worthwhile to visit about!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#howpeoplechange#growth#personalgrowth

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.RememberRecordRe-orientReleaseRe-energizeWith 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.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#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#emotionallyhealthy#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#lifeskey3#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 #spirituallystrong#emotionallyhealthy#relationships#lifeskey3#smartrelationships#parenting#raisinggodlykids#raisingadults#bible#faith#truth#biblestudy#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#emotionallyhealthy#relationships#lifeskey3#smartrelationships#parenting#raisinggodlykids#raisingadults#bible#faith#truth#biblestudy#christianfaith#christianwomen#christianity#duty#grit#endurance#relationalhealth#relationshipsthatlast