Episode 169

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Published on:

12th Aug 2025

What's Behind Door #1 and Why It Matters

Communication may be the key that unlocks the door in a relationship, but it's what's behind the door that unites or divides. Too often we've been taught to focus on crafting a beautiful door rather than examining what's on the other side.

All relationships rest on expectations. The more aligned the expectations, the greater the unity. The more misaligned the expectations, the greater the conflict. While this seems like a "well, duh," statement, the reality is we often never identify or express our expectations.

In today's episode, we look at principles including:

1. God has been expressing expectations from the Beginning.

2. Identifying and expressing expectations requires courageous honesty and vulnerability.

3. Identifying and expressing expectations reveals priorities, values, and beliefs about what we owe others and what they owe us.

4. Eliminating all expectations is ridiculous and shouldn’t be a goal. Aligning expectations with what is right, just, and reasonable is our goal. Any other approach isn't sustainable for the long term.

Invite others as I begin this "Relationally Smart" mini-series.

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About the Podcast

Life's Key 3
Building spiritually strong, emotionally healthy, and relationally smart generations
Each person has an immeasurable, eternal, and irreplaceable impact! To realize and use this capacity for the highest good is dependent on being spiritually strong, emotionally healthy, and relationally smart. Through teaching and guest interviews, listeners are empowered with timeless truths from Scripture and modern insights from the science of human dynamics. Parents gain practical help and significant encouragement in raising kids ready for adulthood! Come curious. Go galvanized, ready to engage fully in God's grand story!
https://www.stephaniepresents.com/

About your host

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Stephanie Smith

Stephanie Smith's heart for teaching began with the chickens and cows on her childhood farm. ​Today’s audiences don't moo or squawk but instead appreciate Stephanie’s applying Biblical truths and human insights to real issues with artfulness, authority, and authenticity. Experiencing deep relational and emotional pain starting at birth, Stephanie is now on a mission to build spiritually strong, emotionally healthy, and relationally smart women and families.
Stephanie’s passion for education motivated helping launch and teaching at a homeschool cooperative and later a Christian school. She’s mom to five grown sons, mother-in-law to four heart daughters, and Nana to seven grands. Believing every person has an impact that is immeasurable, eternal, and irreplaceable, Stephanie invites and equips others to engage fully in God's grand story!