Episode 172

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Published on:

2nd Sep 2025

How Many Differences Does It Takes to Break a Relationship?

What seems intuitive turns out to be wrong.

Successful long-term relationships have as many, perhaps even more, differences than those who fail or survive but never thrive. How can this be?

People who learn to de-personalize differences succeed. Those who don't, well, they don't succeed.

Differences are inevitable. Letting them destroy your relationships isn't. Learn how to navigate them successfully. In today's episode, we discuss:

Identifying the difference between style and substance
Getting curious about why a difference bugs you
Treating differences like a photo rather than a magnet
The danger of projecting
Staying solution-oriented and refusing stereotypes
Going back to relationship bedrock -- expectations

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About the Podcast

Godly Impact

Grow good intentions into godly impact

You want to be the best possible person, parent, or spouse. Yet sometimes it can be confusing how to do this. The "Godly Impact" podcast helps you grow your good intentions into godly impact. Your good intentions are like seeds that need soil, water, and sunshine. You will cultivate rich soil by learning how God designed people through Biblical principles and modern research. You will discover good insights on how to apply this knowledge to your specific situations.
You have an immeasurable, eternal, and irreplaceable impact. The "Godly Impact" podcast will help you make it count for good. You will appreciate the combination of depth and winsomeness, authority and vulnerability of your host, Stephanie Smith. A wife, mom, mother-in-law, and Nana, Stephanie is a speaker and writer who loves helping others flourish.
Learn more at her website, https://www.stephaniepresents.com/

About your host

Stephanie Smith

Stephanie knows from experience good intentions aren't enough to be spiritually strong, emotionally healthy, and relationally smart--or to raise kids who are. She shares powerful Scriptural principles and science-backed insights into human behavior to equip people to grow good intentions into godly impact.

Stephanie's authenticity creates immediate connection with audiences both virtual and on the stage, while gracious authority provides clarity and confidence for listeners. Her leadership experience includes being a certified Primal Question coach, Christian school founding board member and teacher, homeschool cooperative founder, and Teen Theater Director.

Stephanie is a wife, mother of five grown sons, mother-in-law of four, and Nana to a growing tribe of awesome grandkids. She is committed to Psalm 17:17-18, proclaiming God's power to generations through wisdom forged in real life.