Bragg-About Life Podcast

Were you told, "Train up a child, and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

Were you promised, if you parent correctly, everything will be okay.

Were you pressured to insist that your kids obey, promptly, completely, with a positive attitude, every time, every adult?

Were you taught a PARENTING MYTH?

I've never met a parent who didn't have the desire to be the best parent possible to their kids.

And, parenting is a sensitive topic.

And parents are getting so much conflicting advice. After 22 years, I'm sharing my secret but strong opinion.

Just so you know, I don't think we're doing our kids any favors by not trusting that we know what's best for our kids.

That's why I say that parents need to be confident!

Then, I debunk the fear myth I learned at church that would have made me into a hyper-controlling parent.

And, finally, I share why I believe raising our kids to be strong, instead of training them to be submissive, is the far superior (and Biblical) approach.

Have you ever CRAVED wisdom?

I remember when I was a little girl, and I wanted to know EVERYTHING.

I'm sure my questions drove my family nuts.

(I KNOW they drove my teachers nuts - they told me so!)

But it just seemed to me, if you knew more, you'd make better decisions.

And better decisions would lead to a better life.

Anyway, that's what I thought when I was about age 8.

Now, at 47? I am CONVINCED of it.

So, I thought I would share with you the stages we pass through to go from IGNORANCE (everyone's starting spot) to WISDOM - and how that can help us become SELF AWARE of our own blind spots!

I think that's pretty cool - but remember, I was the nerdy kid at school asking ALL the questions!

Here's the thing to remember, especially if you are like me, with an insatiable desire for growth -

NOT EVERONE is like you.

And that's okay.

That does not make them wrong, or you WEIRD.

It makes you WISE.

There's a saying, Ignorance is bliss.

The more you learn, the more you desire to learn.

If I had to choose between wisdom or bliss -

I'd choose wisdom. I'd envy the blissful person next to me, lol!

But I would STILL choose wisdom.

What would you choose?

So, that's my warning before you listen to this episode!

Are you looking for a better time management system so you'll have more time to spend with the ones you love, and doing the things you love to do?

Or, are you looking for a time management system that will help you get EVERYTHING done, regardless of its importance to you and your purpose and goals in life?

This episode dives into how "time management" stops being a tool, and potentially becomes a TRAP - when it is used indiscriminately.

Especially geared for Christians who feel guilty about resting when there's ALWAYS more that can be done for the Kingdom of God,

I hope that this episode will give you:

greater discernement, greater peace, and more confidence

As well as gently nudge you to make MORE time for God's gift of REST in your life.

PS - ready to escape the time management trap and enjoy the benefits of having more time, getting more done, without hustle, without fear, but not sure where to start? Start here by booking a Clarity call at https://aprilbragg.as.me/clarity

Ever looked at a talented friend doing something that you secretly wish you could do, but you're plagued by the thought "I could never do that. She is so confident!"

Well, I've learned a little secret.

There's not much that we cannot LEARN how to do. Even things like speaking on stage or video - which is the thing that I wanted to learn how to do - even though the mere thought had me breaking out in HIVES!

So, in this 100th episode of Bragg...About Life, I thought I would share with you my story of going from "I'll NEVER be on video" to now starting a YOUTUBE video!

And going through this journey showed me there are 2 questions and 1 secret ingredient I use all the time to cultivate confidence.

And that's why I'm calling it the Confidence Formula.

Now, I'd love to hear from you - what area of your life would you like to apply the confidence formula to? Tell me and I'll cheer you on!

Ever wished you had more time?
Ever feel guilty for wanting more time for yourself?

What if those 2 things are linked?

There's a reason why most women's time management problem is not going to be solved by "becoming more efficient" or "going to a digital calendar".

I know. I tried. I even bought a HUGE wall calendar and wrote EVERYTHING down - and still didn't have time.

Because there were 3 people stealing my time.

And that's why I now know this - if we don't stop the steal, it won't help to make more time - because that extra time will just get taken too.

(kinda like government with our income taxes - but I'll keep this non-political, lol!)

Listen, TIME is the currency of our life. It's what we use to buy experience and memories and share our gifts and presence with others.

May this video inspire you to see your time as your most VALUABLE asset to steward.

I'm concerned that we as Christians have accepted BUSY-ness as NORMAL.

I'm not talking about being productive. I'm talking about that rushed feeling we all have when we believe "there's not enough time for me to do what I need to do."

Does your life feel BUSY - all the time?

In this episode, I explain the difference between being "busy" for a season versus being busy as a lifestyle, and how I was taught that Godliness looks like "being busy all the time" and why I believe that is actually a lie from the Enemy rather than way God designed us to exist.

I also share the BIG reason why I have chosen to reject "busyness" as a normal state, especially for Christians.

Finally, I share a few reasons why we fall into the busy trap, and 3 steps for breaking free from it.

Don't you love a great shortcut - a life hack - something that makes life easier or better?

That's what I think WISDOM does.

Only problem was, I used to think, "It takes a LOT of time to become wiser. Or a LOT of experience."

Well, recently, I realized that I have been using a shortcut to WISDOM for a long time.

Today, I'm sharing that Wisdom shortcut with you.

I like to think of it as "Put 100 years of wisdom in the same room and grow wiser in one day"

And that's why I love the idea of "Cultivating Intergenerational Wisdom"

In this episode, I share where I got the idea, how I implement it, and how you can start too.

I'd love to hear your perspective - do you have wise women in your life from different age groups that you love to spend time with?

The Faith To Do Hard Things?

I have a saying. "Life's not meant to be HARD; it's meant to be LIVED."

I started telling myself that sometime in my late 30's.

See, up to that point, I was always trying to make life easier.

And, in A LOT of areas, I succeeded.

I simplified my home, I automated my homeschooling, I mastered budgeting, I even got on board with exercising on a regular basis.

It felt like I was a real ADULT, lol!

And then God prompted me to do something NEW, something DIFFERENT, something HARD.

Because life isn't supposed to get easier and easier - we're supposed to GROW AND GROW.

As we grow, what WAS HARD becomes easy, and we have more capacity and more capability.

WHY is life like this?

BECAUSE it does US good, it does the WORLD good, when we exercise FAITH.

So, in this episode, I share what "HARD" thing I'm up to these days, why I believe we are called to WALK by FAITH, and how I hope YOU too will commit to WALKING BY FAITH...

Even if it feels hard.

PS - That book I was talking about? Here's the first chapter for FREE - https://aprilbragg.com/book/

If we ENJOY reading the Bible, then we will naturally do more of it.

And also, sometimes finding even 5 minutes a day to call our own is challenging!

In this episode of Bragg-About Life, I share 3 main ways to read our Bible - or as I like to call it, "Finding Your Bible Reading Style"!

But, here's something that I didn't say in the episode - ANY time spent in the Word of God is potentially transformational.

One verse, quoted from memory, on repeat throughout a difficult day, is my FAVORITE way to spend time in God's Word - even if I don't actually OPEN the Bible (or OPEN the BIBLE APP on my phone - which is how I exclusively read these days!)

A Bible verse posted on the wall, a daily verse notification, a coffee date and Bible study with God at Starbucks, a Youtube video of the Bible being read to you - let's use our God-given CREATIVITY to ENJOY learning more about God, His love for us, and His success principles for life - a little bit every day!

Remember, it's a journey so,have fun with this - I'll allow it! (LOL)

Do you feel guilty for not reading your Bible "enough"?

Yeah, that's gotta stop!

What if a "have to" attitude is getting in the way of you genuinely enjoying spending time in the Word?

In this episode, I share the reason I stopped reading my Bible altogether for a season of my life, and the AMAZING discovery that came from that act.

Now, I don't want to spoil the ending - so listen to the episode to find out what I think about reading my Bible now!

And, here are all the goody links I promised in the episode:

https://www.heavenlyplaced.com/ is my personal favorite Bible reading resource from someone who TRULY enjoys reading God's Word, and hopes to inspire others to enjoy it too!

Wanna listen instead of reading it? I've got you! https://www.youtube.com/@HeavenlyPlaced

And if you want to go deeper, then join the "Be Transformed" Challenge here -

https://aprilbragg.com/challenge/