The Other Side Academy’s Joseph Grenny on the power and positive influence of truth and covenants
Aug 13, 2024
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Joseph Grenny, a social scientist and New York Times bestselling author, shares his mission to help others through powerful insights gained from personal and professional experiences. He discusses the impactful work of The Other Side Academy, which aids those facing addiction and homelessness. Grenny emphasizes the necessity of truth and love in fostering personal growth and healing. He also highlights transformative journeys within communities, showcasing how commitment and accountability can ignite change, even amidst adversity.
Joseph Grenny emphasizes the importance of recognizing preparatory promptings to build resilience and readiness for life's challenges.
At The Other Side Academy, the focus shifts from rehabilitation to habilitation, addressing essential life skills for sustainable recovery and community support.
Deep dives
Recognizing Preparatory Promptings
Recognizing and responding to preparatory promptings is essential for personal growth and readiness for life’s challenges. These promptings can manifest as subtle inclinations to engage in helpful activities, such as reading a relevant article or connecting with certain individuals. By honoring these nudges, one can build a reservoir of experiences that prove beneficial during difficult times. Reflecting on past crises often reveals how seemingly insignificant moments collectively equip individuals for significant life events, illustrating that preparation occurs over time through awareness and action.
Exalting Relationships as Life's Purpose
The core message of understanding life as a quest for deep, exalting relationships emphasizes that divine connections are fundamental to human existence. These relationships, beginning with a covenant with God, set the pattern for quality interactions among families, friends, and communities. In challenging moments, reaching out to others not only provides support but also showcases the love of Heavenly Father through meaningful interactions. The importance of community support is highlighted by personal experiences where friends offer companionship and strength during crises, reinforcing the notion that we are never alone in our struggles.
Habilitation Over Rehabilitation
At the Otherside Academy, the focus is on habilitation rather than rehabilitation, emphasizing that the root issues are often life skills rather than substance abuse itself. Many individuals come from backgrounds filled with trauma and neglect, lacking the foundational skills necessary for healthy living. The Academy teaches former addicts to navigate life’s complexities, build trust, and create meaningful relationships, fostering a supportive environment. By addressing the underlying life challenges rather than just the symptoms, participants learn to develop accountability and interdependence, which are key to sustaining their recovery.
The Power of Truth and Love in Transformation
Creating an atmosphere of truth and love is crucial for the transformation of individuals notorious for their destructive behaviors. Accountability among peers fosters an environment where individuals feel both safe and challenged to confront their shortcomings. Through candid discussions and shared experiences, participants learn to embrace vulnerability and offer support to one another as they embark on their journey of personal growth. This commitment to honesty in relationships not only nurtures individual recovery but also strengthens community bonds, exemplifying the gospel's message of exaltation through connection and love.
In the Life Help section on the website for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are reminded that, “Everyone needs help sometimes. Life is like that. In fact, God planned it to be that way.” For social scientist, New York Times bestselling author and Church member, Joseph Grenny, helping others has become his career and a personal calling.
Through thorough research, a variety of business endeavors and personal experiences, Grenny says he has learned the value of practical and spiritual influences that spark change in even the most dire circumstances. In 2015, he and his colleagues founded The Other Side Academy, a free residential life skills program for those with long histories of crime, addiction and homelessness. And this work has recently expanded to the The Other Side Village project and more. He joins this episode of the Church News podcast to share his hope in the betterment of humanity and testimony of the unmatched, positive influence of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Church News Podcast is a weekly podcast that invites listeners to make a journey of connection with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the globe. Host Jon Ryan Jensen, editor of The Church News, shares a unique view of the stories, events, and people who form this international faith. With each episode, listeners are asked to embark on a journey to learn from one another and ponder, “What do I know now?” because of the experience. Produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.
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