Professor of Religious Education, Michael Goodman, is teaching a series of classes that address the topic "Thriving — What science and the restored Gospel teaches us."
Goodman has taught at Education Week for more than 10 years and has been an educator for 36 years. He has a doctorate in marriage, family and human development. His primary areas of research include LGBTQ+ well-being, suicidality, marriage and family, adolescent development, international Latter-day Saint history and doctrine.
In his research, Goodman studies what helps people thrive.
“What the prophets are saying we should do really fits very well with what science actually has found to be healthy,” Goodman said.
Class attendee Ann Marie Lambert said she believes truth is truth, no matter where it comes from.
“Science, I believe, came from heaven, came from Heavenly Father,” she said. “That's just as important as what we read in our scriptures.”
Goodman said his goal in the course is to combine the best knowledge from science with divine knowledge from God.
Pamela King, executive director of the Thrive Center for Human Development, has found that thriving people:
- Experience deep, abiding joy
- Are relational people
- Have a growing sense of self
- Live with meaning and out of their values
- Grow through ups and downs at a sustainable pace
- Continue to grow and change over a lifetime as they pursue purpose
Many of these points are also common themes in Latter-day Saint theology, especially the idea of deep, abiding joy.
“Nothing that has happened to me in my life is able to take (away) my joy if my focus is where it should be,” Goodman said. “Joy comes from and because of (Jesus Christ). He is the source of all joy for Latter-day Saints.”
Goodman emphasized that there is no quick fix or simple answer to achieving eternal joy and a thriving life. He said it takes hard work and sound principles.
In the first class of his series, Goodman outlined five overarching obstacles to thriving:
- Incorrect expectations
- The question of why life is so hard
- Stressing over uncontrollable things
- Prioritizing short-term satisfaction over long-term success
- Letting “good” get in the way of being “great”
In overcoming these obstacles, Goodman highlighted President Russell M. Nelson’s invitation to “think celestial.”
“The very things that will make your mortal life the best it can be are exactly the same things that will make your life throughout all eternity the best it can be,” Goodman said. “I invite you to adopt the practice of thinking celestial. Thinking celestial means being spiritually minded. So it's taking that overarching purpose of life as the guiding light of all we can be.”
Goodman has experienced many trials in his life, including battling cancer multiple times. He is currently battling leukemia.
“We'll all get our share of trials,” he said. “It's not so much the trials, it's how we approach them that's gonna make the difference.”
Sarah Ashliman, who attended the course, said she was touched by Goodman’s story.
“You can have joy in any circumstance,” Ashliman said. “He confirmed what I've learned in my own life, that even with his cancer and with all the things he's gone through, that he's been able to have joy throughout all of it.”
Ashliman’s takeaway reflects Goodman’s message that thriving is possible for everyone.
“It's going to take hard work,” Goodman said. “I truly believe there is not a person here that cannot thrive. I believe Heavenly Father is good at what he does, and he created a plan that makes that possible.”
Goodman’s lecture series runs throughout the rest of Education Week.