INTERVIEW | Dr. Alan Godwin
By editor on Aug 4, 2008 in Interviews
Dr Godwin, describe yourself for our visitors.
Three things consume most of my time and energy these days: work, ministry, and family. My wife, Penny, and I became empty nesters about a year ago, so we’re still adjusting. In my limited spare time, I enjoy personal exercise, talk radio, and physical labor whenever I get the chance to do it. Also, I’m probably a little fanatical about SEC football.
How do you find time to connect with God?
Honestly, that’s a challenge at this point. For most of my life, I’ve been an hour-in-the-morning-quiet-time sort of guy. But my current schedule makes it very difficult to be that structured about it. Instead, I’ve had to be a little more creative. I make it a point to pray on the go—as much as I can whenever I can.
Who are your favorite authors? Favorite books?
I’ve been profoundly influenced over the years by the writings and teachings of Howard Hendricks, a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary. I love his approach to life and ministry. Of course, C.S. Lewis has always been one of my favorite authors, and I find myself owning most everything written by Henry Cloud, John Ortberg, and Chip Ingram.
Tell us about your journey to publication.
Several years ago, I noticed that I was continually saying the same things over and over to individuals and couples struggling with conflict issues. Increasingly, I thought, “It sure would help to have this stuff written down.” So, I did that and the more I wrote, the more I considered trying to have it published. I was pleasantly surprised when a literary agent read it, liked it, and found someone willing to publish it.
Tell us about your book, How to Solve Your People Problems?
I can sum it up in four statements. First, all close relationships involve conflict. Second, relationships work well only when conflict is handled well. Third, we naturally handle conflict poorly but we can handle it well if we learn what to do and practice what we know. And fourth, conflict with reasonable and unreasonable people must be handled differently.
How did you come up with ideas for this book?
I’m a clinical psychologist in private practice. I spend the bulk of my time doing one of two things: watching conflict or hearing about it. I’ve watched many people handle it poorly and a few handle it well. I wanted to write a book that would help people understand how to stop arguing and start solving conflict problems. I tried to give a detailed answer to the question, “When people handle conflict the good way, exactly how do they do that?”
What’s next for you?
I’m currently working on a video curriculum that will accompany my book. I envision it being used to train people in a variety of relational settings how to handle conflict. Additionally, I plan to write other books that deal with conflict in 4 specific areas: between couples, at church, at work, and between parents and children.
Where can visitors find you online?
They can visit my website www.peopleproblems.org. They can also visit the website of my consulting firm www.integritymanagementresources.com.
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