A Controversial But Helpful Approach Towards Dating | Dr. Henry Cloud

In this episode of NextUp, Grant sits down with world-renowned psychologist and author Dr. Henry Cloud to dismantle the confusion surrounding modern Christian dating. For a generation that grew up in the shadow of the "I Kissed Dating Goodbye" movement, many young leaders find themselves stuck in a cycle of waiting on God, ditching faith in Him in the process.

Dr. Cloud shares why he moved from being a psychologist to a dating coach for a season, uncovering the specific reasons why healthy, mission-minded singles aren't finding each other. They discuss the Dating for Growth framework—the idea that dating isn't just a search for "the one," but a laboratory where God uncovers the internal barriers and anxieties that might be holding you back from your full calling.

If you're a young leader navigating the tension between your personal life and your mission, this conversation offers a much-needed roadmap to move from passive waiting to intentional action.

In this conversation, Grant and Dr. Cloud discuss:

✅ The Waiting Trap: Why sitting at home waiting for God to bring someone to your door might be keeping you from the very growth you need.

✅ The 5-People-a-Week Challenge: The radical advice Dr. Cloud gave to a woman who hadn't dated in years, and the internal healing that followed.

✅ Dating as a Growth Path: How to use the dating process to look under the hood of your own character and spiritual maturity.

✅ The Exclusivity Problem: Why we often rush into serious labels too quickly and how to protect your heart while staying open.

✅ The Six-Month Guarantee: How a shift in perspective can lead to a healthy relationship faster than you think.

Check out Dr. Cloud's book: How to Get a Date Worth Keeping

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