What if the best way to overcome your greatest weakness is to strengthen something you’re already good at?

On The Mark Swartzberg Show, Mark spoke with Dr. Andrew Whitmore about what virtue really means and how Catholics can grow in it. Virtue, Dr. Whitmore explained, isn’t something we simply possess. It is a habit that shapes who we become.

“If you’re acting virtuously, you’re becoming virtuous,” he said.

That means growth requires practice. Take courage, for example. Courage doesn’t mean eliminating fear. A firefighter can recognize the danger of a fire while still entering a burning building because he has the training and equipment to act reasonably. Cowardice falls short; recklessness goes too far. Courage finds the reasonable path between them.

But what happens when you keep struggling with the same weakness?

Dr. Whitmore offered a surprising strategy drawn from St. Thomas Aquinas: Strengthen the virtues you already practice well.

The four cardinal virtues – prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance – work together to form the person. Because the virtues are connected, growth in one can help strengthen the others.

For someone struggling with chastity, for example, Dr. Whitmore suggested approaching the problem through justice. When talking with someone you find attractive, instead of concentrating solely on resisting impure thoughts, ask what you owe that person.

“I owe them my attention,” he explained. “I owe them to not get distracted. I owe them to not have ulterior motives.”

By practicing justice, you’re also training yourself in chastity.

The Christian life, then, isn’t simply an endless inventory of everything we do poorly. God’s grace helps us grow, and the strengths He has already cultivated in us can become tools for confronting our weaknesses.

As Dr. Whitmore put it, “The rising tide lifts all boats.”

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What if the best way to overcome your greatest weakness is to strengthen something you&rsquo;re already good at?
On The Mark Swartzberg Show, Mark spoke with Dr. Andrew Whitmore about what virtue really means and how Catholics can grow in it. Virtue, Dr. Whitmore explained, isn&rsquo;t something we simply possess. It is a habit that shapes who we become.
&ldquo;If you&rsquo;re acting virtuously, you&rsquo;re becoming virtuous,&rdquo; he said.
That means growth requires practice. Take courage, for example. Courage doesn&rsquo;t mean eliminating fear. A firefighter can recognize the danger of a fire while still entering a burning building because he has the training and equipment to act reasonably. Cowardice falls short; recklessness goes too far. Courage finds the reasonable path between them.
But what happens when you keep struggling with the same weakness?
Dr. Whitmore offered a surprising strategy drawn from St. Thomas Aquinas: Strengthen the virtues you already practice well.
The four cardinal virtues &ndash; prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance &ndash; work together to form the person. Because the virtues are connected, growth in one can help strengthen the others.
For someone struggling with chastity, for example, Dr. Whitmore suggested approaching the problem through justice. When talking with someone you find attractive, instead of concentrating solely on resisting impure thoughts, ask what you owe that person.
&ldquo;I owe them my attention,&rdquo; he explained. &ldquo;I owe them to not get distracted. I owe them to not have ulterior motives.&rdquo;
By practicing justice, you&rsquo;re also training yourself in chastity.
The Christian life, then, isn&rsquo;t simply an endless inventory of everything we do poorly. God&rsquo;s grace helps us grow, and the strengths He has already cultivated in us can become tools for confronting our weaknesses.
As Dr. Whitmore put it, &ldquo;The rising tide lifts all boats.&rdquo;
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The best way to listen to the&nbsp;Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It&rsquo;s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio App, check it out <a href="https://relevantradio.com/listen/get-the-app/">here</a>.

Life can get busy, and it's easy to miss out on the captivating moments from your favorite Relevant Radio shows. But now, we've got you covered! "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" brings you the crème de la crème of Relevant Radio's programming. We carefully curate and compile the most engaging and relevant content from the past week, just for you! Get ready to catch up on faith, culture, current events, and personal growth, all in one convenient and easily accessible podcast. It's like having a front-row seat to the most compelling moments from Relevant Radio's diverse range of shows. So, whether you're an active Relevant Radio listener or new to our programming, "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" is your passport to a world of knowledge, growth, and inspiration.

Life can get busy, and it's easy to miss out on the captivating moments from your favorite Relevant Radio shows. But now, we've got you covered! "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" brings you the crème de la crème of Relevant Radio's programming. We carefully curate and compile the most engaging and relevant content from the past week, just for you! Get ready to catch up on faith, culture, current events, and personal growth, all in one convenient and easily accessible podcast. It's like having a front-row seat to the most compelling moments from Relevant Radio's diverse range of shows. So, whether you're an active Relevant Radio listener or new to our programming, "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" is your passport to a world of knowledge, growth, and inspiration.