Every one has heard or said, “Be the best you can be.” O.K.? I mean isn’t that obvious. How about telling me HOW to be the best I can be. The Greeks tackled that about 1500 years ago. The word they use for being the best you can be is areté, it translate as  virtue. Now you see where I’m going. Everyone knows or has heard of virtue, but aren’t sure HOW to use it.  Why? Some people can even name the four Cardinal Virtues and three Theological Virtues. No, cardinal does not stand Catholic.

Let me answer my own question: Why Virtue. Because it is the HOW to be the best you can be. Start with Courage because you will need to be BOLD.

 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold

                                                                                                           2 Corinthians 3:12 ESV

[poll id=”3″]

When there is no courage, it shows in a lack of boldness and says, “I have doubt.” Do you have doubt? There is no room for doubt. Doubt in yourself is the opposite of hope. If you want to be the best you can be then you have to battle doubt and win.

After courage, comes Prudence. This is the tool of wisdom. Hint: You don’t have it but you can get it.

Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise

Proverbs 19:20 NIV

 Now, with Boldness of Hope and the power of Wisdom, you  begin to see unmovable barriers crumble. At this point Temperance is calling.  It is saying “Restrain yourself.” You do this two ways. By wisely picking your battles and self-control. This is the virtue that tells you to hone your new super-powers.

It is better to be slow-tempered than famous; it is better to have self-control than to control an army

Proverbs 16:32 TLB

Bold standoutAt this point, you are well on your way to being the best version of you. Something quite remarkable happens, this is the part of change I love, you start to think less of yourself. Isn’t that great. The more you improve, the less you are worried about yourself. Dare I say it; you are growing up. Maturity is the ability to think of others needs before your own. Tell me that’s not a super-power? This is the point of the last of the cardinal virtues, Justice. This the end of being the best you can be and the start of becoming more than the best. . Hint: You don’t have it but you can get it; it’s SUPER-NATURAL. Did you get that?

Learn to do good. Treat people fairly. Punish those who hurt others. Speak up for the widows and orphans. Argue their cases for them in court

   Isaiah 1:17 ERV

This is your stop … if you want to be the best you can be. If you want to be MORE, then follow the rest of the series on the Theological Virtues of FAITH, HOPE & LOVE. Yes, Love is a virtue. 

Join the newsletter below to get each post delivered to your inbox.

 

Reluctant Therapist