Growing the Human Way

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You have likely heard about new year's resolutions or lent fast, and with these terms, you have probably also heard talk of difficulties and (ironically) a lack of resolve. After all, we know not what a struggle is until we have tried to improve our habits, impeding the bad ones and giving life to the better ones (to supplant bad ones), which never ceases to challenge our willpower. Indeed, throughout the whole of our lives, we have been growing, if we act like heaven is a real possibility, we are thus motivated to be with our Eternal Spouse. Even where proximate ends are concerned, we will not be truly happy until we renounce all but God. Thus, we seek to make use of and often require extrinsic forces to ourselves to make growth in ways we direly need possible. 

Vygotsky’s concept of the scaffold is significant in understanding what it takes to grow i.e. the generosity of others. This “scaffold” refers to any assistive force that allows one to move to the next psychological and knowledge space to allow for additional personally influenced growth. Resiliency is not a thing precipitative of personality, not self-invention, not stubborn optimism, not dependent particularly on genetics, not a thing that can be taught, nor wealth. Rather it is something inherent in all of us, if there are people who believe we can do something and we believe them, we will find ourselves not bound by our perceived limits. This is evident in harsh military training, wealthy people that come from poor and uneducated families, etc. This concept of development by Vygotsky suggests that if we find in any way a means to move toward greatness, we will in fact take it. Vygotsky, thus, implicitly asserts that resiliency is inherent in our nature. This possibility is evidence that something can help us beyond ourselves and, even at times, beyond others. The formation of virtue and knowledge allows one to reach new heights of one’s potential if shown the way to things beyond the limits of where we think we can go. In many ways, religious faith is similar, since what constitutes faith is beyond the comprehension of those who do not believe until one is given an ability to see beyond the initial intellectual obstacle.[1] Many people fear faith and/or virtue, assuming it is something external and oppressive, yet those who have faith and/or virtue live it with virulent and free joy.[2] To be allowed access to faith and/or virtue, because of our distrust, we need external help coupled with discipline/intentionality and openness to show us the internal “Way”.[3]These virtues contribute not only to one’s moral and relational life but also to every aspect of growth professionally and personally.

In conclusion, every time one aspect of our growing another aspect is given the opportunity. This is what makes intentional growth so essential to our psychology as well as the Christian life. The whole of life is about becoming i.e. becoming who we were meant to be "a human being fully alive" in Christ's likeness and still perfectly oneself. To be psychologically resilient, does not consist of, self-invention but rather an embrace of one's mystery in a well-ordered way. “Man … has a nature that he must respect and that he cannot manipulate at will”.[4] This authentic dialogue with our mystery precipitates our flourishing and allows us to grow in virtue in both psychological, spiritual, and even spiritual ways. This acceptance of reality in humility is necessary to grow at all but removes many hindrances.

"[My] grace is sufficient for you"
I long for your truest happiness
Nothing restrains my love for you
Only you can interrupt its greatness

Behold “I put my words within your mouth.
Behold I work all things for your good
I prepare your heart for my house
Even if it takes carrying the wood

No pain or agony you feel, I have not felt
In them, I am united with Thee
Into my love, I bid yours melt
One day you shall awake, and nothing will keep you from me

Written by Carter Carruthers

FN:

  1. Thomas Aquinas, Summa theologiae, II-II, q. 1, a. 4, at New Advent, www.newadvent.org.
  2. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd ed. (Washington, DC: United States Catholic Conference, 2000), 736, 817, 828.
  3. Kersting, K. (2005, April). Resilience: The mental muscle everyone has. Monitor on Psychology, 32–33.
  4. Pope Francis, Encyclical letter on care for our common home Laudato si. (24 May 2015).

I am a created entity, not a person.

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