The Catholic Coaching Podcast 34. Can Self Development Be Catholic?
Mar 18, 2021
They debate whether modern self-development can be practiced within Catholic tradition. They point out New Age pitfalls and how to discern helpful tools. They explain grace cooperating with natural discipline and reclaiming useful coaching practices for faith. They describe practical habits like journaling and mindset stewardship that open people toward growth in virtue.
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Set Goals While Letting God Determine The Highest Good
- In goal-setting, keep God as the ultimate arbiter of the good so desires lead toward beatitude, not lesser goods.
- Use goals (Archbishop Fulton Sheen: abnormal not to have a goal) but discern whether your desire aligns with God's ordering of the good.
Grace Builds On Nature And Requires Cooperation
- The Church teaches primacy of grace: perfection is a sharing in God's life, but human cooperation (choice) still matters.
- Recognizing defects via self-awareness lets you pray specifically for infused virtues (e.g., patience) and cooperate with grace.
Practice Disciplines But Reject Self‑Perfection
- Avoid Pelagianism; don't expect self-perfection by will alone. Instead, practice natural disciplines to dispose yourself to grace.
- Keep intentional practices like temperance and diligence while relying on God's infusion of virtue.
