Here in the United States, there seems to be a universal belief that we are free to do whatever we want. Not legally free, but simply capable. If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything! It’s the sense that no matter what we’ve done up to a certain point, we are always able to act, unbiased, unconstrained, in any way we want.

This, obviously, is nonsense.

Besides any physical limitations we may have (you can’t fly no matter how hard you try) there will always be limitation on your will. Certain things are easier to do than others. Saying “no” to a decadent chocolate cake is not simply a matter of not eating it; if you are a sweet tooth or have no impulse control, saying “no” to this treat will be nearly impossible. We train our wills over time.

The habits that we form, good or bad, have an incredible grasp on what we do. They can influence to do what’s right, making it easier to do what we want to do, or they can condition us to resort to bad things when we’re having a tough day. The habits we create have a serious effect on our lives, physical and spiritual.

As Christians, it is imperative that we form good spiritual habits (virtues) and avoid bad ones (vices). In these two videos, I discuss the importance of forming habits and how to overcome bad ones.