A little bit better

I’ve recently started rewatching one of my all-time favorite shows, The Good Place. This sitcom not only tickles the funny bone in a hilarious way, but also poses profound questions regarding ethical and moral philosophy. The main goal of the characters (and I presume it’s a goal that most of us share as well) is to achieve happiness; not the temporary euphoria you get when you down an entire sleeve of Oreos and then feel sick afterwards, but true, lasting, and meaningful joy.

In searching for the answer, The Good Place characters turn to Aristotle, who proposed that the way to achieve such a state of joy is to attain virtues, such as bravery, honesty, patience, and compassion. Virtues are the aspects of a person’s makeup that we associate with goodness, and Aristotle states that the more virtues we have, the happier we become. The bad news is that (aside from Jesus Christ) there is not and has not ever been a purely virtuous person born on this planet. The good news is that we all have the potential to develop virtues.

Aristotle proposes that all people have what he calls “natural states” of virtue, but I like to think of them as “virtue starter kits.” Some people are naturally compassionate, some have an innate ability to be patient, and still others have been honest since the day they were born. We each have natural aptitudes toward certain virtues. Although it takes many years to truly master one, with enough time and practice, you can develop any virtue, even the ones that are not naturally in your starter kit. And as said before, the more virtues we master, the more joyful we become.

As I thought about it more, I realized that virtue ethics sounds very similar to what Christ taught about gifts of the Spirit. “For all have not every gift given unto them; for there are many gifts, and to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God. To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby” (Doctrine & Covenants 46:11, see also 1 Corinthians 12). Sound familiar? Each of us has a spiritual gift, much like how each of us has our own individual “virtue starter pack,” but that doesn’t mean that we are limited to those gifts. James 1:5 instructs, “Let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” Although it takes a lot of time and practice, Christ has promised that as long as we are willing to ask God and then put in the work required to perfect a skill, we can seek any spiritual gift to bless the lives of others.

About two years ago, I decided that I wanted to teach myself Korean. Knowing that it was a difficult language, I prayed and asked for the gift of tongues so that I would be able to not only learn how to speak Korean, but remember it as well. After that, I got to work. I tried to study for at least ten minutes each day. I talk to myself in Korean and use common phrases in my daily life. I have a study journal with notes on proper grammar and tips for how to write in Hangeul. I put in the work, and God made good on His promise. Now, I can hold basic conversations. I can read and write well, but that’s not all. The gift of tongues helped me excel in my Spanish classes. It even appeared in my English writing skills. I now have a much higher ability to learn, remember, and use language (in any form) to communicate with others than two years ago. And although it took a lot of time and effort, it makes me happy to use my newly attained gift to bless the lives of those around me.

A warning must be issued, though: don’t go around thinking that attaining either virtues or gifts of the Spirit is easy. Nothing in life comes without difficulties, and trying to become a better person is arguably the hardest thing of all. You will try and you will fail, try again and fail again, over and over and over. But that’s ok. Even Jesus Christ, the most virtuous being to have ever walked the Earth, “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52). Growth is a years-long process. It doesn’t matter how often you fail. In the words of David Bednar, “If today you are a little bit better than you were yesterday, then that’s enough. And, if tomorrow you are a little bit better than you were today, then that’s enough.” I think Aristotle – and Jesus Christ – would agree that as we work each day to try a little harder to become a little better, we will find true joy in this life. And that seems like a pretty Good Place to be.

Avery Palenske is officially done with high school. While she awaits the next chapter of her life to begin at BYU Provo in the fall, she continues to be a coffee-making whiz at the retirement home, collect soft and squishy stuffed animals, count down the days until the new BTS album is released, and avidly avoid her friends’ pleas to hike Pioneer Peak with them this summer. Most of all however, she continues to love being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.