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How Watchfulness Connects And Strengthens Every Virtue

How Watchfulness Connects And Strengthens Every Virtue

Last updated on: June 16, 2026 at 8:42 am by Henry Karlson

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How Watchfulness Connects And Strengthens Every Virtue 2026-06-16T08:42:19-05:00 Henry Karlson

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Every virtue is connected with every other virtue; the more we embrace one of them, the more we can be led to embrace them all. But we must engage them in a holistic fashion, allowing their connections to remain, because, there are ways we can become attached to particular virtues, we ignore or detract from others. When we do that, we divide what should not be divided as we split the virtues apart. When we engage a particular virtue in this fashion, ignoring its inner connection to other virtues, we end up following a simulacra of the virtue, instead of the virtue itself. The virtue is hollowed out, turning into a kind of mask which hides its emptiness from the world. This is why spiritual masters like St. Hesychios the Priest tell us an important part of spiritual development is watchfulness, pointing out, by watching ourselves, making sure we do not become diverted in this fashion, we will find ourselves following every virtue and commandment of God: “Watchfulness is a way of embracing every virtue, every commandment. It is the heart’s stillness and, when freed from mental images, it is the guarding of the intellect.”[1]

We should, from time to time, examine ourselves, discerning not only the mistakes we have done since the last time we have done so, but to see and acknowledge the good. That will help us make sure we do not discount that good, but rather, embrace it, helping it grow, but again, we must do so making sure we use that good as a starting point by which we can engage all the virtues, letting them grow in us together. We must also acknowledge that this good, the good we find in us, the good which we are able to do, is itself a gift given to us by God, who is the source and foundation of every good, including the freedom we have to make choices for ourselves. That God made us good proves that we can do good. It is a temptation to believe the only thing we can do is sin; the point of such temptation is to lead people into despair, thinking there is nothing good in them, and if there is nothing good in them, there is no reason for God to love them. In the end, while trying to set God up as being so much greater than themselves, people with this line of thought end up believing only God can do that which is good, but in doing that, they deny the good which God has done because they deny the good in themselves. We should heed Chaeremon when he said, “Therefore, we must be on the watch lest we attribute all the good works of holy persons to the Lord in such a way that we ascribe nothing but what is bad and perverse to human nature.”[2]

Watchfulness should play an important role in our spiritual development. It promotes proper self-examination; through it, we can come to properly know ourselves. It will help us discern the good which is in us, the good which makes us who we are, even as it obviously will reveal to us where we need to improve ourselves, suggesting various disciplines to do so. What is important is that, when we look within, we see the good and the bad, and not just the bad. We should see our strengths and weaknesses, using our strengths to help overcome our weaknesses instead of focusing on our weaknesses. We should deal with others in a similar fashion; we should encourage them, helping them see what is good in themselves, so they can love themselves, not in an exclusive or prideful manner, but still in a manner which allows them to accept it when others, or God, loves them.

There are many ways we can engage such watchfulness. For example, we should look at how we treat those in need:

Watch yourself when a poor man, needing help, asks it of you. The enemy will endaevour at that time to chill your heart, and fill it with indifference, and even scorn, towards him that is in want. Overcome in yourself these un-Christian and inhuman dispositions; incite your heart to compassionate love towards this man like unto you in all respects, to this member of Christ and your own – “for we are members one of another” – to this temple of the Holy Ghost, in order that Christ the Lord may love you and help you too; and, whatever the needy may ask of you, fulfill his request according to your power. [3]

St. John of Kronstadt would have us observe ourselves, and our reactions to others, so that when we see we have done wrong, we can change and do better later. It is not always easy, which is why we must take what we learn and compare it with what we know, exhorting ourselves to do the good which we know we should do, so that when we find ourselves in a similar situation to one where we did wrong, we will react differently and do what is right. Obviously, this is true, not just in the way we treat those in need, but in all situations of our lives. When we know ourselves, we can see where we need to do better, and exhort ourselves to do so.

It is important for us to be willing to grow, and being watchful, examining ourselves, with the desire to find ways we can improve ourselves, helps us do so. But it will also reveal to us those areas where we already excel. When we know our strengths, we can use them to help us engage those areas where we can do better. Thus, watchfulness should not be used as a tool to discourage us, which is what happens when we become unholistic in our spirituality, becoming so focused on one quality, one virtue, we find ourselves trapped and not really growing. If all we do is become focused on one virtue or vice, we become unbalanced, similar to the way a bodybuilder would be seen as unbalanced if all they did is work on one arm, ignoring the rest of their body. Let us, therefore, see the holistic nature of virtues; we can and should work on them all, using those we already have a natural affinity or ease at doing as the foundation to engage the rest, recognizing therefore, the good in us, so we do not end up denying the good which God created.

[1] St. Hesychios the Priest, “On Watchfulness and Holiness” in The Philokalia: The Complete Text. Volume One. Trans. G.E.H. Palmer, Philip Sherrard and Kallistos Ware (London: Faber and Faber, 1979), 162-3.

[2] John Cassian, The Conferences. Trans. Boniface Ramsey, OP (New York: Newman Press, 1997), 479 [Thirteenth Conference; Chaeremon].

[3] St John of Kronstadt, My Life in Christ. Trans. E.E. Goulaeff (London: Cassel and Company, Ltd., 1897; repr. Jordanville, NY: Holy Trinity Monastery, 2000), 102.

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