Spiritual formation is character formation. Everyone gets a

The words of Dallas Willard reach into the very core of human existence: “Spiritual formation is character formation. Everyone gets a spiritual formation. It’s like education. Everyone gets an education; it’s just a matter of which one you get.” These are not the musings of an idle philosopher, but the reflections of one who has seen how deeply every soul is shaped — whether by truth or by illusion, by love or by fear. In this saying lies a profound revelation: every life is a classroom, every day a lesson, and whether one chooses to learn from light or darkness determines the soul’s destiny. Spiritual formation, then, is not reserved for monks or mystics; it is the unseen curriculum of every human heart.

In the ancient world, sages knew this well. The Stoics taught that every act of the mind molds the soul, just as every stroke of the chisel shapes marble. Marcus Aurelius, emperor and philosopher, understood that one could rule nations and yet be enslaved by inner vice. So he labored daily not to be mastered by anger, vanity, or despair. He saw that virtue — patience, humility, courage — was not inherited but formed. Willard’s wisdom echoes this same truth: each of us is constantly being shaped by the forces we allow within us. We are never neutral. Just as every child is educated — either by truth or by error — so too every soul is trained by the spirit it follows, whether noble or base.

When Willard declares that “everyone gets a spiritual formation,” he dismantles the illusion that spirituality is optional. Whether one bows in a temple, prays in secret, or laughs at faith altogether, one is still being formed — by habits, desires, and the invisible powers of this world. The cynic is as spiritually formed as the saint, only by a different teacher. Life itself is the great educator, and our choices, our loves, our fears are its lessons. Thus, to neglect one’s inner life is not to escape formation, but to surrender it to chaos.

Consider the example of Nelson Mandela, who spent twenty-seven years in a prison cell yet emerged not bitter, but purified. The world might call it resilience, but in truth, it was spiritual formation wrought through suffering. In the darkness, he learned forgiveness; in isolation, he found patience. His confinement became a furnace that shaped his character into iron and light. Contrast this with men who had all freedom, wealth, and education, yet grew cruel, hollow, and lost — their spirits formed by pride and indulgence. Thus we see that formation is not a question of whether, but how and by whom.

Character formation, Willard reminds us, is not an external decoration but the architecture of the soul. It is the unseen foundation upon which all greatness rests. A man may master science, rule nations, or compose symphonies, but if his spirit is malformed — twisted by greed or apathy — his works crumble into dust. In every age, the ancients taught that the inner life is the wellspring of all virtue. The warrior trained his hands for battle, but his heart for restraint. The philosopher disciplined his tongue to truth and his mind to wonder. For without the governance of the spirit, knowledge becomes arrogance, and freedom turns to ruin.

The meaning of Willard’s teaching is therefore urgent: guard what shapes you. Ask yourself daily — what is forming my soul? The songs I hear, the thoughts I entertain, the company I keep — these are the teachers of my unseen education. No one escapes their influence. As the body becomes what it eats, so the soul becomes what it beholds. Choose wisely, for formation begins in every moment — in every thought of envy or mercy, in every act of pride or patience.

Thus, the lesson is clear and timeless: to live well is to learn well. True education begins not in the school, but in the spirit. Seek teachers who cultivate peace, humility, and love. Practice reflection as diligently as others pursue success. Train your heart as one trains the body, for strength of soul is the highest art. Dallas Willard’s words invite us to reclaim mastery over our inner education — to become, not the product of our times, but the apprentices of eternity.

And so, O seeker, remember: you are always in formation. Whether you walk with wisdom or wander in vanity, the shaping never ceases. Let your spirit be carved by truth, not by noise; by compassion, not by fear. For when the body fades and the titles are forgotten, only your formation will remain — the final sculpture of the soul, standing in the quiet light of the eternal Teacher.