"It is hard to be humble," emphasized the writer of lyrics to an old country song before adding somewhat tongue-in-cheek "...when you're perfect in every way."
Of course, few people actually think they're perfect in every way. But it can still be pretty hard to be humble, especially living in a society that encourages competition and individuality.
Yet even in such a culture, humility remains an important virtue. Learning to be humble is of paramount importance in most spiritual traditions, and humility can help us develop more fully and to enjoy a richer life as a result.
At first sight, the ancient virtue of humility is not a particularly appealing one.
Deriving from the word humus (earth), it appears to clash with our current valuation of self-worth and self-realization.
But humility has nothing to do with meekness or weakness. And neither does it mean being self-effacing or submissive. Humility is an attitude of spiritual modesty that comes from understanding our place in the larger order of things. It entails not taking our desires, successes, or failings too seriously.
I could very easily go off at a religious tangent with this post and thereby lose the interest of the majority of readers. Instead, I opt for a simple secular approach based on common ordinary experience that I hope will be relatable. It is all about taking stock of, or coming to grips with, yourself in a humble self-emptying way. And, as I say, it is not always easy in today's self-actualizing, self-centred, dog-eat-dog world.
Indeed, it is not only hard to be humble, but it is hard to be humble in the right kind of way.
Personally, I am no angel...and in case you need reminding, neither is anyone else. One of the comforts, if you happen to be a believer, is that we of this earth are only human and there are very few saints among us. And no angels.
I have had to take ownership of mistakes I've made and sins that I have committed over the course of 85 years of doing it my way. And brother, there is a list as long as my arm! In the end, I have had to take ownership with all the humility that is within me. In the process, I have prayerfully sought, and mercifully received, forgiveness.
Still, in spite of best efforts to put the person I have become, or created, into new perspective, I find myself struggling with guilt (a human frailty) and have had to learn to go easy on myself. Still, trying to go to sleep at night is often a particularly vulnerable time when my mind tends to wander in directions I'd rather not go.
Yet even in such a culture, humility remains an important virtue. Learning to be humble is of paramount importance in most spiritual traditions, and humility can help us develop more fully and to enjoy a richer life as a result.
At first sight, the ancient virtue of humility is not a particularly appealing one.
Deriving from the word humus (earth), it appears to clash with our current valuation of self-worth and self-realization.
But humility has nothing to do with meekness or weakness. And neither does it mean being self-effacing or submissive. Humility is an attitude of spiritual modesty that comes from understanding our place in the larger order of things. It entails not taking our desires, successes, or failings too seriously.
I could very easily go off at a religious tangent with this post and thereby lose the interest of the majority of readers. Instead, I opt for a simple secular approach based on common ordinary experience that I hope will be relatable. It is all about taking stock of, or coming to grips with, yourself in a humble self-emptying way. And, as I say, it is not always easy in today's self-actualizing, self-centred, dog-eat-dog world.
Indeed, it is not only hard to be humble, but it is hard to be humble in the right kind of way.
Personally, I am no angel...and in case you need reminding, neither is anyone else. One of the comforts, if you happen to be a believer, is that we of this earth are only human and there are very few saints among us. And no angels.
I have had to take ownership of mistakes I've made and sins that I have committed over the course of 85 years of doing it my way. And brother, there is a list as long as my arm! In the end, I have had to take ownership with all the humility that is within me. In the process, I have prayerfully sought, and mercifully received, forgiveness.
Still, in spite of best efforts to put the person I have become, or created, into new perspective, I find myself struggling with guilt (a human frailty) and have had to learn to go easy on myself. Still, trying to go to sleep at night is often a particularly vulnerable time when my mind tends to wander in directions I'd rather not go.
Reality checks are common in my existence.
So it makes perfect sense then if we at least once in our lifetime take personal inventory and in turn step back from the individuals we have created. Take a good look and let go of certain things that we see that are negative and worrisome in the overall picture.
So it makes perfect sense then if we at least once in our lifetime take personal inventory and in turn step back from the individuals we have created. Take a good look and let go of certain things that we see that are negative and worrisome in the overall picture.
That most certainly is what creative people have to do from time to time -- whether painting a picture, making a sculpture or writing a story, they step back, relax and view their handiwork from a fresh perspective. And, I might add, reshaping or remodelling it if necessary. In other words, go back to the drawing board or do a re-write as befitting self-improvement expectations.
The wonderful thing to understand, and what comes to so many as a shock, is that you do not have to take yourself as a prepackaged product coming off the assembly line of life. There are certain unchangeable things you have inherited such as your coloring, your sex, your bone structure and mannerisms, but it is what you do with your biological self that really counts.
It is the personal obligation of all of us to create the individual we really want to be...and why shouldn't we do the best job of it possible while we still can?
Through hard-earned experience we've come to know what works and what doesn't. If we see something in ourselves that we do not like, chances are we put it there in the first place and we can remove it completely, or change it for the better.
It is all about a humble, soul-searching assessment of what we have created...and ideally in the end not having to lose sleep over it.
The wonderful thing to understand, and what comes to so many as a shock, is that you do not have to take yourself as a prepackaged product coming off the assembly line of life. There are certain unchangeable things you have inherited such as your coloring, your sex, your bone structure and mannerisms, but it is what you do with your biological self that really counts.
It is the personal obligation of all of us to create the individual we really want to be...and why shouldn't we do the best job of it possible while we still can?
Through hard-earned experience we've come to know what works and what doesn't. If we see something in ourselves that we do not like, chances are we put it there in the first place and we can remove it completely, or change it for the better.
It is all about a humble, soul-searching assessment of what we have created...and ideally in the end not having to lose sleep over it.
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