Humility is a fascinating theme. It is said that if you think you have achieved a measure of It --- that in itself is a sure sign that you have not! Our culture is very much an entitlement-minded kind of world. My daughter, who works at a university, believes that the sense of entitlement exhibited by students seems to be rising with each year's incoming class of new students. Older adults seem to think the same. We seem to think someone owes us something. It is the very opposite of humility.
I am reading a fascinating book by Tony Dungy, the former NFL coach, entitled Uncommon. The book answers the question, what does it take to live a life of significance? One of the chapters is about humility and stewardship. Dungy talks about the fine line between confidence and pride. Pride is all about me. Confidence as Dungy sees it, is not about me but about using gifts and abilities I have been blessed with to their fullest. It is also about using these gifts and abilities to help my team and impact others.
People who express their anger at the government these days do not do so primarily from a partisan standpoint. They are venting their anger because they believe that those elected to serve them, have somehow lost their way. Politicians have become obsessed with power and control. Servant leadership, although a popular buzz word, is an endangered species in political capitols. Humility and politics may seem almost an oxymoron to many of us.
How do people view you? I am not asking you whether you think you are a humble person. How can we answer that one about ourselves? The more important question is, do others think of you as humble? Consider some interesting comments and perspectives on humility written by men and women over the years.
To be humble to superiors is duty, to equals courtesy, to inferiors nobleness. Benjamin Franklin
Humility is like underwear; essential, but indecent if it shows. Helen Nielson
The more you lose yourself in something bigger than yourself, the more energy you will have. Norman V. Peale
Our best thoughts come from others. Ralph Waldo Emerson
I like Emerson's quote. When I was in graduate school one professor often warned us about originality. He maintained that if we thought we had an idea that no one ever had thought of before, we would likely be wrong.
Humility is the foundation of all other virtues, hence in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot any other virtue except in mere appearance. St. Augustine
Wear your learning like a watch, in a private pocket, and do not pull it out and strike it merely to show that you have one. Lord Chesterfield
I used to smile when friends earned doctoral degrees. Almost immediately, many ordered new check books and business cards to be sure that the title "Dr." appeared before their name. Others never let their academic accomplishments go to their heads.
Pride makes us artificial and humility makes us real. Thomas Merton It is always the secure who are humble. Gilbert Chesterton I like this one too. It is good to live life with nothing to prove. When science discovers the center of the universe, a lot of people will be disappointed to find they are not it. Bernard Baily
It is far more impressive when others discover your good qualities without your help.
Lord, where we are wrong, make us willing to change, where we are right, make us easy to live with. Peter Marshall
He who is in love with himself will have no rivals.
Humble people are delightful to be around. Humble people are successful in life and in business. Want to have a conversation about humility? I invite you to contact me at rick@icarecoaching.com.
Dr. Rick Penner
Copyright May 2009
