The Power of Humility

"Humility is the foundation of all other virtues, hence in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance." - Saint Augustine

"True humility is contentment." - Henri Frederic Amiel

Humility is the opposite of pride, but we are often told to take pride in ourselves and in what we do... So where does this contradiction come from? My ego wants me to believe that I am always right. It is opinionated, full of self-importance, wanting to save face or to bully others into doing things my way... This is when I need to stop and think, and put myself in other people's shoes.

It's okay to be proud of your achievements, but a healthy dose of self-esteem is not the same as arrogance. Arrogance comes from fear: the fear of not being good enough, of being rejected, of not being taken seriously. Therefore arrogance comes from a feeling of insecurity that the individual covers up with a false sense of pride. This leads to a rigid attitude towards others and anything that doesn't comply with a fixed image of the way things should be.

To be humble is to be open-minded. It's to be able to admit that one is wrong, that one doesn't know everything. No one has the key to ultimate knowledge. There is always room for improvement, and for learning new things. Every day we gather new experiences, and have the opportunity to change our perspective on people and circumstances. What was valid yesterday might not be that way today or tomorrow. To be humble is to be adaptable, flexible and able to go with the flow...

I need to have a realistic view of myself, of my assets as well as my shortcomings, my strengths as well as my weaknesses. I need to embrace myself for who I am, and love others for who they are instead of trying to change them. Humility is contentment because it brings with it peace, tolerance and acceptance...

With love,
Isa

Painting: "Sea Shell" by Theodora Dimitrijevic