When my husband and I discussed this last evening, we both agreed that our own individual awareness of our personal inadequacies keeps us humble. Remembering our past is in itself a humbling experience.
I first came to understand how greatly my life has been blessed by others, indeed molded by the actions of others during the time my husband and I were serving a welfare project and we were studying the book "Bridges Out of Poverty". One exercise helped me understand that the circumstances of my birth, the fact that I had a family that loved me, a community that provided me with a good education and access to a library, connections for a first real job, etc had a profound effect on my life.
It was through all these things that I became the person I am - not through sheer determination on my own. I am not self-made. That realization humbled me and also made me less judgmental of others.
I had also written in my scriptures the following quote: "A sign of true humility is a hunger and thirst for truth and understanding as opposed to a 'know-it-all' attitude.
Those who are humble:
- Understand they are not more important than others
- Understand they are not less important than others
Being humble means accepting yourself and your many good qualities, as well as your limitations, and recognizing that others also have good qualities and are equally valuable.
What Alma is says to the poor Zoramites is an important lesson. Circumstances may give us a reason to be humble. The real trick is to be humble when circumstances don't force it.
Consider an employee who is just trying to figure out a new job. Humility comes from the circumstance. Then consider that same person 10 years later when he or she is now a senior among the staff. The more senior you get, the more likely you are to have people look at you for answers. In such circumstances we may begin to feel we have all the answers.
How do we remain humble? Certainly it helps if we will just spend time listening to others. We can practice mindfulness and focus on the present. And we can exude gratitude for all that we have.
Asking for help when you need it is a sign of humility. As is also seeking feedback from others on a regular basis. When we are willing to review our own actions we can check ourselves and watch that pride and arrogance are not covering smugness, snobbery and vanity.
Pride makes us artificial and humility makes us real.
Thomas Merton
Humility is nothing but truth, and pride is nothing but lying.
St. Vincent de Paul
Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less.
C. S. Lewis
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