Post by akhanda on Nov 9, 2007 9:13:12 GMT -5
In a world characterized by fierce competition, unjust deadlines and globalisation of everything including relationships, we often think to survive we need to be aggressive, fittest and people who ‘showoff’.
But look at those who are really great. All great human beings have something in common: humility.
The greatest athletes, the greatest intellects, the greatest leaders and the greatest artists were all humble.
Many of our problems in the world today stem from our hunger to feel superior over the others. The cause of many of our personal and professional failures is our pride. Our workplace will be homely, our homes will be heavenly and our relationships will be lovely if we are humble.
Humility is not negative self-image. It rather boosts our self-esteem. It is not suffering of humiliation and embarrassment. It makes us honourable and loved. It is ego transcendence and self-detachment. Real humble people never experience embarrassment. It is not a depreciation of oneself, but more an appreciation of others. It is not talking about our faults or thinking less of ourselves, but the fruit of forgetting ourselves in our pursuit to make others happy. It is the result of our becoming unconsciously competent.
Being humble means just being us, don't pretend to be what we are not and don't deny what we are. It is a recognition of our strengths and weaknesses, our potentials and limits. We are able to make the right estimate of ourselves, neither less nor more.
Forms of humility are patience, kindness, love, forgiveness and service. But it's a strange thing, the moment you think you got it, you've lost it.
The true leader is humble enough to serve his people. He loves his people more than his position. He risks his life and position for the sake of others. It makes him take responsibility for theirs and his own growth.
We express our pride through our lack of concern for others. How often we continue to talk over our mobile phones, continue to read the newspaper or watch TV when someone is talking to us? How often we arrive late for meetings after we ourselves have fixed up the timings? How often we shirk our responsibility for our failures and blame other people for all the wrong in the world? How often we consider ourselves as just and the rest of the world as unjust? How often we proudly think and say we are humble?
When we are unwilling to appreciate new ideas of people, when we discourage others and their initiatives, when we criticize them for our own benefits, when we feel jealous of their successes, when we don't listen to others and become insensitive to their needs and feelings we show them how proud we are. We fail to believe in the possibilities of others and us.
A humble leader feels no jealousy or envy. He feels good when others are preferred to do a job. He feels great when others win. He can bear to hear others praised while he is forgotten.
We become humble when we give credit to others for our successes. Isaac Newton on his deathbed said: "if I have seen the world more than the others it's by standing on the shoulders of others." We must honestly acknowledge the contributions of others in our lives and use our talents to make their lives better.
We admire humble people. When we become humble others will admire us too. Those who are humble will consider other people as interesting and capable. They see something positive in everything and everyone. Humility is the hunger for the welfare of others, hunger to do everything perfect and perform duties with maximum dedication and loyalty.
Our pride prevents us from achieving our goals. We are so proud to take help and support of others though we know we can do nothing much by ourselves. Our pride weighs us down. Humility liberates us and makes our minds creative. When we are proud we can never be effective and even if we are effective our effectiveness and competency may not be in demand. People prefer an ordinary performer to a proud super performer.
I am reminded of a Mongolian folklore that I studied in school.
Two geese were about to start southward on their annual migration when they were entreated by a frog asking them to take him with them.
The geese said they would happily do so if there was a means for his conveyance.
The frog had an idea. He produced a long stalk of grass, made each geese grab an end with its beaks, while he clung to the grass by his mouth in the middle. The three thus began the long journey.
Some farmers below noticed the strange sight. They loudly expressed their admiration for the travel devise and wondered who was the cleverest to discover it.
The proud frog opened his mouth to say: "it was I", and in the process lost his grip, fell to the earth and was dashed to pieces.
Pride goes before a fall. Remember, when small men cast long shadows, it is a sign that the sun is setting.
But look at those who are really great. All great human beings have something in common: humility.
The greatest athletes, the greatest intellects, the greatest leaders and the greatest artists were all humble.
Many of our problems in the world today stem from our hunger to feel superior over the others. The cause of many of our personal and professional failures is our pride. Our workplace will be homely, our homes will be heavenly and our relationships will be lovely if we are humble.
Humility is not negative self-image. It rather boosts our self-esteem. It is not suffering of humiliation and embarrassment. It makes us honourable and loved. It is ego transcendence and self-detachment. Real humble people never experience embarrassment. It is not a depreciation of oneself, but more an appreciation of others. It is not talking about our faults or thinking less of ourselves, but the fruit of forgetting ourselves in our pursuit to make others happy. It is the result of our becoming unconsciously competent.
Being humble means just being us, don't pretend to be what we are not and don't deny what we are. It is a recognition of our strengths and weaknesses, our potentials and limits. We are able to make the right estimate of ourselves, neither less nor more.
Forms of humility are patience, kindness, love, forgiveness and service. But it's a strange thing, the moment you think you got it, you've lost it.
The true leader is humble enough to serve his people. He loves his people more than his position. He risks his life and position for the sake of others. It makes him take responsibility for theirs and his own growth.
We express our pride through our lack of concern for others. How often we continue to talk over our mobile phones, continue to read the newspaper or watch TV when someone is talking to us? How often we arrive late for meetings after we ourselves have fixed up the timings? How often we shirk our responsibility for our failures and blame other people for all the wrong in the world? How often we consider ourselves as just and the rest of the world as unjust? How often we proudly think and say we are humble?
When we are unwilling to appreciate new ideas of people, when we discourage others and their initiatives, when we criticize them for our own benefits, when we feel jealous of their successes, when we don't listen to others and become insensitive to their needs and feelings we show them how proud we are. We fail to believe in the possibilities of others and us.
A humble leader feels no jealousy or envy. He feels good when others are preferred to do a job. He feels great when others win. He can bear to hear others praised while he is forgotten.
We become humble when we give credit to others for our successes. Isaac Newton on his deathbed said: "if I have seen the world more than the others it's by standing on the shoulders of others." We must honestly acknowledge the contributions of others in our lives and use our talents to make their lives better.
We admire humble people. When we become humble others will admire us too. Those who are humble will consider other people as interesting and capable. They see something positive in everything and everyone. Humility is the hunger for the welfare of others, hunger to do everything perfect and perform duties with maximum dedication and loyalty.
Our pride prevents us from achieving our goals. We are so proud to take help and support of others though we know we can do nothing much by ourselves. Our pride weighs us down. Humility liberates us and makes our minds creative. When we are proud we can never be effective and even if we are effective our effectiveness and competency may not be in demand. People prefer an ordinary performer to a proud super performer.
I am reminded of a Mongolian folklore that I studied in school.
Two geese were about to start southward on their annual migration when they were entreated by a frog asking them to take him with them.
The geese said they would happily do so if there was a means for his conveyance.
The frog had an idea. He produced a long stalk of grass, made each geese grab an end with its beaks, while he clung to the grass by his mouth in the middle. The three thus began the long journey.
Some farmers below noticed the strange sight. They loudly expressed their admiration for the travel devise and wondered who was the cleverest to discover it.
The proud frog opened his mouth to say: "it was I", and in the process lost his grip, fell to the earth and was dashed to pieces.
Pride goes before a fall. Remember, when small men cast long shadows, it is a sign that the sun is setting.
