The Power of Humility

Humility!
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I’m moved to talk about how the presence of it strengthens a relationship and the lack thereof hurts relationships. 
 
Or even how the lack of it can be detrimental to an individual and the presence of it can be rewarding and liberating.
I used to work with someone who was doing well in her career for almost 20 years and I, the “new girl” came in with great confidence in my abilities having to learn how to navigate a new world and learn new skills.
Sometimes people with a wealth of knowledge or in a place of authority feel entitled. This person was a hoarder: a hoarder of information. Even when she was instructed to teach and I was instructed to shadow, no movement was happening. How was the “new girl”–me–going to get her hands dirty, learn the tricks of the trade, do more than twiddle her thumbs all day?
I had 2 choices: 
  • Be just like her and hoard up all the pride I could muster and figure it all out on my own.
OR
  • Ask her a million and one questions until she had no choice but to answer me (she was not just a hoarder of information but was also very good at ignoring people).
Seems to me that she needed a lesson of humility, but I digress.
So what did I do? 
…Both!
I started on a path of research, observing the environment, how my counterpart interacted with people and what she said to people. But as you could possibly guess, I reached a point that only asking the right questions could help me move forward. I knew what I had to do. Her hoarding behavior made me super uncomfortable to even ask, but I eventually did.
Easy feat? Not always. Sometimes I would ask and ask (each time with more and more emphasis) until I got the answer I needed or simply the slightest of a response (a look, a word, an eye brow raise…something). I threw in a bit of silliness to shake her up a bit. So, any attempt to ignore me, caused me to be more persistent. I think I partially enjoyed bothering her too. But that’s neither here nor there.
Ultimately, I had a job to do and I reached a point that I had to admit to myself that I needed the help to move forward and learn more to achieve more.
Do you know how dangerous it is to be so filled pride that?:
  • you think yourself too high on a pedestal, that you can’t muster up the energy to help another.
  • you make the world and those around you think you have it all together when you don’t.
  • you put someone down for the sake of winning an argument or debate.
  • you can’t and won’t admit to your mistakes.
  • you don’t ask for help because you want to prove you can do it on your own.
Humility is not just about you, but it does something for other people also.
The life you live is not just for YOU. Your life and/or lifestyle sets an example for your kids and could potentially inspire and motivate others. When you recognize that there is a purpose in your living to uplift others, to inspire, to motivate, to help people from feeling like nothing to something through whatever you are meant to do in this life, you then recognize that humility comes with the territory.
Why? Because the very act of humility exudes the selflessness that is supposed to shine through the life and/or lifestyle that could serve a purpose beyond yourself (aka legacy).
Humility not only lifts others up in your act of selflessness, but it also restores relationships, maintains relationships, prevents arguments from escalating into sabotage and breakups and it shows a level of respect, which people really value.
Do you know that my simple act of asking questions, being persistent and showing interest in her job turned the hoarder into a giver (not a 100%, but definitely more headway than what we started with)?
It seems to me that pride often tends to be a prevalent choice because no one likes to feel powerless or less than or wrong and I think that people often associate humility with those emotions.
Let me have the HONOR of KILLING that notion: 
1. Wisdom comes with being humble. 
The bible says in Proverbs 11:2 (ESV) – When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.
 
The Message version says “The stuck up people fall flat on their faces, but the down to earth people stand firm.”
While I find the second interpretation quite hilarious, there is an important truth you should realize. Operating in this wisdom that comes with being humble, you open doors and opportunities that pride could very well block. Otherwise, you can indeed fall flat on your face. Respect people, be selfless, ask for help and admit when you are wrong. Don’t burn bridges that can help you in any stage of your journey.
2. Humility brings honor; it is honorable behavior
 
There are so many places in the bible that say this very thing. That is all I need to believe it.
Do you want to leave a legacy of pridefulness and disdainfulness how it affected all those caught in the crossfire? Or that of humility?

Wife to an amazing husband, mother to an exploring toddler and an MPA graduate aspiring to impact the world with encouragement in mothering and in social entrepreneurship.

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