The meaning of humility has long been misunderstood.
Ultimately it means recognizing our position in the world.
It should also be noted that it takes self-confidence to be humble.
Arrogance and vanity are characteristics of a person who lacks self-confidence.
Such a person does not believe in her potential.
She thinks that what she has now is all that she will ever have, and she can go to extremes to protect it.
An arrogant employer, for example, is constantly putting down employees because of the fear that one of them will outshine him and even replace him.
I recall being an absolute jerk toward younger players on my high school basketball team because I feared being replaced.
Had I recognized my own strengths as a player, worked harder, and acknowledged the potential that existed in the others, I would have made a much more positive contribution to my team.
Fortunately, this introspection and awareness of my own failings has aided me tremendously as a teacher and as a coach.
A person lacking self-confidence may also fail to see their own potential. There is perhaps nothing sadder than hearing a person dismissing compliments and giving excuses as to why he or she cannot achieve particular goals.
A humble person recognizes his or her own talents and works to develop them.
Each of us has such amazing potential.
I have taught thousands of children through the years, and I am constantly astounded by the unbelievable ability that sits before me every day.
I am also extremely pleased when I meet former students and see the lengths they have gone to in developing their talent, as well as their levels of accomplishment.
They have not only recognized their good, they have recognized the need to constantly ameliorate, and they have put in the effort.
That attitude is the essence of humility.
When we examine the lives of people who have achieved long term success, we see this quality of humility as well.
A great writer recognizes that his work can always improve and is constantly honing his skill. A great athlete is always analyzing her performance and looking for ways to improve. A great leader recognizes the potential in the people working below him and has a way of not only making them feel like they are talented and indispensable to the cause, but instilling in them a desire to be their best.
Such a leader is never threatened by others and is often working to be replaced, knowing that if it ever happened, it would be because he himself has moved on to better things.
Humility is simply truth. Truth that we are wonderfully made, we are unique and have amazing gifts.
Truth that through effort we are better each day than we were the day before.
Truth that every other person on the planet is as valuable as we are, and if we can support each other in developing our greatness, the entire world will benefit.
