Fundamental Attitude of Humility
The person who is living a comfortable, happy life appears to be one who possesses the quality of humility, which is another way of saying: he is realistic, he is honest. This person sees himself as both worthwhile and limited. He is not afraid to admit his mistakes and failures, nor does he believe that these failures take away his dignity as a person.
Knowing that his vision of himself is limited and one-sided, he is open to other persons’ perceptions of himself. He has no need to hide the truth from himself or others; he is comfortable with reality as it is. He does not need to exaggerate his abilities in order to impress others, nor is he embarrassed to admit it when he does something well. He is more convinced that his own vision, wisdom and answers are much too limited to ensure that his solution to a problem is guaranteed to be the right one. He does not give exclusive significance or all-importance to any one moment of life, be that success or tragedy. He recognizes and can live sometimes with the fact that he is flesh and blood, a combination of sometimes balanced, sometimes unruly intellect and emotions. He strives for a reasonable degree of self-sufficiency, while being able to accept his need to depend on others. He admits that he can do some things well and may be esteemed. In his openness, he is vulnerable. He admits he is able to fail and is limited. This admission leads him not to be surprised at and to patiently accept the laughable incongruities of his own life, and the struggling and foibles of his fellow humans.
This person recognizes that life is never within his grasp, that in its most fundamental dimension it is unmanageable and out of his control. In this sense, he makes his offering, in the way of work or opinion, and offers the best he has, but is not upset when it is challenged or anxious when he cannot predict or control the ultimate outcome of his efforts. This person, then, is the person at ease with himself in a mysterious, vast, complex and changing world. He does what he ought to do in a comfortable manner.
(Hiding within Your Shadow, The Spiritual Initiative – An Approach Toward Personal Growth by E. H. Wojtowicz)
Fundamental Attitude of Humility
(line by line)
Living humility makes us more comfortable and happier.
Humility, as a quality, is another way of saying a person is realistic, honest.
A humble person sees themselves as both worthwhile and limited.
A humble person is unafraid to admit mistakes and failures.
A humble understands that failures do not take away their dignity as a person.
A humble is open to other persons’ perceptions of themselves,
A humble person does not need to hide the truth about who they are from themselves or others.
A humble person lives comfortably with reality as it is.
A humble person does not need to exaggerate their abilities to impress others.
A humble person is not embarrassed to admit when they do something well.
A humble person is convinced that their vision, wisdom and answers are too limited to ensure that their solution to a problem guarantees the right one.
A humble person does not give exclusive significance or all-importance to any one moment of life, be that success or tragedy.
A humble person recognizes and can live sometimes with the fact that they are flesh and blood, a combination of sometimes balanced, sometimes unruly intellect and emotions.
A humble person strives for a reasonable degree of self-sufficiency, while being able to accept the need to depend on others.
A humble person can admit to doing some things well and allows others to esteem them.
A humble person is open and vulnerable.
A humble person admits they are able to fail and be limited.
A humble person is not surprised at and patiently accepts the laughable incongruities of their lives and patiently accepts the struggles and foibles of others.
A humble person recognizes that life is never within their grasp, and that fundamentally life is unmanageable and out of their control.
Despite this (#19), a humble person makes their offering, in their work and opinion, offering their best, but not upset when it is challenged or anxious when they cannot predict or control the ultimate outcome of their efforts.
A humble person is at ease with themselves in a mysterious, vast, complex and changing world.
A humble person does what they ought in a comfortable manner.