Tag Archive for: humility

Intentional Humility

It was perhaps in the 7th century that John of Karpathos wrote:

It is most necessary and helpful for the soul to endure with fortitude every tribulation…We should recognize that our sufferings are no more than we deserve, and we should never blame anyone but ourselves. For whoever blames others for his own tribulations has lost the power of judging correctly what is to his own advantage.

In the 21st century, Jim Collins wrote:

Level 5 leaders look out the window to apportion credit to factors outside themselves when things go well (and if they cannot find a specific person or event to give credit to, they credit good luck). At the same time, they look in the mirror to apportion responsibility, never blaming bad luck when things go poorly.

Perhaps in the 22nd century, someone will write, “Check for a bug in your own algorithm first.”

How to Respond to Boasting

No one likes a show off. Whether you encounter the boastful person in an occasional post on social media or in daily press conferences, you may be tempted to respond, perhaps with a snarky comment or an angry emoji, or even with a kinder word of correction, but…

When someone boasts about his virtues, do not try to help him by reproving him. For a man cannot love showing off and at the same time love the truth.

—Mark the Ascetic

Practical wisdom tells us not to argue with a drunk, but alcohol isn’t the only intoxicant out there.

How to Cultivate Humility

“Comparison is the thief of joy” if your desire is to come out on top. But it turns out there’s a case for coming out on the bottom in comparison. 

Others have made the business case for humility quite compellingly, and a recap is omitted here in the interest of brevity. Leaving aside the debate about whether or not humility can be instilled or developed in someone else, here are two practical suggestions for developing it in yourself:

[There] are many things the intellect can do in order to secure for us the blessed gift of humility. For example, it can recollect the sins we have committed in word, action, and thought…True humility is also brought about by meditating daily on the achievements of our brethren, by extolling their natural superiorities and by comparing our gifts with theirs…

Hesychios the Priest

Non-religious readers who might be turned off by the word “sins” can simply substitute “mistakes” or “failures” for it and profit from these two practices. 

Humble sobriety about one’s weaknesses, flaws, and blind spots, combined with an appreciation of the corresponding strengths, faculties, and gifts of others are two ingredients for a culture of interdependency that often characterizes the most high performing teams.