Personal Growth Through the Lens of Human
True Humility Is Not Thinking Less of Yourself, It's Thinking of Yourself Less.
True Humility Is Not Thinking Less of Yourself, It's Thinking of Yourself Less. -C.S. Lewis
Have you noticed how some people tend to bounce back from their failures and usually learn from them? Whereas, some fail and reduce themselves to stand up. What's the difference between the two types of people? The most interesting thing is how the former bounce back even higher than before. It's because of the core value they possess: that of humility. These individuals are ready to learn from their mistakes and make the necessary changes.
How about the latter? They're arrogant and they refuse to learn from their mistakes; they reject the fact that what they're doing is wrong. They tend to say, 'Oh, I've been doing it this way for decades.' They have what we call ego. In his book 'Ego is the enemy' Ryan Holiday wisely stated: 'When we remove ego, we’re left with what is real. What replaces ego is humility, yes—but rock-hard humility and confidence.’
Let's talk about humility; what John Maxwell refer to as the spirit of learning.
Humility is the quality of being modest and respectful, acknowledging both strengths and limitations while valuing the perspectives and contributions of others. It is the understanding that you are not the big picture; you are a piece of it, recognizing your place in the broader context of the world.
When you decide to embrace humility, you open the door to dedicating yourself to continuous learning. Humble people are often highly intelligent, but they hold the belief that they don't know it all. After all, nobody ever knows it all anyway. Despite their intelligence, they acknowledge that there's always more to learn.
The Role of Humility in Your Personal Development Journey
Humility is a valuable trait to possess. A humble person is always willing to learn because they are aware that they don't know everything. Embracing humility means being open-minded; You're ready to embrace change and accept feedback from people, even from critics. This ability to embrace change and accept feedback contributes to your growth journey, which is essential for personal development.
Humility's Connection to Self-Awareness.
Recognition of Strengths and Weaknesses: Humility plays a pivotal role in self-awareness as it allows you to recognize your strengths and weaknesses without ego-driven bias. When you're humble, you can impartially assess your own abilities and limitations. This clarity provides a solid foundation for growth and self-improvement.
Deeper Self-Reflection: Additionally, humility encourages you to take self-reflection seriously. This commitment enables you to gain deeper insights into your thoughts, behaviors, and emotions.
The Humble Learner's Mindset
A humble person embraces the 'beginner's mindset.' In his book 'Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind,' Shunryu Suzuki said, 'If your mind is empty, it is open to everything. In the beginner's mind, there are many possibilities, but in the expert's mind, there are few.' Developing the beginner's mind doesn't imply unintelligence; rather, it opens numerous opportunities and room for improvement. People with the beginner's mindset are often experienced individuals. Conversely, a person with an expert mindset is narrow-minded, thinking they already know everything. They view cultivating the beginner's mindset as lowering their guard. In reality, cultivating the beginner's mindset means learning from mistakes and being open to corrections.
Someone has said: 'When you close your mind, it's like the fruit on the tree that has become ripe, when fruit becomes ripe, the next stage is for it to fall off the tree and rotten.' Keep an open mind and always remain green, in order to keep growing. I'm skeptical that anyone can confidently claim to possess the ultimate understanding of any topic; There's always something you can learn by keeping an open mind.
Practical Strategies for Cultivating Humility
A vital strategy for cultivating humility involves seeking feedback. You should be willing to accept feedback from people, recognizing that not all feedback is necessarily true. The key is to carefully examine the feedback you receive and determine its validity. Making changes where necessary demonstrates your commitment to growth and your willingness to consider alternative perspectives.
Embracing Mistakes:
This is an integral aspect of humility's journey. Instead of viewing mistakes as setbacks, consider them as opportunities to learn and grow.
Approach mistakes as challenges that offer valuable lessons. As Napoleon Hill wisely stated, 'Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.' Your responsibility is to actively seek the benefits within each mistake, showing intentionality in your personal development.