The Power of Humility

Life, at some point, will teach us all this beautiful truth (1): we are as important and insignificant as everybody else—and as any other creature on this planet.?

Society (our human world), on the other hand, has created the illusion that there are categories of human beings and that some people are more important than others. We have been taught this, subtly or openly, since we were born, especially those of us who were born in the 20th century. In families, some members are more important than others, at schools, on the streets, in universities, in our workplaces… No matter what Constitutions say, the reality is, at least from my view —and I observe humans very closely, and constantly—that whether it is in relation to nationality, 'regionality', age, gender, wealth, religious or non-religious beliefs, intelligence, physical appearance, health, work status (unemployed or not), working for the Government or not, ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc., humans still feel superior to others. And depending on the country of origin and the culture, the differences between them (the prejudices) are more apparent than others.

This is a problem of self-awareness and arrogance. A lack of the first and the presence of the second will derive in ignorance: pure ignorance of what we are (who we are individually and what our relationship is with the rest) and what we are doing here.?

The best proof to this truth is that we are all born naked and that we are all going to die in the end; and, in the meantime, we are all exposed to illnesses and all sorts of challenges: each one of us faces different challenges throughout Life, and also faces them differently, as we are unique creatures and we are all meant to learn from each other. The beauty and the perfection of Life is in its richness—that’s way it never repeats itself (no two identical things exist on this planet).

Those who are materially wealthy and socially successful have no privileges before Life. Because Life only cares about Itself (about every thing that exists), and its essence is harmony, so It cannot favour anyone or anything. (Even chaos exists within a superior level of harmony: where nothing is accidental nor unconsidered). That's why It doesn’t favour, either, those who are not materially wealthy, out of pity or any other human motive we could think of for that happening. All physical things are temporary for a good reason, that’s how It keeps things in order, and It transforms and evolves constantly.

Life is one thing and our human world is another thing. Life has its own laws and truths and we have ours. When ours don’t match Its, we are in deep trouble. And we will continue to be in trouble (meaning suffering) for as long as this discrepancy goes on. (Let's not forget Life was here before us, and that It doesn’t need us to keep on existing; clearly, our laws and truths should be matching Its).

So, we are not indispensable here—although what we do while we are here is of extreme importance to all existing beings. A statements that leads us to the next truth.

Here’s another fundamental truth (2) Life will teach us all: we are all connected, and we need each other to survive and to thrive; all human beings, all creatures and all elements on this planet.??

I invite you to do this exercise now, if you want to, because I know that, consciously or unconsciously, you think you are better or more important than other people (and other creatures), and most likely you don’t admit this to yourself: no-one likes to think of oneself as being an arrogant person. But the truth is that there is still a lot of arrogance within us. This is a very common dysfunction in human beings, so don’t feel surprised if you realise now that that is your case too. And don’t blame yourself. Just be very very honest, so that at least this article contributes to your getting closer to higher (or deeper) levels of humility: to me the most valuable and empowering quality.

Just observe yourself very very closely and see how differently you look at and treat different people: family member or not (and among family members), of a higher rank at work or not, famous or not, your partner or not, friend or not (and among friends), acquaintances or not, of your gender or not, of your nationality or not, sexually attractive to you or not, stranger or not…

[I've invited you to do this because it is a very liberating and empowering exercise that I do frequently; I'm not free from lack of self-awareness nor from arrogance]

Humility is all about truth, not about modesty. Humility allows me to tell you that I am a great mentor (I know this and I share this information with you) and that I had no clients in December (I know this and I share this information with you). There is no pride, no shame and no contradiction here unless your mind make a positive or negative interpretation of what I just shared, because I am just sharing information, which is, in essence, neutral.?

What we do with information makes a whole difference in how we experience Life and how we make the experience of Life to others: a heaven or a hell on Earth. Lack of self-awareness and arrogance will cause hell to ourselves and to others.

Humility is so powerful that it could bring us all equal and together

while each one of us would remain unique and precious.

If you still think that you don’t treat people differently, think of this situation: Ana P. Botín, Richard Branson, Ariana Huffington, Tony Robbins, Gary Vaynerchuk, Christine Lagarde, or whomever important person in our human world – or on this network – writes you a private message because they want to ask you something, or collaborate with you, or offer you something. How many minutes, hours maximum, would pass before you replied to them???

I thought so.

And how many hours, days, months, years or centuries would pass before you replied to a message from someone you don’t know at all?

Why most humans think that those who don’t know yet are unimportant? And why most humans don't think that those who don’t know yet could be the best thing that happened to them? Is it our reptilian brain, the way we have been raised or something else? I wonder.

Life will teach us all humility, sooner or later; the big difference is how and when we are going to learn it. It is either now - if we haven't started already - and we do it calmy, progressively and joyfully, being transformed by its power as we allow it to sink in; or be hit by Life with it any minute.

These truths (1 and 2), when they have not been properly integrated throughout life, will show up as a tornado: unexpectedly, uninvitedly, violently; and they will hit us really hard. [Life cannot afford to have creatures who are self-destructive or that try to destroy other creatures—except for strictly survival reasons: it is unnatural, it goes against its own raison d'être.]

Humility is a vital quality in our lives because it puts us all right in the place where we belong and need to be: feeling as important and insignificant as everybody (and everything else) on this planet.

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[This article is just my perspective on a specific subject on a specific day. I hope that you enjoyed its reading and that it added value to your life in any way possible]