How often do you hear the following phrases: "Hey, he's such a nice, humble person!" "I prefer to befriend that humble chap." "I am humbled by this opportunity to stand in front of our respected audience ..." "That opportunity to meet the president face-to-face is humbling!" "Be humble! Your ego is too big!"
HUMBLE.
That's the keyword. Why do people mention the word "humble" repeatedly when they are talking about a nice person or positive experience?
It is because humility is the most crucial blessing or talent that a person can be given.
In my old high school, we had a list of school values: perseverance, responsibility, empathy, motivational and integrity. Integrity lets a person decide what is good and what is bad. Perseverance lets a person keep moving forward despite obstacles and failures. What is most important, in my opinion, is humility. People who lack humility may be smart and gifted, but are also unaware that personal abilities and gifts should be used for the benefit of others. Such people must learn that there are thousands of people who are equally smart, or even smarter.
Humility is a voice inside that says, "Your talent is a blessing for you and for others. Do not use your gifts to make others feel insecure!" Each and every person has a conscience within them that helps them to make the right choice.
Let's take the fictional example of a boy, whom we shall call "Boy".
Boy is the smartest kid in his class and scores above 90 percent on all his tests. Boy thinks he is the smartest person in the whole wide world.
One day he represents his high school in a competition - let's assume it's the mathematics olympics - and realizes that there are billions of kids of his age who are much smarter than he. The experience gives him new perspective on the importance of humility.
When he comes back from the competition, his principal asks Boy what he has learned, and he shyly answers, "I learned the value of humility. If I'm smart, I should use my intelligence to help my friends who don't understand. There are many people who are smarter than me. Humility is not pretending to be modest to gain others' approval. Humility is a sincere understanding that talented, or intelligent people must help others to make this world a better place."
Boy has learned a lesson that will help him in his future career. I believe that it is a lesson that we all need to reflect on from time to time. I'm not saying that I'm a humble person. I scored well on an assignment a few days ago and felt like telling my peers. I wanted to ask them how they did on the exam and wait for them to ask me the same question. I realized that there is no point in boasting about your achievements to make yourself feel appreciated. People who have learned the value of humility do not work in order to receive compliments. They do it because it is their responsibility and it is what they enjoy doing.
Let's take a glance at Boy's conversation with one of his classmates after his conversation with the principal:
Boy: Jake, how did you do in your test? Jake: Not so good. I only scored 70 percent ... I'm sure you did really well! Boy: Hey that's an improvement from your previous test, isn't it! Well, maybe one day we can study together and learn from each other. Jake: That'd be great! Thanks Boy! Boy: You're welcome!
See how good humility is, even when you're just reading it?
- Steven Tannason
