Simple Humility

“There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.” — Ernest Hemingway

I think we could all probably do with a dose of humility on more regular occasion than we actually practice it.

Every morning for the past forty plus years I have tried to take the time to sit down and meditate. But sometimes now it seems to be more out of habit than anything, until I have an experience or set of experiences that remind me how important it is.

At times as I sit in the solitude of my own being I can sense what a tiny speck in the vastness of creation I am. Then my ego may chime in and disagree and start tooting my horn about my greatness. I sit back and observe this goings on, sometimes chuckle a bit and then try to comprehend what is actually going on.

Many spiritual teachers (as well as mine) have spoken about how this world is essentially a grand illusion. As if we are inside a virtual reality simulation, running for our mutual, what? Amusement? Demise? Actually, it seems like it’s probably a school of some kind. A type of precursor or test to see what we would do if actually presented with all this in our world, as if it was real. How would we act? How would we treat others? How would we treat the world? How would we treat ourselves? How would we do on the test?

Almost as if we are not really born yet, just warming up here in the spiritual womb getting ready for that grand day of real birth. We’re in the minor leagues, hoping someday we can make the majors. Once creation says we’ve reached that higher bar, then those magic gates open up. I think. I hope. Maybe …

Ever since I was a kid of about 10 or 11, I always thought there was something really important I was supposed to do with my life. As I got older I got more and more confused about what that really meant. I mean, was I supposed to be President, be the first man on Mars, discover the cure for cancer, what? That feeling has always been with me since then in some shape or form, as if hovering over my shoulder to see what I would do next. Or even guiding me if I got off track, which has happened more times than I care to admit.

I have since revised what that strong lingering feeling is. It is my better, higher self keeping me progressing along the path. Yes, I do have something important to do in the world. But only in my world, not necessarily the world at large. I think we all have important things to do in our lives. To learn, to grow, to always keep that going.

It is certainly a cliche to say we learn more by our failures than our successes. But I know it to be true, for me at least. Our egos get fed by our successes, and they love that, and they fear failure. But humility allows us to fail gracefully, for our humble selves know we can learn so much from those experiences. In our illusionary world we all interact in, we certainly need our egos. They help protect us from all those bad asses out there messing with us. I have said before that I think it’s wise to have a strong ego. But uncool to have a big one. Sometimes when watching someone play this out, it can be hard to tell the difference between the two. I know I can’t be responsible for others perceptions of me, and vice versa, so I try to reserve judgment. Until I know someone is pressing their big ego against my strong one. Then I may call them out, or just walk away …

I believe that simple humility is a key ingredient to have in your life, your real life. And of course, you should have successes in life. In fact, a pattern of more successes, of more failures and of more growth all has a certain symmetry to it. Just don’t let the illusion of this world take you in and seduce you, so you lose that sense of simple humility. Be true to yourself. Be real in the world. Simple humility can help you keep that balance and that perspective as well as anything. And keep you growing, so just maybe someday you can reach the real major leagues … of life.

TMC