For some odd reason, society has been seeing humility as a sign of weakness but in reality, it is one of the most powerful signs of strength known to humanity. It is by far more difficult to be humble than it is to be boastful and proud and perhaps that’s why there is such confusion regarding the term. When you are humble you are admitting that you, alone, are not the ultimate authority on anything and that your efforts may have been part of a bigger plan, a grander scheme that you alone couldn’t have accomplished.
Some of the Most Revered Role Models Were Humble
If you even begin to think of humility as being a sign of weakness, it’s time to take a step back and look at some of the most notable ‘heroes’ of today as well as in the distant past. Look at Mother Theresa of Calcutta who gave her life to the poor of India and was one of the humblest people ever to walk the face of the earth. She walked the Beatitudes of Matthew 5 KJV on a daily basis and if you have any doubts about that, read them here. Then there is Mahatma Gandhi who is a household name in the East as well as in the West and a humbler man never walked the face of the earth.
Jesus Christ, Son of God
For those in the Christian faith, there is no stronger man than Jesus Christ, son of God, savior. Who could be stronger than Jesus to have endured the pain of being crucified for the sins of the many. He may have been seen as weak to have submitted to the will of the Father without giving the first effort to defend Himself, but to Christians that is the supreme sign of strength. This is a lesson children can learn, even if not Christian, in that to give of oneself for others isn’t easy but it is a humble thing to do when asking no glory for yourself. And that is why humility is often seen as the ultimate sign of strength. Being able to give everything for another is not easy by any stretch of the imagination, but to go so far as to deny any credit for it is beyond the imagination.
From Corporate Leaders to Spiritual Mentors – Humility is a Core Factor
When interviewed, many CEOs of some of Fortune 500 companies explain that they would not be where they are if it weren’t for the team that pushed them to the top. It may have been their brainchild, their expertise, their ‘baby’ but when asked, it was the team, not them and that is the sign of a true leader. Both religious mentors and corporate leaders draw out the greatness in others through their humility and that is also a sign of leadership.
True strength rests in knowing that you are not alone in this world. True strength is having the ability to go above and beyond for the sake of others and take no credit for yourself so that they can feel empowered. In the end, that’s the secret of humility. It’s the ability to empower others by taking the focus off yourself. That’s strength. That’s true power. That’s humility.