What are some small ways you are practicing humility in your life?

[Anonymous]

My kids are attending Catholic school and focusing on different virtues. They are talking about humility right now. I love hearing their thoughts and ideas on how they are thinking about their own strengths and weaknesses and appreciating the strengths of their classmates.
I’m working on incorporating this more into my own adult life, and I’m wondering how other people think about it.

[Anonymous]

My favorite definition of humility came from my philosophy 101 professor in college (who was religious). He defined it as seeing God as God, and ourselves as human. That meant, he said, that we weren't to think about ourselves as either greater or less than we are, but to try and rightly assess ourselves, our flaws but also our strengths.

Relatedly, in my New Testament Studies class, we talked about the fact that shame or self-revulsion can be, in it's own way, an inverted form of pride. We think "I ought to be so much better than I am" and blame ourselves for not being so. But the reality is that we're human (again, not God), and often could not be better than we are. Setting an impossibly high standard for ourselves and beating ourselves up for not living up to it isn't humility.

So I think of humility as recognizing my own limits, even celebrating them. Humility is doing what I can, but leaving what I can't to God. Humility is being willing to own up to my mistakes and try to turn away from my flaws, but understanding that I can also only control so much and God is at work.

In so many ways, humility is trying to make much less of me (positively or negatively) and MUCH more of God. Or to quote John about Jesus, "He must increase, but I must decrease."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My favorite definition of humility came from my philosophy 101 professor in college (who was religious). He defined it as seeing God as God, and ourselves as human. That meant, he said, that we weren't to think about ourselves as either greater or less than we are, but to try and rightly assess ourselves, our flaws but also our strengths.

Relatedly, in my New Testament Studies class, we talked about the fact that shame or self-revulsion can be, in it's own way, an inverted form of pride. We think "I ought to be so much better than I am" and blame ourselves for not being so. But the reality is that we're human (again, not God), and often could not be better than we are. Setting an impossibly high standard for ourselves and beating ourselves up for not living up to it isn't humility.

So I think of humility as recognizing my own limits, even celebrating them. Humility is doing what I can, but leaving what I can't to God. Humility is being willing to own up to my mistakes and try to turn away from my flaws, but understanding that I can also only control so much and God is at work.

In so many ways, humility is trying to make much less of me (positively or negatively) and MUCH more of God. Or to quote John about Jesus, "He must increase, but I must decrease."

Thank you so much for your thoughtful response. I really appreciate it.

It makes me think of St Therese of Lisieux and her “little way.” And that we can find joy in being exactly who God created us to be.

I like what you said about self-loathing being a form of pride.

[Anonymous]

I am to be like the new messiah, Trump. The exact opposite of humility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am to be like the new messiah, Trump. The exact opposite of humility.

Yet so many Christians adore him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My favorite definition of humility came from my philosophy 101 professor in college (who was religious). He defined it as seeing God as God, and ourselves as human. That meant, he said, that we weren't to think about ourselves as either greater or less than we are, but to try and rightly assess ourselves, our flaws but also our strengths.

Relatedly, in my New Testament Studies class, we talked about the fact that shame or self-revulsion can be, in it's own way, an inverted form of pride. We think "I ought to be so much better than I am" and blame ourselves for not being so. But the reality is that we're human (again, not God), and often could not be better than we are. Setting an impossibly high standard for ourselves and beating ourselves up for not living up to it isn't humility.

So I think of humility as recognizing my own limits, even celebrating them. Humility is doing what I can, but leaving what I can't to God. Humility is being willing to own up to my mistakes and try to turn away from my flaws, but understanding that I can also only control so much and God is at work.

In so many ways, humility is trying to make much less of me (positively or negatively) and MUCH more of God. Or to quote John about Jesus, "He must increase, but I must decrease."

You sound very proud of your. humility

[Anonymous]

Humility in practice for me means that my humanity is like anyone else’s humanity and that I am more like every other person in the world than different from them. I do not deserve more because I “worked” for it and cannot interact with others from a position that assumes I am better or more entitled or above them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids are attending Catholic school and focusing on different virtues. They are talking about humility right now. I love hearing their thoughts and ideas on how they are thinking about their own strengths and weaknesses and appreciating the strengths of their classmates.
I’m working on incorporating this more into my own adult life, and I’m wondering how other people think about it.

I don't ever think about "practicing humility" in my life. I think I am a fairly humble person in that I don't seek the limelight, but the idea of practicing humility is foreign to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids are attending Catholic school and focusing on different virtues. They are talking about humility right now. I love hearing their thoughts and ideas on how they are thinking about their own strengths and weaknesses and appreciating the strengths of their classmates.
I’m working on incorporating this more into my own adult life, and I’m wondering how other people think about it.

I don't ever think about "practicing humility" in my life. I think I am a fairly humble person in that I don't seek the limelight, but the idea of practicing humility is foreign to me.

Hello again, from pp right above. Somehow, it doesn't seem very humble to talk or write about how you practice humility. To me, there's pride in thinking about and talking about and showing others how truly humble you are.

Maybe being humble is done by talking about acts of humility without ascribing them to yourself. Or just being humble and not talking about it.

[Anonymous]

This just came in my inbox today:

“Humility is the mother of all virtues; purity, charity and obedience. It is in being humble that our love becomes real, devoted and ardent. If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are. If you are blamed you will not be discouraged. If they call you a saint you will not put yourself on a pedestal.” —Saint Teresa of Calcutta

In practicing humility the way Mother Teresa did, we have a clarity of sight that allows us to not be consumed by the standards and judgments of the world, whether those judgments place us in a positive or negative light.

[Anonymous]

As someone once said, humility is not (always) thinking less of oneself, but of thinking of oneself less.

But as a practical matter: Giving credit to others whenever possible, finding the good in others, praising them as appropriate, not jostling to receive credit.

It comes at a cost to the ego and the bank account.

[Anonymous]

That was the subject of last weekend's reading. It is something to think about.

Like PP's comment about thinking of oneself less, not thinking less of oneself. Humility requires active thought to not slip into self-defeating behavior. I like being kind to people and being measured in appearance and actions so conspicuous consumption is out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am to be like the new messiah, Trump. The exact opposite of humility.

Yet so many Christians adore him.

Because he seems so strong, and hates the libs.

[Anonymous]

Interesting topic. I am trying to say less and listen more. Being responsive to others but not making them hear my opinions or advice as my default response. Trusting in things instead of trying to control things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting topic. I am trying to say less and listen more. Being responsive to others but not making them hear my opinions or advice as my default response. Trusting in things instead of trying to control things.

Nice idea, and not necessarily an example of humility or something that can only be done via religion. In fact everything, both good and bad, can be done with or without religion.