“In humility is the greatest freedom. As long as you have to defend the imaginary self that you think is important, you lose your piece of heart.” Thomas Merton
I didn’t fit in at school. Homelife was the same. Childhood was unpredictable and this made it hard to perceive the world accurately, believing it to be unsafe and untrustworthy. I was very sensitive and this made it difficult for me to regulate my emotions and to receive help or support from my caretakers. It led me to believe that it must be my fault and I grew up unable to perceive my value, never seemingly able to be or do enough to feel a sense of belonging.
Yet, these ordeals taught me humility. My willingness to learn, blessed me with some incredible mentors who helped me develop greater self-awareness, to be comfortable with who I am and who I am not, and to acknowledge ways in which I can improve and use humility to bring out my ability of being more attuned with the feelings of others.
Humility had become a superpower. I was well positioned to serve and so this is why I now do what I do.
Recently, a client of mine told me how his mindset had shifted overnight after we discussed how his fears had been driving his decisions. Now I understand that I was never meant to fit in. I was meant to help others find their way.
3 keys to personal freedom:
1. Listen to and really hear others
2. Be grateful for all that you have been through
3. Act from wisdom rather than pride
Humility makes space for love, respect, joy and genuine soul-to-soul connections and more meaningful friendships. It frees us to be who we were created to be.
Have you got a story to share about humility? We’d love to hear from you! Tell us in the comments below.
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