In a world where we’re conditioned to think big and become giants, it’s easy to feel out of touch with the world. But if you don’t feel a sense of humility at least once a day, you’re living wrong. Aim for twice, and you’ll be happier than you’ve ever imagined. There’s a certain peace that comes from knowing that the world is bigger than just you and your little life.
But humility isn’t easy. It takes practice. And a willingness to realize you’re not king of the world.
We tend to live inside of our own heads. We know that place better than anyone else. It’s comfortable there. We plot our paths to giant-hood there. Only, when we surround ourselves with ourselves, we disconnect from the world around us. And so as a result of living in our own minds, we fail to see how our life actually affects the world around us. We become self-serving machines. Rogue sharks that terrorize friendly beaches.
So even though you don blinders to bust your ass and reach your goals, just know that when you live inside your own head, it’s the comfortable way. And comfort leads us down a path of least resistance to a place where we stop growing. Want to experience life? Get uncomfortable. Want to know what it feels like to be part of the world? Practice humility. But how? Well, I’m not one of those bloggers who tell readers how do do things, but I’ll share a few of the things I do to try to practice humility:
Stand next to the ocean or stare up at the sky on a clear night. And quiet your mind. No, really quiet. The kind of quiet where you hear the rhythm of your own heartbeat.
Talk with and really listen to a child. (Ironic, right?) Or an old person who is not laden with bitterness.
Pray. Not for any ‘thing’ but rather, for peace and serenity. And I’m talking about real prayer here – the tearing down walls and getting quiet, prayer. Even maybe on your knees. Gasp! The humility!
No matter how you get there, when you do it right, the feeling of being small and insignificant will sweep over you in a way that will probably freak you out at first – causing you to jump up and take back that which you control. Try not to let this happen. Breathe through that fear and know that it’s ok to feel small in a world where everyone tells you to be a giant. In fact, it’s the only way I’ve ever known to feeling anything like inner peace.
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Gawdawg
Jul 13, 2012
Jim… Two things I enjoy about your blogs:
1. They come from the heart (Yes, I’ve said this to you in a tweet)
2. Your blogs are easy to read; i.e. they are not looooong.
Being in your head is not a bad thing, unless it keeps you from connecting to the world. I’m an introvert and value time alone and being in my head. I’m a thinker and I’m quiet. But, you can be an introvert and still connect with the world around you.
Cheryl Smithem
Jul 14, 2012
Jim, the only way I’ve ever been able to find the poetry in any moment, is to realize that I’m just the tiny speck in the life of the universe. From my smallness, I witness the bigness of everything else and try to distill that moment and it’s truth.
Thank you for feeding my heart with truth.