I have a bone to pick with the way Google defines Humility. I mean really, read this:
Humility: a modest or low view of one's own importance; humbleness.
It seems to me that humility constantly being equated with self-defecation, while confidence is equated with arrogance and self-righteousness. If a person is doing well, it is almost expected that a humble response is to say something like "Oh, I did alright. Thank you" or something along those lines. Why can't I say "I did do a great job huhn? Thank You" or "I knew I could do it, I had faith in myself" and mean it? Are you good at something? Say it! You're not just "alright" you're good, matter fact, you might be great. Are you a great seamstress? Say it! I am a good seamstress, I could hook your wardrobe up!. I am a good Friend. I am a great teacher! I am a great cook. I am an excellent Mother, I take great care of my children! Could you imagine talking to God and calling him "The Great I am" and him being like "Ahhh, I don't know about great, I'm more like The Iight I am, but thanks though" -_- WHAT?! It is OK to recognize that you are good. And it doesn't make you any less humble than the next person. Confidence and humility can coexist. All Humility really is, is not being arrogant. You can still be confident, and in wisdom be Humble.
The Golden rule in most communities (which is also a biblical principle) is to "treat others the way you would like to be treated". We all understand that statement reading to the right. But the fact of the matter is that it works both ways. Not in the sense that other people should treat you the way they want to be treated as well, which they SHOULD; but in the sense that, you should treat YOURSELF the way that you would like to be treated. How can you treat other people well, if you cannot treat yourself well. Imagine teaching a child to walk, when you haven't even learned to walk yourself. How can you love someone else, if you don't even know how to love yourself first? What are you drawing from? Let's be honest, the positive things we want and wish for our loved ones, we also want for ourselves as well. So if you have the power and the drive to root for them... why can't you do the same for yourself? You are with yourself at every moment in time, therefore you have the greatest access for impact on your life. So treat yourself well. Show others how you would like to be treated not only by the way you treat them, but by the way you treat yourself. So buy yourself a gift. Leave yourself an encouraging note on the door. Big up yourself. Tell yourself you did a great job playing the drums at church today. Crack a joke, and then laugh yourself silly because you are just that funny. Double tap your own picture because dam it you look good! And let everybody else follow suit. Like Donald Lawrence & The Tri-City Singers said "sometimes you have to encourage yourself" . And that's ok. It doesn't make you any less humble.
Now this isn't on some #allthesingleladies wave at all. And this is not just for the #loners either. This goes for everyone, young, old, single, married, popular, everyone. Have you ever tried to give a compliment to someone who never believed you? I guarantee you if that person started complimenting themselves a little bit at a time, it would become much easier for them to accept your compliment. It is harder for us to believe from other people what we do not believe in ourselves. And the beautiful thing about learning how to treat yourself well, love, and encourage yourself is that it slowly takes the power away from all the naysayers in your path. You slowly begin to form a stronger defense against all the negativity that is thrown your way on a daily basis. Now don't go overboard with this! You
do still need to be able to check yourself. Like everything else in life, there is a balance. But never be afraid to be confident out of fear of not being perceived as humble.
Remember that Life and Death lies in the power of YOUR tongue. So use the power in your tongue to speak some positivity into your life.
- Woods
Lighting up the woods, one Syllable at a time
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