#1054 On Humility

This morning I was reading John Maxwell’s new book on leadership called Leadershift.

He was talking about the importance of humility and quoted pastor and author Rick Warren who tells us: “Humility is not denying your strengths. Humility is being honest about your weaknesses.”

Now, I like that one but it made me think of another quote on humility that I really like.

This one: “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.”

Ins’t that good?

Let’s repeat: “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.”

So…

I was pretty sure that quote was from C.S. Lewis so I Googled it to be sure and found this thoughtful commentary on the fact that the wisdom is often misattributed to C.S. Lewis but…

You know who really said it?

Rick Warren.

Fascinating. (Small world!)

So…

Today’s +1.

Humility.

Let’s remember that it’s not so much about thinking less of ourselves.

It’s about thinking of ourselves LESS.

Easiest way to do that?

Focus on others.

Be kind. Be present. Be generous.

TODAY.

P.S. Here’s what C.S. Lewis actually said: “Do not imagine that if you meet a really humble man he will be what most people call ‘humble’ nowadays: he will not be a sort of greasy, smarmy person, who is always telling you that, of course, he is nobody. Probably all you will think about him is that he seemed a cheerful, intelligent chap who took a real interest in what you said to him. If you do dislike him it will be because you feel a little envious of anyone who seems to enjoy life so easily. He will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all.

If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step. The first step is to realise that one is proud. And a biggish step, too. At least, nothing whatever can be done before it. If you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed.”