Humility: January 28 - February 3

Last week I extolled the virtues of determination and discipline. This week I temper those words with humility and humor.

Perfection is the enemy of the spiritual life. While a good pep talk never hurts, beating ourselves up is always self-defeating. Next time the inner critic starts to berate you for your shortcomings, remember you are human.

Human = earth being, earthling, belonging to the earth

Humility = humble, respectful attitude towards oneself and others

Humor = being able to laugh at oneself

We fall, we get up. Wisdom and insight come not so much from attaining the goal but rather from repeated effort. Please be kind to yourself and others along the way.

Practice

Listen to the vocabulary of your inner dialogue. Do you speak to yourself as a close friend would or as a playground bully?  Sharon Salzberg, renowned meditation teacher, calls her inner critic “Lucy” after the Peanuts character. Give a name to the voice of shame and blame in your head. Understand this nagging voice is not your true identity. Recognizing and naming this reality reduces its power over you. Speak kindly to everyone including yourself.