a word on humility

Charity is not puffed up by false bravado, but neither should it be demeaned by false humility. There is a balance somewhere in there where an individual understands and accepts the reality of who he really is, his strengths and weaknesses. Only by recognizing strengths can we build upon them; only by recognizing our weaknesses can we overcome them. When one knows who he really is, he realizes that there is no advantage for him to pretend to be more than he is or to pretend that he is less than he is. This is the place of true integrity and, I believe, the only place where there is true peace and harmony within oneself. This quote from Nelson Mandela says it best:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you NOT to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are born to manifest God’s glory within us. It’s not in just some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” (Nelson Mandela, inaugural address)