To what degree does humility play a part in your...?

"...organization, workgroup and even outside of your organization (extended into family and friendships)? Do you consider humility a weakness or a strength in the different areas of your life and how do you demonstrate humility as a natural part of who you are?

This may be a tough question to answer since humble people tend to refuse to draw attention to themselves, but...I'd encourage you to share for the benefit of all.

Personally...I'll share my view on this just before closing in order not to bias responses."

The question was asked first on LinkedIn where other answers can be found. My answer was:

Dear Kathleen,

Wei Luo asked a similar question sometime ago "WHY: Is Humility Really Powerful?" Below is what I responded. I believe it applies to your question as well.

When I was younger, I grew upset with my father because he was so very humble. I wanted him to be more ambitious and proud of what he could accomplish. I was just starting out and wanted those qualitites myself.

Over the years, I gradually held my father in higher and higher esteem as I saw how he had raised six children all to be professionals. I began to wonder whether what I was accomplishing could possibly match his. The comparison was not always comfortable.

Later in life I watched my father become even more humble as he retired and began to prepare for death. He started going to Mass every day. He exuded a humble and gentle holiness. I began to take my spiritual life more seriously.

Before he died, his humility became all he was as he lost contact with us, not recognizing who we were. The only voice he responded to was my mother's. And I began to deal with my loss at not asking him all the questions that I had failed to ask when I was younger and thought I knew it all and he had nothing to tell me.

When I think of my father now, I see him on a journey to become as close as he can become to the Most Humble Being who remains silent and shines so brilliantly in the darkness around Him. I appreciate silence and darkness more and more and enjoy going to sleep so I can experience the light everynight in the most vivid of dreams where my father comes to show me things that I want to learn from him now.

As my father taught me, the Most Humble Being is the most powerful because He attracts us with a gentle but irresistable force, like the wind. And so, whenever I feel the wind, I feel the presence of the most humble and powerful beings in my life.

What do you think?

Please include your comment here or contact me to discuss.

Thanks.

John Darrouzet