Power of Humility

You know how life sometimes starts to feel stale?
Or you feel stuck?
Or you question whether you actually have any impact or influence?

Our one and only life is too precious for that.
Too powerful to shrink.
Too special to belittle.

The Quiet Power of Humility in Action

I have found humility to be a power that can change all of that.
Humility isn’t often thought of as a power, is it?
But when we embrace true humility and drop the false stuff, we realize it has the power to affect real change. The kicker is this. We don’t get to choose what that looks like. Genuine humility opens up pathways we could never open on our own.

Here’s what that looks like.

False Humility Says:

Who am I to go here or do that?
I am nobody important.
I don’t have the degree needed.
I don’t have the training expected.
I don’t have the looks, the status, the hoopla everyone else seems to have.
Notice all the I’s?
False humility’s focus is on self.

When we fall into that mindset, what we really do is belittle the God-given nature we were given. That kind of thinking keeps us immobile and ineffective. Paralyzed from going anywhere or doing anything. From making any lasting difference.

True Humility Says:

True humility is very different.
It goes.
It does.
It doesn’t focus on self.
It focuses on the need.
It goes to places and people where it would perhaps rather not go, but it does it anyway. Because love calls it there.
Compassion for the need draws it there.

And it has nothing to do with how we feel or what we think about ourselves.

It is all about the need.

Finding Powerful Humility in My Bucket List

You may have seen a post I made a few weeks ago about meeting Bob Goff. It was a bucket list thing, but has become so much more. In re-reading one of his books and reflecting on why meeting him was on my bucket list in the first place, here’s what I realized…

He is an example of what it can look like, the impact that can be made, when we don’t take ourselves too seriously but we take the needs we see very seriously. In other words, when we stay genuinely humble. (Which takes courage, by the way.) And this humility is a gateway to so much joy because it steps in with love and is often surprised by the return on investment.

Stop Thinking About It and Do It!

Sometimes we have to stop thinking about things and just do them.
Too much thinking can be a sign of too much self in the way.
We can think so much we talk ourselves out of the very thing we need to do.
Just go!
Just do it!
Talk to the person you are scared will offend you.
Try for another appointment with the one who previously rejected you.
Apply for that position your gut keeps drawing you toward, despite lacking all the qualifications.
Forgive so you can heal.
Set that boundary.
Whatever “it” is… just go do it.

It’s the only way we discover what’s inside us when we get squeezed.
And that’s an important discovery, because we may need something entirely different than what we’ve got now.

So just do the thing. And as Bob says, if you fail, at least you’ll fail trying!

It’s time to start taking steps toward more joy and fulfillment and impact.
I am with you!
I am for you!

And I pray you enjoy the journey!
Brenda

P.S. This Thursday, October 23, Bob Goff is joining me on the podcast and I invite you to join us and catch some of the joy, inspiration, humility and courage he so freely pours out. It’s going to be FUN!

Brenda is a believer in impossible possibilities. In brokenness becoming beautiful. In justice and mercy and honor and power – with love perfecting them all. She is a wife, mom, mimi, daughter, and friend who also enjoys speaking, writing, and coaching.