Humility
Humility: Value first the contributions of others; do not boast of your own accomplishments, let others do this for you. Tell the deeds of others before your own, according them the renown rightfully earned through virtuous deeds. In this way the office of knighthood is well done and glorified, helping not only the gentle spoken of but also all who call themselves knights.
Now why is this so hard to do? Blowing our own horn seems to be a normal thing. Of course we know and hate all those show-offs out there. We know them (or have been them), the jock with, "Did you see what I did the last game?" Or the geek that goes, "I was able to ___ using ____ even though it was too hard because of ____ but that didn't stop me because I was able to pull off a ____ with only a ____ to work with." Or the airhead that goes, "Did you see her ____? She's so annoying! Who does she think she is, just because she has a __________, she acts so _______. I bet she had to _______________ just to get it." Or the blogger that goes, "_____________."
We don't really brag all the time, we don't always hoot, "Who da man?" But we hate people that get too loud that we don't hear ourselves.
Humble is hard for me too. I get high and mighty a lot. I don't say it. But I think it so hard it shows. I pride myself as an intellectual, and when people say dumb comments around me I judge their entire character based on their utterances. That is quite bigoted to be sure but this is how humility is a difficult thing. As an attitude it is quite difficult to attain by sheer force.
This is why I think the chivalrous principle on how to practice it is so appealing to me. I don't have to do anything negative (NOT be boastful), rather the practice is pro-active (DO praise others first and let them praise you). It seems so hard to brag when you are trying to give another person credit. And more importantly it gives the people around you a sense of encouragement, that whatever you have attained is attainable by them.
We then do not becomes objects of envy (or contempt) but rather inspiration. And that is a much better alternative.
Now why is this so hard to do? Blowing our own horn seems to be a normal thing. Of course we know and hate all those show-offs out there. We know them (or have been them), the jock with, "Did you see what I did the last game?" Or the geek that goes, "I was able to ___ using ____ even though it was too hard because of ____ but that didn't stop me because I was able to pull off a ____ with only a ____ to work with." Or the airhead that goes, "Did you see her ____? She's so annoying! Who does she think she is, just because she has a __________, she acts so _______. I bet she had to _______________ just to get it." Or the blogger that goes, "_____________."
We don't really brag all the time, we don't always hoot, "Who da man?" But we hate people that get too loud that we don't hear ourselves.
Humble is hard for me too. I get high and mighty a lot. I don't say it. But I think it so hard it shows. I pride myself as an intellectual, and when people say dumb comments around me I judge their entire character based on their utterances. That is quite bigoted to be sure but this is how humility is a difficult thing. As an attitude it is quite difficult to attain by sheer force.
This is why I think the chivalrous principle on how to practice it is so appealing to me. I don't have to do anything negative (NOT be boastful), rather the practice is pro-active (DO praise others first and let them praise you). It seems so hard to brag when you are trying to give another person credit. And more importantly it gives the people around you a sense of encouragement, that whatever you have attained is attainable by them.
We then do not becomes objects of envy (or contempt) but rather inspiration. And that is a much better alternative.
Labels: airheads, chivalry, humble, humility, jocks, knight, knighthood, virtue
posted by K Ronquillo at 10:08 AM
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