Stay Humble

A cascade of thoughts popped off in my head like fireworks. I rolled out of bed to grab my notebook next to the nightstand and scribble out my thoughts. At some point, I took account of my position—on my knees, hunched over the notebook writing—and the image of a man from a time long past, praying on his knees by candlelight, popped into my head.

I couldn’t shake the image, and I began to think about the distant past and how people alive then must have experienced much more hardship. Yet, despite overcoming such hardship, the man I had imagined, at the end of his day, was humbling himself. It was then that I realized, at the end, no matter your status, you’re going to be lucky if you wake up again. Waking up is like winning the universe’s lottery.

I will probably never be able to explain this fully, but ending your day with a little dose of humility seems to be at the core of some fundamental truth of how to live life. It sets you up for a thankful mindset in the morning. It creates the space within you to recognize where you can improve. It makes you relatable as a leader. It increases your awareness and allows you to feel more connected to the greater whole.

So why do I think this is important enough to share? The reason this popped into my head was because my initial thoughts were related to my Coding Life article. I questioned how I can handle more logs (responsibility). How can we work together more effectively to realize humanity's potential? And the key may be something as simple as a little dose of humility at the end of the day.

How does one stay humble, though?

• Recognize your strengths and weaknesses: Kobe Bryant exemplified this through his relentless pursuit of perfection, always aware of areas where he needed to improve.
• Listen to others: Gandhi demonstrated this by listening to the voices of the common people, making his leadership inclusive and impactful.
• Practice gratitude: John Wooden, the legendary basketball coach, emphasized the importance of gratitude, teaching his players to appreciate their opportunities and teammates.
• Admit mistakes: Abraham Lincoln was known for admitting his mistakes and learning from them, which allowed him to navigate the Civil War with integrity and wisdom.
• Show empathy: Nelson Mandela’s empathy helped him bridge divides and foster reconciliation in post-apartheid South Africa.
• Be teachable: Michael Jordan remained teachable throughout his career, constantly seeking advice and learning from others to stay at the top of his game.
• Serve others: General Dwight D. Eisenhower exemplified servant leadership during World War II, always putting the well-being of his soldiers first.
• Practice self-reflection: Marcus Aurelius engaged in regular self-reflection, ensuring his actions were aligned with his values and duties as a leader.

This is such a difficult thing to write about. It doesn't have an informative nature and so it doesn't lend itself to logical arguments and persuasion. And it doesn't seem like something that should be emotionally charged. So I'll leave it at what it is. Just a guy showing trying to share with the world a simple idea and if this simple idea is one you agree with then join me at Groe Solutions as we code and build with humility.