Life's pains and disappointments seem to play a key role in maintaining some degree of equilibrium, they knock us down, ground us and wake us up. They humble us by reminding us that we are flawed, mortal, not in as much control as we would like to think we are at times, and it is often through such experiences that we are lead away from artifice and into authenticity.
A distinction needs to be made, however, between the edifying effects of humility and the toxic, soul-destroying effects of shame. Shame is not to be confused with humility.
Shame is often a tool used for corroding the inner life of another human soul, usually in the service of obedience training, to mould and shape someone into an image that suits purposes other than the cultivation of life, passion and vitality. Quite to the contrary it snuffs them out.
Shame is often a tool used for corroding the inner life of another human soul, usually in the service of obedience training, to mould and shape someone into an image that suits purposes other than the cultivation of life, passion and vitality. Quite to the contrary it snuffs them out.
Humility is more the result of life doing its thing, or of our own failed efforts, the natural consequence of our own actions and behaviour, and, therefore, works on us organically fostering the life of our soul--it does not destroy our confidence, but tempers our pride. This is a good thing, it makes us more humble, loving members of the human community.
There is a lot of pressure on people to perform their roles in society well, to maintain a respectable image and reputation, to adhere to various notions of normality which are sought after like the Holy Grail, but like the Holy Grail these resemble myth and fiction more than they do the reality of everyday life.
We shouldn't make ourselves sick with worry over our lack of perfection, but use some of these ideals as springboards for asking good questions, inspiration or just as material available for creative use much as a painter picks and chooses from the endless variety of paint colours and mediums he/she has available to create a work of art.
We shouldn't make ourselves sick with worry over our lack of perfection, but use some of these ideals as springboards for asking good questions, inspiration or just as material available for creative use much as a painter picks and chooses from the endless variety of paint colours and mediums he/she has available to create a work of art.
Being real is where life is at, not appearing to be real, not in the cultivation of some arbitrary image of perfection that has no real basis in life as it is actually experienced and lived.
Perhaps then we can see the hard times in our life not as a pointless punishment, an affront to our humanity, but something we are graced by that augers our humanity by potentially bringing out the very best in us.
Perhaps then we can see the hard times in our life not as a pointless punishment, an affront to our humanity, but something we are graced by that augers our humanity by potentially bringing out the very best in us.
