Of Humility and Hubris

The word “humility” has an aura of old-fashioned obsolescence about it, perhaps accounting for the tendency of so many to dismiss the whole notion as irrelevant—so rare a presence in contemporary times it might as well be considered a counter culture value.

Contemporary culture has ceased questioning the validity of appearances. Branding is big business now and we seem to have lost sight of the fact that there is a painful price to be paid for our infatuation with these warped images of ourselves. Preoccupation with superficial appearances is merely a symptom of a deep sense of unworthiness and powerlessness, which we then try to compensate for with a substitute self.

Humility is the opposite of hubris and is characterized by a complete lack of self-consciousness—being so engaged in the flow of life there is no room for either feelings of inferiority or exacerbated sense of pride. We are simply being, doing our thing. And being is freedom, as opposed to branding which is just another form of self-conscious enslavement.

If we want to live a fulfilling, original and intelligent way of life, we need to live with a little integrity and soul. We need to keep it real.

The Joy of Subsistence Living

Seems like an oxymoron doesn’t it? Subsistence at first glance has connotations of deprivation, hardship and burden clinging to it (province of the poor and unfortunate), but upon closer inspection a shift in perspective reveals some interesting things.

Truth is, too many possessions, too many rooms to clean in our personal dwellings, too many obligations, too many options, tends to translate into too much worry, anxiety and stress, leaving one feeling depleted and care worn. I’m not interested in keeping all those balls in the air, merely a well chosen few.

Having just enough to meet my basic needs (to subsist), frees me physically, mentally and emotionally. With proper management and the excess trimmed off there is less getting in the way of a life of robust happiness, genuine well-being and joy. It also means there is enough to go around, to share with others that they also might meet all their basic needs.

I want to breathe deep and take pleasure in a more—dare I even admit this—leisurely experience of life as it unfolds. Don’t get me wrong I like working well enough, just not at a manic and life-depleting pace.

As I am a writer this means having time for reading, writing and the distillation of ideas. Making space for simply observing and experiencing life in and around me is essential if I am to avoid mediocrity and do my job well. The world is too full of mediocrity already, yes?

Clarity, contentment and peace become more frequent visitors. Chaos, obviously, will have its way now and again, but with a life pared down to essentials riding out the storm is a much simpler thing to manage than it otherwise might be.

Subsistence (having just enough to meet basic needs) is ultimately liberating. A tool which holds tremendous potential for facilitating the reclamation of one’s life in the most meaningful of terms—self-possession.

It is the gateway to a life of robust happiness, genuine well-being and joy. Three things the pursuit of wealth, status and power tend to stand in the way of.

It’s no accident that sages of all stripes have chosen this, or a similar way of life.

Think about it.