There are two ways that you can lack humility. You can be proud, and you can have false humility.
Pride is relatively easy to recognize.
False humility can be just as dangerous, if in different ways, and can be more difficult to spot.
False humility is Michael Jordan saying ‘Yeah, I guess I’m okay basketball, I can score okay.’ or Tom Brady saying ‘I’m an average QB, there are people better than me.’ or Tiger Woods saying ‘I’m not very good at golf.’
There is nothing wrong with knowing you’re good at something and outwardly acknowledging the fact that you are good at it. In fact, I would say there is something wrong if you don’t!
There is obviously a balance here between false humility and pride, but if you are great at something and say it, it doesn’t make you proud until you start to find your identity in that and lord it over other people.
If you refuse to acknowledge the things that you’re good at then you’re actually denying yourself and the people around you the opportunity to be better because of what you’re great at.
Imagine if someone was brilliant with numbers and an excellent accountant, but they refused to admit it and didn’t give great advice to their clients and colleagues because they wanted to be ‘humble’. They’re not only denying their colleagues great help but they’re denying their customers the very expertise that they’re being paid for!
What’re you good at? Say it out loud, and don’t be ashamed of it.
Just make sure that you don’t let it become your identity or hold it over other people that aren’t as good as you.
Comments