The Mystery Behind “A Word Often Misunderstood” – Step 5

Mystery box barely opening labeled "humility" w/ sfz title

To be truly humble is to accept and honestly try to be ourselves.  None of us is perfectly good or perfectly bad.” (The Basic Text, p. 36)

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How have you been “truly humble”, lately?

OR

Why do you think being honest about who we are makes us stronger?

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Only Human – Jason Mraz (4:34)

African Shaman Performing Levitation (2:21) 

Zimbabwe Tribal Dance Meditation (6:56) 

 

Analysis (English)

Humility confuses many people, yet it offers clarity about human limits and aspirations. In Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, humility emerges as self-awareness joined with growth. Bill W. insists we acknowledge both flaws and hopes. He suggests humility strengthens connection with others through honesty.

Similarly, The Basic Text states humility means embracing humanity fully. We hold strengths and weaknesses together. The text reminds us that true humility involves accepting imperfection without despair. We do not deny worth, nor do we inflate pride.

James M. Barrie deepens this with literary insight. In Peter Pan, and his diary metaphor, Barrie highlights human disappointment and renewal. His words show humility as reconciliation between ideals and realities. We vow to become great, but fall short. Still, reflection fuels honesty and hope.

Taken together, these writers echo themes from thinkers like Søren Kierkegaard. In The Sickness Unto Death, Kierkegaard notes despair arises when we deny our true self. Similarly, humility combats despair by aligning life with honest identity. Moreover, Friedrich Nietzsche, though critical of religious humility, admits self-honesty is central to strength.

Therefore, humility is not weakness. Instead, humility bridges identity, limitation, and aspiration. It challenges pride but also empowers authenticity. By practicing humility, we discover freedom from illusion. We grow closer to others and ourselves through truth.


Traducción Española – Citas

“ANOTHER GREAT DIVIDEND”

“Otro gran
dividendo que podemos
esperar al confiar nuestros
defectos a otro ser humano es
la humildad – una palabra a menudo
mal entendida.” “[Consiste] en un claro
reconocimiento de lo que y quiénes somos
realmente, seguido de un sincero
intento de convertirnos en lo
que podríamos ser.”
(12 & 12, p. 58)


“WE ARE ONLY HUMAN, AFTER ALL”

“Ser verdaderamente
humilde es aceptar
y tratar honestamente de ser
nosotros mismos. Ninguno de nosotros es
perfectamente bueno o perfecta-
mente malo. Somos personas que
tienen activos y pasivos.
Lo más importante,
somos humanos.”
(The Basic Text, p. 36)


James M. Barrie

“La vida de
cada hombre es un
diario en el que intenta
escribir una historia, y escribe
otra; y su hora más humilde
es cuando compara el vol-
umen tal como es con
lo que prometió
hacer.”
(James M. Barrie, 1860–1937)


Traducción Española – Análisis

La humildad confunde a muchos, pero ofrece claridad sobre los límites y aspiraciones humanas. En Doce Pasos y Doce Tradiciones, la humildad surge como autoconciencia unida al crecimiento. Bill W. insiste en reconocer tanto fallas como esperanzas. Sugiere que la humildad fortalece la conexión con otros a través de la honestidad.

De manera similar, El Texto Básico afirma que la humildad significa aceptar plenamente la humanidad. Tenemos fortalezas y debilidades a la vez. El texto recuerda que la verdadera humildad implica aceptar la imperfección sin desesperar. No negamos valor, ni inflamos orgullo.

James M. Barrie profundiza esto con su visión literaria. En Peter Pan, y con su metáfora del diario, Barrie muestra la decepción y renovación humanas. Sus palabras presentan la humildad como reconciliación entre ideales y realidades. Prometemos ser grandes, pero fallamos. Aun así, la reflexión alimenta la honestidad y la esperanza.

En conjunto, estos escritores evocan temas de pensadores como Søren Kierkegaard. En La enfermedad mortal, Kierkegaard dice que la desesperación surge al negar nuestro verdadero yo. De forma similar, la humildad combate la desesperación al alinear la vida con la identidad honesta. Además, Friedrich Nietzsche, aunque crítico de la humildad religiosa, reconoce que la auto-honestidad es esencial para la fuerza.

Por lo tanto, la humildad no es debilidad. Más bien, la humildad une identidad, limitación y aspiración. Desafía el orgullo pero también empodera la autenticidad. Al practicarla, descubrimos libertad de la ilusión. Crecemos más cerca de otros y de nosotros mismos a través de la verdad.


Traducción Española – Pregunta

¿Por qué crees que ser honestos sobre quiénes somos nos hace más fuertes? 

Zonr blog on being truly humble

Comments

9 responses to “The Mystery Behind “A Word Often Misunderstood” – Step 5”

  1. Elexi W.S.A. Avatar

    Listenin’, evaluating, and going with advice to the best of my ability at this point from wise people is a humble act I do to keep from dangers. As beautiful hearted, and carin’ as I am, I was still attacked with my life threatened. When I approach my reality with honesty I start findin’ various strategies to keep safer.

  2. Ari L Avatar
    Ari L

    I think that truth is a path to personal power when it comes to our will . If we can start by being truly honest I think we are humbled by our own nature as addicts and can act accordingly, avoiding people places and things while gravitating towards those who accept us as we are. It feels good to be accepted in that raw capacity.

  3. Sabrina J Avatar
    Sabrina J

    I know that I don’t know and I am curious and want to learn. From there, I try to work on being a better listener and to hear others when they want to express themselves and what is happening in their life. Humility is done best through experiencing it and less talking about being humble. My mentor displayed it constantly even when he had the experience, skill and sucess to be arrogant. That continues to be my role model.

  4. E-Dawg Avatar
    E-Dawg

    I’m proud of my humility…
    Just kidding… that would be a great shirt, I wonder how many people would take it seriously.
    I am confident in myself and my walk but I don’t boast about it. I recognize my strengths and weaknesses. I am open to constructive criticism looking at it as an opportunity for growth instead of a personal attack.
    The self-examination in step 5 is allowing me to be free and learn from my mistakes..

  5. Jim Avatar
    Jim

    I have simply been humbled by acceptance of afamily I just found through DNA matching.

  6. Jon G. Avatar
    Jon G.

    Humility is a principle which I gather from the literature is crucial to lasting recovery and yet I must admit it is a word that I use often but rarely understand. I know enough about the term to know that I just exercised some by my admission of ignorance but that does not help me anymore to understand the term. The best definition I have come accross was given by Bill Wilson himself when he stated: “humility is knowing exactly who and what I am.” (I may be paraphrasing but the concept is right). That being said, Tiger Woods could make the statement “I am a very good golfer” and he would still be exercising humility so long as he was not boasting or comparely himself directly to a less qualified golfer. On the other hand, Tiger would not be exercising humility is he was to say “actually I am not that good of a golfer”; rather, that would be modesty (unless of course he honestly believed what he was saying about his ability. In my own case, I often comment that I am a good public speaker and I am being humble when I say that because it happens to be true; whereas, I am also being humble, not modest, when I say that I am a terrible golfer because that happens to be true as well. I can quickly transform humility into pride or boasting when I make the claim at the expense of someone who has trouble speaking in public. Like so many other crucial principles to lasting recovery I have so much more to learn on this topic and I welcome others to comment on anything I have stated. I will finish wish a short joke. I man was presented with an award at the local chamber of commerce banquet for being the Humblest Man in the Community and he was given a ribbon to signify the award. As soon as he wore the ribbon the took the award back.

  7. Adam Avatar
    Adam

    I don’t feel I’ve been humble lately at all. The minute I feel like I’m getting my ego under control something carries me away again and its off to the races.

  8. Margot E. Avatar
    Margot E.

    Is there such a thing as “false humility”? Maybe it is the flip side of false pride. Maybe false humility is not acknowledging the talents and gifts given to me by my Higher Power. Where false pride seeks validation based on other people’s perceptions of me, false humility is an excuse for not exercising power in my own life. False humility says I do not have to do my best because my best will never be good enough.

  9. brita Avatar
    brita

    Sometimes I am embarrassed about being human – is that like a total self rejection? it IS totally humbling.

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