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

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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

What is one thing you like about yourself even though you are not perfect?

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Only Human – Jason Mraz (4:34)

African Shaman Performing Levitation (2:21) 

Zimbabwe Tribal Dance Meditation (6:56) 

 

Analysis: The Mirror of Humility

Humility reveals our true nature. Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions calls this virtue a great dividend. We confess our defects to another human being. This brave act dissolves our inner illusions. A Higher Power meets us in our honesty. We begin to see our true potential.

The Basic Text reminds us of our shared humanity. We carry both strengths and weaknesses. James M. Barrie noted the gap between our vows and reality. This realization brings a quiet, gentle grace. We abandon perfection and embrace our flaws.

Wellbriety wisdom guides this inner transformation. “Humility teaches us to walk gently on the earth” (White Bison, 2002, p. 88). Thich Nhat Hanh similarly taught the power of self-acceptance (Hanh, 1987). He believed peace begins with embracing our imperfections. Mindfulness helps us accept our human limits. Growth follows this profound surrender.

References

Hanh, T. N. (1987). Interbeing: Commentaries on the Tiep Hien Precepts. Parallax Press.

White Bison. (2002). The Red Road to Wellbriety. White Bison, Inc.

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Traducción al Español

Citas, Títulos y Referencias

EL MISTERIO DETRÁS DE “UNA PALABRA A MENUDO MAL ENTENDIDA” – PASO 5

“OTRO GRAN DIVIDENDO” –

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

SOMOS HUMANOS DESPUÉS DE TODO –

“Ser verdaderamente humilde es aceptar e intentar honestamente ser nosotros mismos. Ninguno de nosotros es perfectamente bueno o perfectamente malo. Somos personas que tienen virtudes y defectos. Lo más importante es que somos humanos.” (El Texto Básico, p. 36)

JAMES M. BARRIE –

“La vida de todo hombre es un diario en el que pretende escribir una historia y escribe otra; y su hora más humilde es cuando compara el volumen tal como es con lo que juró hacer.”

James M. Barrie (1860 – 1937)

Análisis

La humildad revela nuestra verdadera naturaleza. Doce Pasos y Doce Tradiciones califica esta virtud como un gran dividendo. Confesamos nuestros defectos a otro ser humano. Este acto valiente disuelve nuestras ilusiones internas. Un Poder Superior nos encuentra en nuestra honestidad. Empezamos a ver nuestro verdadero potencial.

El Texto Básico nos recuerda nuestra humanidad compartida. Llevamos tanto fortalezas como debilidades. James M. Barrie señaló la brecha entre nuestros votos y la realidad. Esta realización trae una gracia tranquila y apacible. Abandonamos la perfección y abrazamos nuestros defectos.

La sabiduría de Wellbriety guía esta transformación interior. “La humildad nos enseña a caminar suavemente sobre la tierra” (White Bison, 2002, p. 88). Thich Nhat Hanh enseñó de manera similar el poder de la autoaceptación (Hanh, 1987). Él creía que la paz comienza al abrazar nuestras imperfecciones. La atención plena nos ayuda a aceptar nuestros límites humanos. El crecimiento sigue a esta profunda rendición.

Pregunta Concluyente

¿Qué es algo que te gusta de ti mismo aunque no seas perfecto?

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Zonr blog on being truly humble

Comments

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

  1. E-Dawg Avatar
    E-Dawg

    By knowing that I don’t need to prove myself to others… and I listen more than I speak

  2. VLeigh Avatar
    VLeigh

    I like that I have been able to keep my principles and values intact for the most part, even when times were really tough. Of course, I was never perfect with it, but it could’ve been worse.

  3. Sabrina J Avatar
    Sabrina J

    Honestly listening to others helps me to grow and accept criticism designed to help me see who I am.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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..

  8. Jim Avatar
    Jim

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

  9. 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.

  10. 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.

  11. 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.

  12. 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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