Humility Means Trust

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.” -C.S. Lewis

“Humility is not a lowering down to the ground, as the word’s Latin root (humus) suggests, but a rising up and a reaching toward something we can never quite touch yet must trust is there. Some call this faith — faith that the world holds together, that our tiny and transient lives are nonetheless an essential part of the whole, that the choices we make within them change the shape of the whole, that love is the mightiest choice we could ever make and the highest form of faith.” -Maria Popova

“Humility does not mean self-abnegation, lassitude, detachment; it’s more a calm recognition that you must trust in that which does not make sense, that which is unreasonable, illogical, silly, ridiculous, crazy by the measure of most of our culture. You must trust that you being the best possible you matters somehow… That doing your chosen work with creativity and diligence will shiver people far beyond your ken. That being an attentive and generous friend and citizen will prevent a thread or two of the social fabric from unraveling…This is what I know: that the small is huge, that the tiny is vast, that pain is part and parcel of the gift of joy, and that this is love, and then there is everything else. You either walk toward love or away from it with every breath you draw. Humility is the road to love. Humility, maybe, is love.” -Brian Doyle, One Long River Of Song

Humility isn’t about lowering or thinking less of ourselves, though as C.S. Lewis writes above, we’d be wise to think of ourselves less often. If for nothing else, peace of mind.

Humility means trust.

Trust that you are a part of something much bigger than yourself. Some thing or some force that’s been here waaaaay before you were born and will be here loooong after you are gone. Trust in the mystery, awe and wonder of it all. The big picture will work itself out however it’s supposed to work out.

Yet also trust in the beautiful dichotomy that while it’s all so much bigger than you, your seemingly small and insignificant change can make a huge impact.

It can. Humility allows you to trust in that.

Go make your art.