Staying Grounded

Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it’s about thinking of yourself less. Humility is not about what you do know; it’s about what you do not yet know. Humility is not about judgment; it’s about curiosity.

All cures come from curiosity.

– Marisa Peer, best-selling author and ranked UK’s #1 psychotherapist

One of the lessons I learned recently emphasized how an individual’s ego, “that which compares,” becomes more powerful as he or she wins… Susceptibility to egotistical and narcissistic tendencies increases in magnitude as self-perceived status improves. Therefore, maintaining humility from basecamp to summits to metaphorical peak remains mission critical.

Aim for what’s highest, strive forward with focus, and never forget where you came from.

Humility provides perspective, allowing one’s heart to remember what it was like to be a beginner while one’s mind stays set on the next target.

In Ryan Holiday’s notable book, he states Ego is the Enemy. In my podcast episode with Scott Cochran, he remarks that ego stands for Edging God Out. And in Greek mythology, Icarus flies too close to the sun, falls from grace, and drowns due to hubris.

What kind of relationship with our own ego should we have? Should we attempt to completely tame our egos altogether? Is comparison healthy, maladaptive, or both?

President Theodore Roosevelt famously said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” To an extent, I agree. However, comparison to who we were yesterday, last month, and last year seems appropriate. We know ourselves intimately. We know our past; therefore, we can better understand how we got to where we are today, and use that information to put our next behaviors in formation.

As a final explanation of the same idea, humility refers to evolution and transformation, not attempting to be someone we are not.

When we reflect, come to understand our values, and live in accordance with those values… we progress from chrysalis to butterfly, from potential to possibility, away from a judgmental ego to a flourishing, mindful self.

Not all decisions are of the same prowess. Some require deeper reflection, connection to our inner authentic selves, and courage. In 2018, when I was at a crossroads between a continued career on Wall Street or a leap of faith towards entrepreneurship, Performance Psychology, and individuation, I challenged myself to become clear about my core values. After all, those do not change. Themes like faith, family, health, service, and love began to appear in my consciousness as I meditated. Upon contemplation, I’m grateful I was patient enough to listen to that small still voice inside of me. That’s the thing about patience — when we desire an answer strongly enough, and wait without anxiety, and let our gut’s intuition sing, resolution manifests itself.

Success comes from peace and peace comes from clarity. Clarity is a byproduct of calmness and gratitude. Calming gratitude presents itself when we deliberately choose humility.

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“If” — Rudyard Kipling

In a world full of uncertain events, we decide our attitude. 

My encouragement: embrace an attitude of humility.

Then, come what may…