Humility

Humility to me is when you don't have to be right all the time, you don't call people out about their mistakes, you don't think you're the greatest thing since sliced bread, but you still have a healthy self-respect for yourself and your work.

Confidence in your work is not the same thing as thinking you're better than anyone else. Feeling good about your work doesn't mean you have to go around saying "look what I made!" except, of course when you're marketing.

My favorite C.S. Lewis quote: “True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.”

Humility is the virtue that enables us to know who we are in truth, not the way we would like to be or the way others think we are - with all of our faults and shortcomings. In other words the raw truth.

wonderful replies so far....very thoughtful!
April, I saw that quote on a poster with no credit, so a special thanks for the author!

The C.S. Lewis quote sums it up so succinctly. Thanks for posting that April!

One first must have empathy before one can turn adversaries into alias. Humility comes with the realization that self is not central. Humility comes with not winning throngs approval but facing the gang metality without need of acceptance. Shift in perspective only results from humility.

You're welcome! C.S. Lewis is the source of many great quotes. This one comes from his book, "Mere Christianity."

"Pride comes from knowing what you have achieved, humility comes from knowing what you have been given." (TMurray)

I don't think either is important as an artist, however, I do think it is important to distinguish the two as a human being.

PUPPIES was easier !
Need time for Humility........back later, after I thank my surgeon for his lifelong devotion to helping others, and for saving me from a guaranteed life in a wheelchair....tjust this August......which is gratitude.

I was humbled by my helplessness.


As an artist? Well, .....depends ...........with a trained eye, I am humbled by what I see that is not of MY making! Perspective Rules.

edit.....and that's with my good eye.!

Vivian, would you consider your doctor as a person of humility?

Good posts! I recognize when it is lacking. A person who acts without humility makes me bristle. Love that quote, April.

Drew....I am humbled by being saved......he might be humble,too....Certainly he is gifted,generous,admirable.....as a Doctor! Does that humble him? Don't know.

Tony's got it right, I.m.o.

Those who have it don't know they have it.

~Michel Soucy

I don't see how an artist can experience life without humility nor do l think attempts at shaming is an act of humility.

Humility is important, and has it's place, but when I heard Macklemore say, "The greats learned that humility is a weapon", I changed my ways and it's taken me further than humility ever could have.
I now temper the humility I was instilled with as a kid with confidence that I didn't think I was allowed to have because of my British upbringing.

Great concept to ponder! I'm going to say humility is knowing how and when to be a follower/worker bee and how/when to be a leader/ decision maker....but more importantly being able to shift roles without anyone around you even noticing!

Matt

Lesley, I don't think humility negates confidence nor competence.

People with humility don't talk about it.

Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.

Love that one, April! Couldn't put it any more perfectly!!

Keep them coming.
Vivian, lol re: puppies

"Humility is to make a right estimate of one's self." C. Spurgeon

Humility means it didn't happen only because of you (sometimes in spite of!). We are all very imperfect and realizing this fact.

With the utmost humility i have to say that i am the most humble person i have ever known…

Ed, I disagree....letz have a humility contest;p

The Apostle Paul wrote "do not think of yourself more highly than you should" but in an honest & sober light one is able to take stock of oneself and in that knowledge continue forward. Later writing that we should have the same mind as Christ, who being who He was and is chose to serve. A humble person can serve another, help another...and I believe this is imperative in the life of an Artist.

Humility is that which let's you share success with others - not lauding it over others - but bringing them in to have their share for their part in your success.

Marlene,

Here in Florida, we always have high humility, it's terrible. Working in the yard, sweating all the time! Winter, usually less humility, so it's always nicer ouside. When I visit my sister in So.California, much less humility! Go figure............

Rich

Humility vs. false humility. Genuine humility just is. False humility craves an audience or is driven by insecurities.

False humility + Blame-agizing go together. "im so sorry that you get offended at my jokes" vs "im sorry I offended you". Subtle and cunning; hard to pinpoint but just as powerful. People do it all the time and no one hardly even knows their doing it. Its a learned behavior that requires understanding to unlearn it.

Rich is right about Florida - lot's of humility outside still - waiting is - for cooler weather.

Rich,
Maybe I should move to Florida....we have hardly any humility here!!

Humility is a very important quality. To accept that many times we may want to be right when we fail to want "what is right".

I also love the C.S Lewis quote and the one where he says "We read to know we are not alone."

I do find it difficult to verbally express - apologies Marlene.

Humility?

Like when my Mistress Dominatrix humiliates me? ;)

I've thought about this for a bit

And I reached into my personal profile---and considered how I conduct myself on this issue---and possibly could come up with a great response

But I believe a definition has been cited that I like the best...and yes it was from Hollywood

In the recent adaptation of "The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty" ...A photographer played by Sean Penn---High atop a Himalayan Mountain---was looking for the once in a lifetime shot of a Ghost Leopard

Where he says to Ben Stiller re: the cat......"Beautiful things do not ask for attention"

I'm not sure I have yet to define humility better than this------But maybe give me time

PS...highly recommend this movie

Zeana, you said it perfectly, I understand.
Skip, I was about to smack you but then I realized you'd probably rather have a good whipping...hmmm.....

Andrew Sanan said it best for me, I'm just happy he said it and not me because I would have been reprimanded or banned, but I agree Andrew that is true humility!

. double post erased

At home I can do a smooth double stroke roll at 200 bpm. Saturday night at the gig I decided to work it into my drum solo. But I was moving along at the top of my volume range and it didn't work. So there was about six seconds of "What is he doing now?!" before I aborted that idea and moved on.

That was humiliating.

But I LEARNED from it. Monday night I brought the volume down, down, down and then went to the double stroke. A-ha! Standing O and extra tips.

I'm like a little performing monkey :-)


Dan Turner
Dan Turner's Seven Keys to Selling Art Online

pssst...mario shhh! mebbe no one will notice.

mumms the word.lol

Humility to me is being able to laugh at yourself and not take yourself too seriously.

Humility: It can be about suffering from loss and then finding you're still lucky somehow.

Humility doesn't allow me to get in the way of myself by putting myself above those I love and people in general.

Is it important? I'd say yes since I believe it's a positive characteristic to own. I think authentic humility is difficult to feign for an extended time and most people will notice when it's abandoned. Hmmm - not sure how it applies to being an artist except to say in general, for me, when people bloat and gloat over themselves, I find it off-putting and I don't want to share the same space. The "what" doesn't matter nearly as much as the fact that someone behaves in that manner. I'm having a difficult time articulating what I mean, so I hope it makes sense to others.

Some of my favorite quotes on the subject:

1. "I have three precious things which I hold fast and prize. The first is gentleness; the second frugality; the third is humility, which keeps me from putting myself before others. Be gentle and you can be bold; be frugal and you can be liberal; avoid putting yourself before others and you can become a leader among men." — Lao-Tzu

2. "The sufficiency of my merit is to know that my merit is not sufficient" — St. Augustine

3. "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth" — Matthew 5:5

@ Mo who said "Where he says to Ben Stiller re: the cat......"Beautiful things do not ask for attention" Perfect! I too enjoyed the movie.

--Donna Proctor

Whipping, spanking, and lots of other stuff... it's all good! :)

I have a lot to say about humility because in a way, being humble has ruined my professional life.

When I was growing up in the 30s and 40s, we were taught to be humble. Boys would make fun of you if you ever pulled out a pocket comb to comb your hair, or if you glanced in the restroom mirror for more than a quick look. Hold that gaze a second too long and you were teased and na,na,naed.

So this humble Southerner came to Hollywood to become a big-time movie director and win many awards.

But he was not good at telling people how great he was and how he could do this and that, even when he knew he could. "Aw, shucks," was his reply when complimented. So the bigmouths would brag and get the jobs that the Southerner could have done probably better.

Poor Southerner. So he became a TV director and then an artist.

The End

I suspect that at an early age and without ever putting much effort or thought into it, Chuck Staley acquired something that people in the spotlight strive for yet seldom get:"

Humbility.

Humility for me is simply being a positive member of society. No better than the poorest and no less than the richest. I should be most grateful for the opportunity to freely do what I love.

For me the ultimate act of humility is the recognition that I am on this planet as a result of not my own doing and that what ever talents, abilities I have are not really of my own doing but a gift and a blessing of which I had little to do with, maybe being fortune and further blessed to have been given the opportunity to discover it and the means to be able to cultivate it.

Humility; those who have it are less annoying to those that don't.

P.S. If you are a scofflaw you certainly are not humble (Note to all you religious posters in a forum where religion is not allowed). You know the rules, you ignore them. That isn't humility, that is arrogance.

Kim, why do people like you exist?

Tony, I think she's gone...........forced vacation maybe.

Kim closed her account. We need to move on, guys...

Move on to where?

"from" a comment made by someone who has closed their account, Tony ;)

My art from the very beginning has taught me humility, which I at times find very frustrating! Whenever I go into a new project with a specific plan and idea, it quickly turns to dust, and what finally emerges when I give up is Always better than what I planned.

"My digital creations are a source of surprise, pleasure, puzzlement and sometimes humor for me. Like dreams, I can only guess at their meanings and venture an interpretation. They seem to have a life of their own of which I am pleased to be a participant. " from Into the Soup, Life and Art without Recipe. http://cjslattery.com/

Oh, well hard not to move on.

I take great pride in being one of the most humble people I know.

In all humility I ask, are you doing something with all of the input you are receiving, Marlene?

Rebecca

Rebecca,
I lead a group of about 30 adults in prayer and every year we have a new topic to explore. Whoever is the assigned greeter, has the opportunity to spend a few seconds or minutes with a quote or story or their own thoughts on the topic. Humility was voted in and I wanted to kind of do a test run on a general perspective of the meaning. My teachings wil lbe based on the same topic. The religious perspective, although it cannot be discussed here, is very specific.
Invariably, what I fill my mind with, ends up on canvas! In past years, we've explored time and gratitude and the faa community has given me some great insight!

Thanks, Marlene - you certainly have a lot of great input here!

Marlene, I'm in a quandry just now......and need a big dose of top-up humility..........without humility in full dosage, I feel arrogance taking over and that is disturbing. Thank you for listening.

Marlene, when I read the title of this discussion this morning, it was a "cyber sticky note" answering my petition. I have been wrestling with the absence of true humility because I am filled with misconceived humility. It's like feeling full after gorging on gummy bears; just empty calories.

To me humility is putting a greater purpose than yourself first. To use your art to serve this purpose not your fame.

-- mary ellen anderson

"Humility is to make a right estimate of one's self." C. Spurgeon

Marlene,

Always a great question.

Diana,

I like your quote the best.

Dont any of you sell yourselves short.

Dave

David, thank you. :)

Diana,
Its timing sometimes..the same info can pass our ways hundreds of times but until we are ready or need it, it goes unnoticed, not appreciated.

One of my definitions..
Regardless of one's accomplishments or talents, there is no belief that one is better than another person.

Humility is also that part of you which accepts responsibility for things that go wrong/bad - and not be about blaming others.

Roy, accountability is a b_________!

Accountability is the easy road in life.

Not being accountable asks a person to pay and pay again.

Dave