The public utterances and claims by the rich, powerful and famous which at times reek of hubris and arrogance are accepted as the rightful domain of those who’ve achieved material success & attained positions of authority. Who’s to question the exalted status and misplaced sense of propriety of the high and mighty and incur their wrath !
When the ‘Gentle Giant’ of Indian Industry, Ratan Tata, passed away recently, there’ve been glowing tributes for the exemplary business leader, innovator & philanthropist that deservedly poured in from every quarter but what’s been most talked with deep respect and admiration by all sections of society were his gentleness, simple life style, modesty and lacking any pretense. It’s a huge comeback for ‘humility’ to be acknowledged as a virtue to be inculcated and which seemed to have lost it’s meaning in the cacophony of media-hyped personas, self-praise and indulgent promotions through vested interests.
It’s nobody fault if one is now taught from a young age to be pushy & aggressive and not gentlyd submissive if one were to succeed in life. Bragging is an art that’s picked up in school from the bigger (rich bullies) friends out to dominate. Teachers in old-world style education would admonish pupils trying to ‘show off’ their affluence or intelligence. In texts the meaning of ‘humility’ has been spelt out as not being proud or haughty and not believing that you are superior to others ! In the larger context it’s about accepting things with grace, even if it causes you great discomfort and loss at times.
It’s not just the way we interact with others, but how we interact with the world and the environment around us. Celebrities and erudite personalities often after an ovation for their achievements say words like ‘I’m humbled at..’ to convey having the self-esteem to understand that though one is doing well, he or she does not have to brag or gloat about it. Humility is actually a strength. It allows leaders to listen to others, learn from their mistakes, and develop empathy for their team members. As a result, humility fosters an environment of trust and respect, two essential ingredients for any successful team.
It is difficult to be modest in a ‘Me-only’ world where every successful step needs to be publicized first by fawning parents and self and on hitting big-time, by agents hired to market them. Because, humility needs other qualities to go with it, such as empathy and compassion to others. Those who are humble are more likely to consider others’ beliefs and opinions. It offers the opportunity to become less self-involved and more attuned to the feelings of others. If you can be happy for others and their accomplishments and not be consumed by jealousy & self-pity, it’ll help you develop more positive relationships.
We wonder how the icons put on a pedestal like Demi-Gods (Read Big B & Sachin) stay grounded & appear so normal. My Dad believed that the really great don’t need to show their greatness, the world accepts. Idols he’d refer were the legendary singers KL Saigal and Md. Rafi for their utter simplicity. Roger Federer and Rahul Dravid, retired sporting legends, still charm fans with modesty. Can our leaders learn something from them ?
Working on Living 